The Sun Catcher

The Sun Catcher sculpture was commissioned by the Forest of Bowland A.O.N.B (now known as National Landscape) in 2014 as part of the area’s 50th Anniversary of being designated an Area Of Natural Beauty and stood on Jeffrey Hill for 1 year. It was one of 4 sculptures around the area and was designed by Blackburn based artist Halima Cassell, she has exhibited throughout the UK and abroad including the V&A, the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool and the Hepworth in Wakefield. Halima was appointed MBE in 2021’s New Year’s Honours for her services to art and now lives in Shropshire.

The sculpture was carved from a single piece of 150 year old oak and was equally lauded and loathed around the region, with many finding the sinuous, organic curves to be a perfect counter-poise to those of the fells on the horizon and reminiscent of a wind sculpted tree like those found on Jeffrey hill.

Intriguing or Intruding?

Others found it to be an intrusion to a well loved beauty spot and questioned the lack of public consultation in the decision to place such a large work of art (14ft tall) in an area designated as an area of natural beauty precisely because of its lack of man made intrusions.

Some local critics were more vocal and frank in their views on the artwork, proclaiming it to be obscene in its appearance and cost and resembling a “giant fox poo stood on its end” quoting a local farmer and “phallic”.

Of course all good public artworks draw applause and jeers in equal measure, it is supposed to be their purpose after all, and after its year having pride of place on the top of Longridge fell looking over the valley of the river Loud, it was removed by a front loader, put on a flatbed truck and shipped down to the English/Welsh border where it now has a new home.

A B-H