|
A record from start to finish of the fifth woodcarving in Gladstone Park |
 |
The Turtle carving - in use from day 1 Photograph courtesy of Penman2
|
The Turtle carving is a result of a new ward working pilot scheme that was been implemented across six wards in Brent. The Dollis Hill Ward Working Group, after consultation with local residents and with the assistance of the GPCC, commissioned a new tree carving under their "arts in the ward" scheme, one of several different schemes where monies have been made available for projects in the ward that otherwise would not have had funding.
"Owls Anomalous" the local arts group that created the other very popular carvings of the whale, squidstick, owl seat and Noah's ark, all situated in Gladstone Park, undertook the commission. The latest carving, on a black poplar that had to be felled two years ago after a major lightning strike made it very dangerous, is situated north of the railway line a short distance from the original whale and close to the bottom of Parkside.
"Owls Anomalous" - Below in the foreground is Andy Treepirate, the chainsaw carver who travelled from his adopted home in Brittany, France to do his fifth carving in Gladstone Park, in the mid-ground is Robin Tatham, artistic director of Owls Anomalous who designed all of the carvings we have to date, he has a studio in Willesden Green on the corner of Grosvener Gardens and Blenheim Gardens, in the background is the very hard working "Owls apprentice" - Darryl who did a lot of work on this project and excelled himself in doing so. Further examples of their work may be seen in Roundwood Park, Harlesden Road, NW10. |
|
Photograph courtesy of Owls Anomylous |
Before any marking up of design or carving can take place the laborious job of stripping off all the bark has to be done. This commenced over the weekend of the 9th - 10th of April 2005 and was started off by Darryl, pictured here in the early stages of the very hard work. It continued for 4 days before it was ready for carving. At the end of each days work throughout the project the unwanted bark and wood chippings had to be cleared up and deposited in the Rick yard where Brent Parks Service re-cycle it with other similar material by composting and then using it for mulching in parks and gardens around the borough. Photograph courtesy of Penman2 Photograph courtesy of Owls Anomylous The dead black poplar stripped of its bark and ready for carving.
|
Photograph courtesy of Owls Anomylous |
|
This rather beautifully hand drawn inscription was done anonymously on the trunk soon after the bark had been stripped off of the tree and before the actual carving work was underway.
It is Hindi and translates to "HAIL MOTHER GOD" perhaps a fitting tribute to what had been a superb and imposing tree prior to it being hit by lightning. It was left intact on the tree.
|
|
Work started on April 15th on the actual carving and continued non-stop for a further 11 days until the opening on April 25th at 4.00pm. In this picture the design to be carved is being marked up in chalk prior to carving. The broad carving was done with a chainsaw and the detail with a grinder, hand chisels and surprisingly enough with the chainsaw as well. |
Photograph courtesy of Penman2 |
|
Photograph courtesy of Penman2 |
Basic cuts have been made with the chainsaw and then the next stage of the design is chalked on. Because of the very nature of the wood the design has to be modified from time to time due to faults in the timber caused by the lightning strike that caused it to be felled a couple of years back. |
|
In this picture, Robin (left) is starting some detail work whilst Andy (right) continues to do some major chainsaw carving whilst the tree is still on the ground making it more accessible for working on. |
Photograph courtesy of Owls Anomylous |
|
Photograph courtesy of Owls Anomylous |
Here, Brent Parks Service lends a hand by lifting the tree (around 2 tons in weight!) with a JCB into its final position resting on the original stump. After this, work was able to commence on the head of a Blue Whale which dominates the thicker part of the trunk. |
