#24: Building Big Ben: with angels on board

Maybe it's the decade that has passed since this work was done, but I don't remember how my equestrian angels arrived. I've known Ruth Abernethy for quite some time. She lives nearby. Ruth is a world-class sculptor and portraitist. At any rate, she appeared in my studio just when I needed her. The model really needed a perfect wax skin that looked just like Big Ben.

Ruth's sister, Jean Abernethy, was Monty Roberts' illustrator. Monty "The Man Who Listens to Horses" Roberts. Jean is an accomplished artist and rider. We brought her up from her home in Atlanta for the weeks required to understand what was Ben, and what wasn't. 

That this amazing pair of sisters arrived at the perfect moment will remain a mystery to me. Perhaps Ruth could sense me floundering away from her studio 10 km away. She arrived. Jean arrived. Ben happened.

I am carving away at Ben with Jean's guidance. When the surface got close to where it should be, Jean would close her eyes and let her hands tell us where to go. It was amazing.

Ruth and Jean spent many hours just working on the ears. Jean insisted that this was one of the keys to Ben. I stood back, marvelled, and roughed in the figure of Ian, well out of the way.

Ruth working her magic over the whole surface of Ben. She's a wizard in wax, working with great efficiency and fluidity.

A favourite photo, the sisters slaving away far into the evening. I suspect that I could have charged Jean to do this work, but I did pay her. It was hard to get her to go home at night.

The big moment, when Ian Millar and his wife, Lynn zoomed in, quickly approved of where we were, and spent some time playing with the wax tack that I'd made available. The only change Ian wanted was where we'd carved Ben's feet. We'd violated rule one, cutting into the plywood template that defined everything. It was a lovely moment, seeing Ian and Lynn light up with the vision of Big Ben, appearing again in wax.

The team, from left to right, me, Eric Koespel, owner of Artcast, Ruth Abernethy, Jean Abernethy, Lynda and Tony Hendricks, the team leaders from Perth, Ontario.

There was still a ton of work to do, many details to finish, and the rider, Ian, to get carved and fitted. And all the tack to install. Still, it was a relief to get approvals from those that needed to approve, especially Ian. I suspect that there were celebrations for a short time, some extra sleep, and a libation.