Squirrel-Themed Artwork Unveiled At New East Harling Community
Three Caithness Stone pillars featuring carved squirrels have been unveiled in East Harling - the latest in a Norfolk house builder’s programme of commissioning public artworks from the county’s artists.
The stones, which were created by Norfolk stonemason Teucer Wilson, have been placed on a public open space at Three Squirrels, Abel Homes’ development of 102 energy-efficient family homes in the village.
The sculpture was unveiled by Tony and Maggie Abel of Abel Homes, East Harling Parish Council chairman Philip Edge and Teucer Wilson at a special event attended by residents of the new homes.
Abel Homes commissioned the artwork as part of its ongoing public art programme, which sees a new piece of art commissioned from a local artist at each of the developments where it builds new homes. It is the sixteenth piece of public artwork to be commissioned by Abel Homes since it announced the project in 2008.
Each of the three Caithness stones, standing approximately two metres high, features a carved squirrel, celebrating the three squirrels in the coat of arms of Sir Thomas Lovell, a highly-regarded 16th century benefactor of the village who is buried in the village’s church, and which have also given their name to the new community.
Addressing the assembled residents at the unveiling ceremony, Abel Homes chairman Tony Abel said, “As locally-based house builders, everything we do is undertaken in the knowledge that homes are ultimately about people, and people are always happiest when they are part of thriving, mutually-supportive communities.
“When we build new homes, we try very hard to create real communities, and our public artwork programme is designed to provide a focal point for those communities, a place where residents can meet and chat.
“The whole point of commissioning these public artworks is to help to start to bind the threads of each new community together, through sparking conversations and giving a sense of shared ownership.”
This is the fourth commission from Abel Homes from stonemason Teucer Wilson, whose studio is a Burgh near Aylsham. Since coming to Norfolk in 2000 after serving a five year apprenticeship at a leading stone carver in London, he has completed a number of high-profile commissions, including at the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, the RAF Bircham Newton War Memorial, and the Blaenavon Gateway in south Wales.
More details about Three Squirrels at East Harling can be found at www.abelhomes.co.uk.