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Maggi Hambling's resurrection sculpture takes flight in village church Maggi Hambling's resurrection sculpture takes flight in village church
(6 months later)
The artist Maggi Hambling looked up at the shining bird in mirror-polished steel, shimmering high above the altar of St Dunstan's in Mayfield, East Sussex, and at the little piece of silver-painted cardboard in her hand, the original design for her first sculpture for a church. "It hasn't turned out badly, I must say," she said, with satisfaction.The artist Maggi Hambling looked up at the shining bird in mirror-polished steel, shimmering high above the altar of St Dunstan's in Mayfield, East Sussex, and at the little piece of silver-painted cardboard in her hand, the original design for her first sculpture for a church. "It hasn't turned out badly, I must say," she said, with satisfaction.
The unveiling of her evocation of resurrection in time for Easter was an unusual event, a rare and significant contemporary art commission for a village church.The unveiling of her evocation of resurrection in time for Easter was an unusual event, a rare and significant contemporary art commission for a village church.
Hambling is pleased with the reflection of church and congregation captured in the gleaming feathers, but she is also pleased to see her work so securely sheltered.Hambling is pleased with the reflection of church and congregation captured in the gleaming feathers, but she is also pleased to see her work so securely sheltered.
Her Oscar Wilde, sited just off the Strand in central London, regularly loses a cigarette or gains a coat of lipstick thanks to encounters in the small hours. Her giant scallop shell commemorating Benjamin Britten, a gift to his home in Aldeburgh, provoked initial outrage and has had to be scoured clean of graffiti 13 times since it was installed 10 years ago.Her Oscar Wilde, sited just off the Strand in central London, regularly loses a cigarette or gains a coat of lipstick thanks to encounters in the small hours. Her giant scallop shell commemorating Benjamin Britten, a gift to his home in Aldeburgh, provoked initial outrage and has had to be scoured clean of graffiti 13 times since it was installed 10 years ago.
"After my experiences on Aldeburgh beach, you may note that any graffiti artists here will have their work cut out for them," she said contentedly."After my experiences on Aldeburgh beach, you may note that any graffiti artists here will have their work cut out for them," she said contentedly.
Hambling describes her religious position as "optimistic doubter", but death has been an important element in her work: she has made tender death-bed drawings of close friends, and of her own father.Hambling describes her religious position as "optimistic doubter", but death has been an important element in her work: she has made tender death-bed drawings of close friends, and of her own father.
For many years she has also made a painting or a drawing, often on the subject of a crucifixion, on Good Friday.For many years she has also made a painting or a drawing, often on the subject of a crucifixion, on Good Friday.
"This might do for this year, but I won't know until I wake up. It was always the most miserable day of my childhood year: nobody allowed to laugh, the food was always horrible, it was always dark, it was a wretched day. So now it's just something I do for myself," she said."This might do for this year, but I won't know until I wake up. It was always the most miserable day of my childhood year: nobody allowed to laugh, the food was always horrible, it was always dark, it was a wretched day. So now it's just something I do for myself," she said.
Mayfield has a tradition of craftsmanship: it was once the centre of the local iron industry. The church, partly dating from the 13th century, is also a suitable place for a resurrection sculpture, having burned to the ground twice in medieval times and risen again. The church is said to have been founded by St Dunstan to mark the spot where in his days as a blacksmith he set about the devil with a red-hot tongs.Mayfield has a tradition of craftsmanship: it was once the centre of the local iron industry. The church, partly dating from the 13th century, is also a suitable place for a resurrection sculpture, having burned to the ground twice in medieval times and risen again. The church is said to have been founded by St Dunstan to mark the spot where in his days as a blacksmith he set about the devil with a red-hot tongs.
"You may now say cor, wow!" Father Nigel Prior told his audience as the Hambling sculpture was revealed."You may now say cor, wow!" Father Nigel Prior told his audience as the Hambling sculpture was revealed.
Four years ago, his sacristan, Walter Prodger – a former banker who retired young to take care of his ailing mother, and did it so well she lived into her 90s – died. To Prior's astonishment, Prodger left the church almost £1m.Four years ago, his sacristan, Walter Prodger – a former banker who retired young to take care of his ailing mother, and did it so well she lived into her 90s – died. To Prior's astonishment, Prodger left the church almost £1m.
It was Prior's idea to spend some of it on commissioning a work of art as a memorial – to some muttering in the parish. "It is mainly my fault. I have got a thing about art," he said. "Of course people have questioned if it's the most suitable way to spend the money, but we do give to the poor, we do all the things a church should do, and we have spent less than a 10th of his legacy on creating a thing of beauty."It was Prior's idea to spend some of it on commissioning a work of art as a memorial – to some muttering in the parish. "It is mainly my fault. I have got a thing about art," he said. "Of course people have questioned if it's the most suitable way to spend the money, but we do give to the poor, we do all the things a church should do, and we have spent less than a 10th of his legacy on creating a thing of beauty."
Two of Prodger's friends looked intently at the sculpture.Two of Prodger's friends looked intently at the sculpture.
"It's such a beautiful thing, I don't see how anyone could dislike it," Sue Martin said. "Some of Walter's happiest hours were spent in his garden, listening to the birds. I shall sit in my pew every Sunday and feel as if Walter is still here." "I voted against it," said Warwick Child, a former navy man. "But if I've voted against something and it happens anyway, I shut up and get on with it. No doubt I shall get used to it.""It's such a beautiful thing, I don't see how anyone could dislike it," Sue Martin said. "Some of Walter's happiest hours were spent in his garden, listening to the birds. I shall sit in my pew every Sunday and feel as if Walter is still here." "I voted against it," said Warwick Child, a former navy man. "But if I've voted against something and it happens anyway, I shut up and get on with it. No doubt I shall get used to it."
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