Over the last six or seven years, Mike Goldmark has provided encouragement to develop my work whilst keeping to the original, simple philosophy of working with what nature and the elements does to man-made and organic material. Every now and then a bit of madness creeps in and a more unusual piece emerges. This is an example. A couple of years ago, Louis ran excitedly from the top of the pebbles, with the yellow plastic remains of a child’s sand-rake. “Look Sid. Buzzards feet”! He was quite right. Buzzards’ feet are bright yellow, and his idea slowly brought this composition to completion. There wasn’t an appropriate body in the studio, so the legs sat in their box and patiently waited. On the 30th Dec., 2011, we were staying in Penzance before going to Tresco for New Year. It was cold, wet and windy as Jo and I beach-combed along Mounts Bay towards Newlyn Harbour. The beach ended and I suggested we climb the steps and call it a day. Jo declined and carried on over difficult, slippery rocks and an incoming tide. This is a classic example of Jo’s enthusiasm and indefatigable energy. Thus against all the odds, the body for this piece of work appeared, edged in the rocks forming the entrance to Newlyn. I think it’s Scotch Pine. Wonderfully shaped. Full of character. It immediately asked for yellow feet! By now we had the large, strong, purple base, one of three found about four years ago. We had two thirds of a bird. What would make an ideal head. Wood seemed an easy option, so that was out of the question. Let’s see what happens, I thought. On a walk down to the dunes, on a stretch where we don’t often find anything, there was just the right piece. I think its half of a pair of secateurs, or possibly a glass cutter. Whatever it is, it made an ideal head. What a character. A real family effort. Feet by Louis, body by Jo, head by Sid!
