Statement
I have a degree in fine art, in which my practice was mainly drawing. I decided to do this course after seeing carvings along the Camino de Santiago, Spain (a pilgrimage) and being told by a carver, Alec Peever that I needed to gain skills in order to get an apprenticeship with him and that most of his apprentices went through the masonry route. I then began researching places and found this school which seemed better suited to me as it’s more creative than something masonry based.
The works on show here are self initiated projects and I feel more confident in finding carving as a way of drawing, or an extension of drawing. The ability to work from a model or design but have the freedom to make necessary changes in the stone is what I have finally realised is all the joy and fun of carving. The courage to push things, take the risk and enjoy the flow of it.
The poem is partly about my experience of being a pilgrim but at the same time I’ve used the concept of a pilgrim as a metaphor for life. The poem relates in some way to the sculpture.
The Wondering Pilgrim
Well I’m standing in a foreign land
Im not sure how to start but my feet are on the ground,
Im just a wondering pilgrim
Trying to find my place in the world
I want to speak, but …
I cant engage –
I have no words and no pre- packed remedies
Only the arrows to Santiago
I fall to guide me,
Im just a wondering pilgrim
Trying to find my place in the world
The rain beats over,
Slashing over me,
And I know its 1000km
Until my road departs.
I’m sitting with my thoughts,
Im a silly fool, but,
Im just a wondering pilgrim
Trying to find my place in the world
I must have been down this path before
It’s the same sticks and stones
Its covered ground
Yet I still have unanswered questions,
Im just a wondering pilgrim
Trying to find my place in the world
Im at the stairway of Santiago
All weary and teary eyed
Thinking finally the road has come to an end
But what has been solved?
After the end is a beginning
And I still cant find my way back to where I started
Oh well, Im still just a wondering pilgrim
Trying to find my place in the world
© by Thea Tait