MAID OF COVID

THE COVID MAID; About this sculpture

This figure is sculpted from wood and covered in brass, copper and aluminium sheet.

She was sculpted in ‘The time of Covid’. She symbolizes the women of the world trying to free themselves from the Covid virus.

The tree started life as a Christmas tree about 50 years ago, not long after these houses were built. It had grown to a great height, taking our light, and finally its days were numbered.

But I wanted to honour the tree by using the remaining trunk.

The sun sets behind the tree; a perfect location for creating a human silhouette.

The tree trunk is only 1400mm in diameter, making a very slim cylinder and limiting the figure’s design.

At first I considered a diver, diving from the tree top, but that was too static and symmetrical. I wanted a figure with movement, and one that would be a challenge to carve.

Using Google search “woman standing doing something”, prompted the idea of a woman standing with arms above her head taking off her T shirt.

I transferred the design to RHINO, a computer graphics programme, to ensure that the figure was in proportion and that the movement of her body and arms could be appreciated from the path to Bessalone. Positioning her arms took a long time!

I realised that the structure of the tree would be compromised if I carved legs, so here she is appearing from the living wood.

I researched hair styles looking for a large plait, which could be seen from a distance.

Once I was happy with the shape and movement, I covered the carving in a combination of brass, copper and aluminium sheet to protect her from the weather RUCHARD BETTS ARTIST