Sculpture unveiled

On Saturday, November 29, Wilshampstead 
Parish Council Chairman Nigel Jacobs introduced the project and asked Mr 
Pibworth to briefly talk about his creative process and 
production method.

The information board which accompanied the sculpture and tells the story of farming locally through the ages was unveiled alongside the sculpture.

The horse hoe had been used by the Crouch and Wisson family within the Village of Wilstead, but as the farming life became more mechanised this hoe was deemed redundant, left forgotten in the corner of the farm’s yard.

After unveiling the information board Mrs Wisson patted the sculpture of the labourer on the head and proclaimed him to be, with a wry grin ‘a good ole boy’.

The sculpture of the Labourer was created by artist Paul Pibworth and assisted by three students from Bedford College, Victoria Earp, Zoe Lecordier and Hannah Robertson.

Four bodies of text make up the man. Names of local farm workers from the 1901 census are on the chest, torso and back.

The artist’s father, Clarence Pibworth spoke on how horseman and hoe were used on the land.

Extracts from these interviews have been laser cut out of stainless steel sheets and then welded in position around a stainless steel skeletal structure.

The final act was to pour concrete into the void. This gives the illusion that the letters are floating and making up the skin of the labourer.

If you would like to go and view the sculpture for yourself it is positioned on Longmeadow Drive at the junction with Church Farm Avenue, Wilstead.

Paul’s work can also be found at www.paulpibworth.co.uk