A day at the Beech
23rd March 2011
A diseased Beech tree, dieing from the top, threatened to damage the sculpture Ash Dome at David Nash's woodland, Cae'n y Coed. A number of Beech were planted here by David in the mid 70's and they have grown into a mighty stand of trees. They have stood over the Ash Dome and all the trees have grown together for nearly 40 years. With it's close proximity to Ash Dome it was deemed wise to take the diseased Beech down and 'Ginger' and Iolo from Alpha Tree Services came today to do the job.
An area at Cae'n y Coed is cordened off for safety with bright orange tape.
Within this cordon a new work is being planned in collaboration with David's wife Claire. A new planting work comprising of fruit trees is being envisaged for this space.
Ash Dome and the diseased Beech tree to the left of the photograph with the orange tape around its trunk.
'Ginger' makes the first cut.
A 'hinge' is created.
The great Beech is about to fall.
The Beech tree is down. When it struck the ground it gave a deep thud, throwing huge clods of earth into the air and sounding like an almighty big bass drum being struck.
Stump, Trunk and Ash Dome.
Today might mark the end of the Beech tree but it is also the beginning of a new process that will bring new life to the log as it is made into sculpture. David Nash marks out the sculptures inside the trunk so that it can be cut into the apropriate lengths. David hopes that this series of sculptures, from this one tree, will form an exhibition of their own and stay together.
Talking of exhibitions... David Nash at Yorkshire Sculpture Park has come to an end after almost a year and some of the works are finding their way back to the workshops in Blaenau Ffestiniog. Other works have gone to Germany en route to other exhibitions around Europe.
Looking inside a Nash sculpture as it lies at the workshops.
by Locws International on March 28th, 2011
The artworks look marvelous together back at the workshop, home sweet home.