A close look at one of the 86 hands
This morning, a friend of mine called to tell me that there was a sculpture out on the 2nd Line Road, a spot where one can bask under the shadow of the turbines. She told me that the installation piece was doomed to be destroyed, and if I wanted to see it, I should get there quickly. Not even knowing what I was looking for, I immediately went out, knowing that I would recognize it when I saw it. And I did.
This is what I saw; perfectly executed hands, in all different positions, holding rocks, poised to throw. Since there were 86 hands, I interpreted the piece to be a protest against the 86 windmills, possibly done by someone else who got very little sleep over the weekend. A tired mind can be a great visionary.
My friend sees it as people buried, and reaching up from the ground to throw stones at the turbines. Perhaps they are the same people who are rolling over in their graves over what has been done to their island. I am reminded of the story 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson where the townspeople drew lots to see which of the villagers would be stoned to death as a sacrifice to insure a bountiful harvest.
Wolfe Island is home to many talented artists, my friend included, but a guerilla installation of rock throwing hands is an avant-gard concept. Since civil disobedience is so much more difficult than it was in the sixties, we must make our statements when, where and how we can, and in ways that are legal.
It is a given that the installation will be destroyed, if it hasn't been already. It's a shame, a lot of work went into the piece as did, I imagine, a lot of emotion. I hope a lot of people get to see it, to take pictures, to talk about on the boat in the morning. Perhaps they will think of some creative forms of protest, a positive way to transform this negative experience.
Sculpted hands poised to stone the turbine
