|
|
 |
back |
2003
Project - The Sacred Cow |
|
|
| |
| The
Dedication of the ‘Sacred Cow’
stone carving at Shute Farm Studio attracted
a crowd of 200 people to witness the
unusual ceremony linking Hinduism and
Christianity through Agriculture. The
five-ton block of Bath stone has become
an exquisite life size carving of a
cow in traditional Indian style and
was carved by Ganesh Bhat, assisted
by Paul Fry. |
|
|
| With
farm cows Rosie and Paris, named by
the children of Hartcliffe Bristol presiding
over the celebrations, Stephen Britten
welcomed everyone to participate in
the ‘Pooja’ ceremony conducted
by Ganesh Bhat, followed by a blessing
by the Reverend Colin Horn and the final
dedication by Anthony Gibson, OBE, Regional
Director of the National Farmers Union.
Stephen Britten is a Dairy Farmer at
Green Farm, of which Shute Farm Studio
is a part. |
| During
the Dedication Anthony said... |
| ”The
cow is the basis of modern civilisation.
She has given us milk and meat to feed
us, leather to clothe us, horn for us
to work with, and the means to pull
our ploughs to grow our crops. There
is, I would venture to say, no more
useful creature on God’s earth”. |
|
Throughout
the afternoon visitors were able to
view an exciting exhibition of works
created during the two-month project.
Stone
carvings were sculpted by the children
of Inner Bristol led by Kate Semple.
Ceramics and drawings by the Wells
branch of the Society of Disabled
Artists and the Multi Cultural Days
were led by Nick Inns. |
| Leigh
on Mendip First School enjoyed a day
of charcoal drawing with Kate Lynch
and Upton Noble Primary School produced
drawings and ceramic plates, decorated
on the theme of ‘the cow’
led by Nick Inns. |
| There
were also courses in Watercolour Painting
with David Chandler, Wire Work with
Celia Smith and Drawing with Caroline
Waterlow and Kate Lynch, all observing
the cow. Lectures included the ‘The
Cow – past and present’
by Anthony Gibson, Sotirios Kartvountzis,
a local vet, Stephen Britten, Ganesh
Bhat and Philip Poulsom, representative
of Send a Cow, and ‘Silence at
Ramscliffe’ – a moving and
unforgettable illustrated lecture on
the effects of the Foot and Mouth crisis
on a Devon farm given by Chris Chapman. |
| Fran
Britten, director of Shute Farm Studio,
is overjoyed with the symbolic carving,
which has been named ‘Kaushalya’,
meaning the beauty of art and nature.
‘The cow’ is a memorial
to all the animals lost through foot
and mouth, BSE and TB. We are grateful
to all the sponsors who have enabled
this project to proceed and be so successful
- Art in Action, the Arts Council England,
Mendip District Council, Somerset Art
Week’s Landmarks project and everyone
who has contributed in any way. |
|
| A
final word from Anthony Gibson...“I
hope and believe that this sculpture,
and all the artistic activity
which has surrounded it over the
last few months, will help us
all to love and appreciate our
cows as the intelligent, infinitely
useful and somehow very noble
creatures that they are”. |
| Shute
Farm Studio welcomes anyone who
would like to view the sculpture
situated in their accessible garden,
but would appreciate visits by
appointment only due to courses
in progress. Telephone 01749 880746 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
