As an Island nation, Ireland has had some interesting pirate figures throughout its history. I made a sculpture about Grace O'malley/ Gráinne Ní Mháille many years ago. She was a female pirate that earned the title The Pirate Queen as she reeked havoc at home and abroad. We also had Annie Bonny that sailed with Calico Jack around the Caribbean. These were some furious sea maidens. But, not to be outdone and because Ireland is an equal opportunities employer we also had a few male ones. Jack the Batchelor was a famed smuggler and Luke Ryan a pirate that came from the village of Rush, North County Dublin. They didn't know each other but it really seemed that this Little village was a good base for getting up to no good on the open seas. It was here that I was asked to make two sculptures for a small village festival so the naughtycal [Sic] seamen seemed to be a good subject matter to work on.
I was originally commissioned to make two pieces over the course of a week and was really looking forward to it. I would start with Jack the Bachelor on Monday and be working away creating a buzz about the place for the village festival which would be happening over the next weekend. I would then spend a few days making Luke Ryan.
False start
All was organised, or so I thought until I was asked about my insurance. I didn't have any at the time because I just wasn't doing enough work in Ireland to justify it. Insurance is a protection racket and I hate having to fork out money to these modern-day pirates but I was told that I had to have some and after ringing lots of places finally found one that would take me on. They found it funny that I wanted to insure a pile of sand but were more than happy to take my money, God bless them.
I was then all ready to go, sand truck and machinery were ordered. Then I got a phonecall, last minute to say that there had been an injunction put in place to stop me and the whole festival from happening by some of the locals because they didn't want extra traffic in their village.
I had to cancel everything which was quite difficult to do of a Sunday. Things were put on hold while the town council and locals fought things out. I was pissed as I had put a lot of energy and money into organising everything and I would be out of pocket.
Waiting room
Each day that week I would get a call saying that things were still on hold until finally Thursday when I was told I could make one sculpture in a playground in the center of the village. I sprang straight into action and started work on Friday morning. It really wouldn't give me much time but I wanted to try and keep the village council happy and see if I could redeem some of my expenses.
I ended up just doing the one piece and that was Luke Ryan.
Jack Ryan in a nutshell
Luke, was born in Rush in 1750 but travelled to France at an early age where he became a lieutenant in the Dillion's Irish Regiment. He returned to Rush and ran a smuggling operation between Ireland and France. During the American war of independence, he became the captain of the Black fleet which was a pirate army under the secret orders of one Benjamin Franklin to bring war to the British in their home waters. We all know how that turned out and Luke is one of the forgotten heroes of that war. Do some Bing, Google or Altavista searches if you want more info, as I am no historian.
I finished compacting on Friday evening. It took ages because I had to wheelbarrow the sand to the sculpture due to a fence being in my way. I grinned and bore it because I was happy to be making something.
Walking the plank
Finally, I had two days to make my sculpture, during the festival itself and it was Bethlem. I was right in the middle of everything with kids everywhere. I made a little sand pile for them to play in to try and keep them away from my sculpture but it was like a game of wack-a-mole as I tried to keep toddlers from climbing up on my work. It turned out I was happy I had insurance in case any of them got hurt. Their parents seemed happy to use me as free child care but I wasn't.
In the heel o'da hunt things worked out ok. Although very rushed I produced this pirate standing in the bow of his ship. The children had a great time and really felt like they were helping create it. What started as scuppard project was able to regain the waves. The council was also very happy with my patience and insisted that they pay me the full amount which I quoted for. Making this a very lucrative job in the end. If you ever find yourself on these shores Rush beach is my favourite around Dublin. Nice a quiet and clean water for swimming.
Ps
Thanks for reading. I use PeakD to document my work as an ephemeral Sculptor of sand, snow and ice, amongst other things. This will hopefully give it a new life on the Hive Blockchain. Below you will find some of my recent posts.
Vroom Vroom - sand sculpture
Origin story - sand sculpture blog
The Making of The Three Norns - cement sculpture video
I hope you'll join me again soon
@ammonite
I am also starting to create NFTs of my sculptures and welcome you to my gallery where you can own a bit of ephemeral sculpture history.
I loved what you related and how. I can imagine you working with rambunctious kids around. 😆
Also, great job! I'd love to know how you ended up choosing sand as the medium for your work. If you have a post about that I'd love to read it.
Thank you Sonia. Working live in front of kids and adults can be fun but also full of adventure. It is like performance art where you never know where it will lead and for me, that is part of the fun. It is like you are trying to direct a toddler in the hopes it will grow into something interesting.
The Ephemerality of Sand, snow and ice really intrigues me. As materials they allow you to work very fast like you are sketching in 3D. It helps keep the creative process going all the way through. I got into sand by accident and soon realised that it had a lot of potential as a material. It is very plastic and can easily be moulded into any form. There is a conversation you have to have with the material to see if it will agree with your ideas or end up as a pile of dust on the ground.
I believe we talked before about once a piece is created you can let it go as the idea is transferred to the material and it is out of yourself. With these materials not lasting it makes it easier as I don;t have to look at them anymore.
I am using the Hive Blockchain to document all my sculptures. This will hopefully give them a new life a give me time to reflect on why I am doing it. This is not one of my favourites but still worth documenting. There was no big meaning behind it and now personal angle I was trying to express
It's interesting what you say about the durability of the material and what it allows you to "let go" by being something that doesn't last over time.
For me I think that would be difficult. About 3 years ago I worked doing murals with my partner. It was hard for me to assimilate that those works would not last long in their best state, or that they would be completely removed. Being that I am an oil painter, and I cling to the object "canvas" I realize how hard it is to let go. 95% of my work is crammed in my studio collecting dust, which is neither good nor makes sense. Thinking about it, I don't know what is better, that it lasts a short time but that others can see it, or that it lasts years and years stored in a warehouse, and hopefully sometime it can be exhibited...
It's tough. I read myself and wonder "what's the point?" haha. But well, the process is the point. The doing. Then what's left, if it's left, is another story :)
And working in front of other people in the street was a challenge for me, I need absolute solitude! It wasn't bad though, because I was painting light things, so I was able to go through it quite well. A completely different dynamic.
The process is the point for me. It is the only thing that I can somewhat control. I may have an idea in my head but the audience may not get it. Once the idea is out of me and into a material I can disconnect. The sculpture is now it's own thing. I need not hold on to it and can't control its faith. How others view it is between them and it. I have already left the picture and can move on to the next thing.
I have had to learn the performance part because I also like my solitude.. I have come to think of it like a jazz improv session where even the audience is part of the creation. To work with an audience helps to demystify the creative process. There can be a lot of fumbling in the dark until you hit the right note and it can be nice to have people around at that moment to share it with.
This piece is maybe not a great example of what I am talking about but I think you get where I am coming from.
Yes, I think so. It's interesting to read you and know a little of your creative process (both the one in solitude and the one in front of the audience). I'll be attentive to your posts, very enriching to have met you here. :)
I just love the time component of the sand sculptures. Because they do not stay around 'forever' it give them even more meaning than art that we can revisit as many times as we want. We are nearly forced to focus, and give it as much attention as possible, because tomorrow can rain:))))
Great job on this one, really interesting backstory too!
Being able to work big and fast is one of the best things about sand for me. Not having to store or find a home for it is another. It is a moment in time and what is left are forgiving memories.
Thank you
Insurance surely is a racket . Is it third party injury insurance you have to get or what is it? I was reading some time back that Squirrel Scramble in Wicklow had to close for a while when their insurance tripled. This health and safety lark will be the death of us!
Yes Third party incase anything happens to the public. My safety is not insured. If I get one job in the year I still have to pay for the entire year. Sometimes it is not worth my while. I have also had to refuse jobs because I can;t get insured like for fire sculpture.
Turned out amazing for being rushed and glad they paid you the full price after all that nonsense 😆
It turned out OK, considering all the nonsense but then that all made for a story I could share.
You could have shared it anyway, just that everything would have gone well rather than be drama-riddled.
I don't know about other people but when it comes to real life I do like boring stories where everything went well for once XD
From my experience nothing ever goes to plan. Luckily, I am always open to adventure.
So impressive, too bad that there are not in ciment or something that would pass the test of time
To be honest I like the fact they don't last. I see a lot of mistakes in what I made and am happy the evidence is gone except for these photos. Sand sculpture is like a performance and so much can happen in the making of a piece that is outside your control that you are never completely happy. This piece worked for the festival but if I were to make it permanent I would want to fix it all and have lots more time.
Thank you
I feel you : when you rush things, you always get the feeling that you can do better, just need to take the time to work on it (happens to me all the time, like daily :-D). But the imperfections gives them charm (and I don't even see any by the way). From my perpective : Simple amazing! I remember how happy I was when I was just able to make sand hold up together using a bucket :-)
Creative works of art. Quantastic and Unique sand sculptures create out 👍👌❤😍
Thanks for sharing your work. God bless you.
Thank you very much. Many more to come. When I can get around to writing.
Interesting sculptures.
Just wondering... Sand gives me an impression that the sculptures might not last for long.
I haven't seen any big sand sculptures like this around where I live.
Do they last for long?
Thank you for the comment. As a material, I have known some sand sculptures to last many years. They actually dry out to become like soft sandstone. Usually the ones I make last for 6 months to a year before I have to remake something in there place.
Thanks for the insight.
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This is sooo amazing! I saw it only now 🤓
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