LOL cat likes the Horn of Plenty

I never thought I’d see a genuine LOL cat, but look at the marking’s on this cat’s side!

(I ought to add that I only know about LOL cats because of my son’s obsession, and because I read about them in the financial pages of the Guardian….)

Installation is now complete, and Julia Ridge phoned me this morning to suggest that with the weather being good, today would be a good opportunity to get some photos.

The journey from Kinston St Mary has unfortunately caused a small amount of damage to the thatching.  On my way home, I managed to find  a few reeds, and  hope to return and make good in the next couple of days.

The cats obviously appreciate this work of art, as it provides a good look out point and scratching post. What more could you want, function as well as beauty!

Horn finds a New Home in Hillcommon

Thursday 17th October saw an early start at Little Yarford Farmhouse, with the artist,  garden owners,  new owner of the Horn, and ‘the removal men’  (a team from Mark Butterfield Furniture) on site at 08.30 , AND it wasn’t raining!

Paul Ridge of Hazelmere, Hillcommon, is the new owner of the Horn of Plenty, and plans to install it on his land.

Paul said; ‘ When I first saw the Horn of Plenty I loved its shape, scale and how it looks different from every angle.’

The removal proved to be surprisingly straightforward (from a non participant),  although we nearly lost a man in the pond!

Although some of these pictures are blurred, I like them, and I was walking backwards at speed on wet grass!

First impressions?

As Somerset Art Week 2013 ended, I arranged to be in the garden for 5pm, to ‘move’ the Horn of Plenty, so the grass could regrow. This was what I uncovered…..

Shaggy dog stories ?

A wet day, but at least the rain wasn’t torrential. A thick mist blanketed the Quantocks Hills obscuring our view from the tump. With the weather still being quite warm, the garden itself was steaming. The ‘Horn’ has now gone all shaggy in the rain, with the ends of the raffia hanging down vertically, and now resembles a wet, shaggy dog.

First day of Somerset Art Week 2013

First day of art week and it wasn’t raining!

I managed to get some more photos before any visitors arrived.

What I find interesting, is how different this sculpture looks depending on your viewing point/how trees and plants obscure or partially obscure your view. It was very difficult trying to get the best overall position for this work and I kept asking Denise to help me reposition it and then went wandering off into the garden to view it again from all angles. She was very patient with me…..This is when I could have done with a technical team to do the moving….communicating via our mobiles!

The more I look at this work, the more aquatic or possibly prehistoric it becomes……the slightly blurred picture with the Gunnera definitely looks vaguely like a giant sea-slug, slithering off into the undergrowth, or is this just me?

Art or Lost Property?

This image caught my eye while observing the installations for the Quartz Festival at Queens.....

Installation complete

What a difference a day makes

24hrs later and there is blue sky, the sun is shining, and the acer is showing off its autumnal colours.

I was determined to finish today and with hard work, short breaks and Denise’s invaluable help, we eventually got there….

The Horn is now intact and fixed into the ground with U shaped hooks, whacked in with a club hammer…….even if this job did require my crawling into a black hole!

Rain stops play

Arrived early today at Little Yarford Farmhouse in Kingston St Mary, and with my friend Denise's help, managed to persuade the big end to become part of the overall structure.......several rests and a large bar of chocolate, and the horn of plenty was complete. We then filled in the internal gaps with black ground cover material,  had a quick game of hula hoop, and then attempted to insert the reinforcing rings before torrential rain persuaded us to go home. So far the weather forecast is looking good for tomorrow.....

See http://sawabundance.wordpress.com/category/gillian-widden/ for the full story of the Horn of Plenty.

Transportation complete

We loaded part one and two of the ‘horn’ (joined),  on to the truck at 8pm on Friday night in the pouring rain. As soon as we had finished securing the load,  the rain stopped… We were all absolutely soaked through and my hair was plastered to my head as though I had been swimming!

We left the house at 7.15 the next morning en route for Kingston St Mary. A convoy of one truck and one car. David, Chris and myself were allocated the lifting whilst Peter’s role was as official photographer (and for a thirteen year old, I think he did a pretty good job).  Luckily it was not raining and although the garden was full of early morning wetness, the sun was shining and the trees and plants looked fantastic.

The first load was the most problematical but the second load was a complete doddle.

Tuesday is installation day and is everybody happy??? I shall be if it doesn’t rain!