David Mayne
David Mayne, The Farnham Sculpture, maquette
In October, we invite you to join us for the launch of the Farnham Sculpture, the new public art commission in Waggon Yard that celebrates the Craft Town Farnham.
Proposals were invited in 2019 for a public sculpture that is inspired by the heritage and tradition of crafts in Farnham practised in the area during the Roman period: the district was known as a pottery centre due to its supply of gault clay, oak woodland for fuel and good communication links. Kilns dating as far as AD 100 have been found in the area. Today, Farnham hosts a remarkable number of craft institutions and makers. The sculpture aims to enhance the public knowledge and understanding of the heritage while bringing pleasure to the community and visitors alike.
In early 2020, the local community voted to choose from three shortlisted proposals. David Mayne was awarded the Craft Town Public Art Commission. David's Farnham Sculpture received 58% of the public vote.
The Farnham Sculpture celebrates the oak tree - something which was abundant in the area while also links to the history and heritage of Farnham. The sculptures will be fabricated from steel, bronze and oak, after the bronze acorn is first modelled in clay. Imagery refers to the oak forests that surrounded Farnham. The project involves schools and the community in the design for a sense of shared ownership with the local community in the final artwork.
David Mayne is a sculptor of national repute who produces work for galleries, public spaces and the domestic environment. His artwork has been commissioned throughout the country and can be found in town centres, rural locations, public buildings and private homes and gardens. Over the past 30 years, David has developed his work from raw assemblage with found objects to the much more refined pieces he now creates.
David's interior sculpture will be showcased for a simultaneous special exhibition from 27 September to 7 November.
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