Breathing new life into old metal

A number of artists jumped at the opportunity to claim and redesign a piece of history when the aging copper roof was removed earlier this summer. Now the heavily patinated sheets of metal have been banged, molded and cut into works of art that will be up for sale next Friday, October 25 at the Bacardi International building in the ÎRaise the Roof: A Celebration in Artâ auction.

An open preview will be held from noon to 5:30pm on Thursday, October 24 with a reception and the auction the following night starting at 6pm. At least 50 per cent of the proceeds will go in support of the Cathedralâs ÎRaise the Roofâ fund with the remaining proceeds going to the participating artists.

ãThis is such a once in a life-time opportunity and Iâm hoping that everybody who can, gets to it,ä artist Lynn Morrell, who has created mirrors and copper-clad figures for the auction, said.

ãEven if you donât intend to buy, come and see what people are doing. This has challenged all us artists to work in ways we donât normally. It got us out of our comfort zone and made us try new stuff. That in itself is really exciting.ä

Her husband, David Morrell, a goldsmith by trade, is also participating in the project. He has created plates, bowls and vases from the aged copper with some retaining the original patina and others striped back to their original colour.

Stained glass artist Vivienne Gardner saw the coiled shreds of cut copper that came off the roof and decided they would make a perfect mane and tail for the rearing horse she decided to create. As a long time member of the Cathedral, she felt she needed to be a part of the project ÷ which ended up being more difficult than she first thought.

ãItâs a challenge. Iâll enjoy it when itâs over ÷ right now I am hating the animal,ä she said, laughing.

Sheila Semos and her husband David worked in tandem to create ornate garden sculptures out of the material. Sheila designed templates while David created a multitude of animals including frogs, snails, herons, butterflies and cats. Furthering the sense of community inspired by the ÎRaise the Roofâ campaign, David decided to invite the older youths in his Boys Brigade to help him and they created a number of insects that rest on copper tubes.

ãI thought it was a wonderful opportunity,ä Mrs. Semos said. ãItâs nice that some of the copper is going to stay here in another form and be enjoyed. I hope the people who have made it have gotten pleasure out of doing something with it. It is not the easiest material to work with, we have learned.ä

The biggest buzz, however, surrounds Graham Foster. The popular Bermudian artist has been credited recently for his fantastic and macabre steel sculptures but many maybe surprised by his obvious choice of a large cross sculpture. That is, until you tune into his logic..

The piece is intended to be ãa tribute to the indigenous peoples whose artwork and culture werenât always appreciated or valued as they should have been in days gone by,ä he said.

He began with a simple pine cross and spent more than 120 hours hammering and chiselling tiny pieces of the copper to cover it in a unique, tribal-influenced patchwork pattern.

ãSome pieces have more work than others ÷ the ones with just a couple of marks on them retain more of the original green 80-year-old patina,ä Foster explained.

ãAnd to give it that ultimate tribal touch I decided to inbed cowrie shells into it as a highlight.

ãIt seemed like an obvious shape,ä he continued. ãThen there is the whole tribal influence on the cross· the whole history of the church interacting with different tribes over the last 300 years is all contained within this one piece.ä

The preview from noon to 5:30pm on Thursday will be open to the public, but the auction is by invitation only said organizer Sheila Manderson.

ãWe are looking forward to seeing all the various works of art. It should be quite an interesting affair,ä she said.[[In-content Ad]]