Each year we do a sculpture in Duncannon there is an unwritten rule that we will never disclose to the locals what we are making until it is done. It has always lead to speculation and consternation of what is in the tent. We act like we were the holders of some great secret, Worried that Julian Assange will give the game away. In truth it's because we don't know what we are doing either. usually we have a theme but how it will translate to the finished sculpture is anyone's guess It is always great craic.
For this year Niall Magee, Fergus Mulvany and I just made the whole thing up as we went along and cobbled a meaning together at the end. Telling people it was based on some Viking Myth.
For those of you who have watched the Irish/ English produced TV series Father Ted the title of this Post may be familiar. In one episode a fair is coming to Craggy island and one of the characters wants to go along and see a special attraction in a tent. Here's the Clip.
To us Irish this is Comedy gold and to us working in that tent on the beach a great source of inspiration. We began to tell all the town folk that this was what we were making this year. and enjoyed hearing the discussions taking place as to what that would mean. Obvious not many had seen the show.
You should really check it out for some proper Irish humor.
Our myth revolved around the story of some guy riding out of the waves on a shell like chariot to bring a new born who was both a baby and a spider. There was probably some wacky tobacco taken to grease the creative gears.
Fergus did a really nice job of the abstracted horses. He really likes to work free-form with lines and over the years has created more pieces based on this subject and style of waves turning into horses.
Niall and myself made and Chariot shell like thingy with the spider baby. I would love to tell you there was a big deep meaning to the whole piece but honestly it was just us goofing off and having a laugh.
As I look back now it all seems quite amateur, but back then we where having a great time and still learning our trade. It was an honor to be paid to play in the sand all day.
Actually, It still is.
Thank you for joining me on this journey as I look back and document my work as an ephemeral sculptor. There are many more to come in both sand, snow and ice.
Below you will find some of my recent posts.
Sea Tales - sand sculpture
Picture this - sand sculpture
I hope you'll join me again soon.
