Finding Dory

Quite a few years ago, we found a beautiful little metal broach in the backyard of the House that Rocks. This was not surprising as we have unearthed a variety of items whilst we created our garden. Whole bottles, rock borders of buried garden beds, rusty metal (of course) and myriad other objects that some would view as junk. In Michael's eyes, and to a lesser extent, my eyes, very few found pieces are ever categorised as rubbish.

And Michael has been mesmerised by this little broach, which is shaped like a fish in profile. We displayed it on our kitchen windowsill for months, then attached it to my hat when we attended Gina and Andrew's Steampunk Wedding of the Century. Promptly forgetting its location, Michael flew into a panic a few weeks ago. He had long dreamed of making a sculpture based on the broach.

Fortunately, he had photocopied it and created a few drawings. Armed with these, he set himself the task of revamping its initial sketches into a full-scale model. Drawn with chalk on a door. Which wasn't big enough. So he added scrap pieces of wood to finish the job. As ever, I was in awe of his vision. Except I assumed the sculpture would be 2D.

I have no spatial awareness whatsoever. Michael's sculptures always delight me as I can never envisage the end result. He sees them from the very beginning in all their glory. Like taking on the renovation of the Forbes Building. All I could see was a total disaster that needed to be bulldozed. Everybody else who saw the building in her original condition thought we were mad. Michael for wanting it and me for following him with very little protest. Four years later, he has had the last laugh and I will never doubt him again.

Back to the sculpture. Michael's explanation of its final appearance was beyond my comprehension. "That's nice, dear" was my automatic response. Until he started on her domed shaped. Dory was being born.

And they are both having a difficult time of it. Given the curve of her body, Michael is having to cold bend the rods. He had made all the fifty-three circles that are to be her scales. The sculpture is being worked on multiple planes. And although he is finding Dory stretching his artistic and practical talent, he is loving every minute of bringing her to life.

We were asked yesterday how long Dory is going to take to be completed. Michael shrugged. How long is a piece of string? She will take as long as she takes. And when we have guests in the Gallery, they are always fascinated to watch him work. As am I.

Here are some progress photographs of Dory. They so do not do her justice. Feel free to drive up to Heavenly Beverley to take a peek of her in Michael's workshop behind the East End Gallery.

And we located my hat and the original broach!

Dory's Progress this far.