Sculptor Andrew Logan has created a sculptural cross, Remember Me, for St Davids Cathedral in Pembrokeshire, just in time for St David’s Day.
Andrew has been working on the piece for several months in his studio by the Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture in Berriew, near Welshpool, and will loan the cross to St Davids Cathedral.
Remember Me includes Andrew’s eclectic mix of objects, many collected from his travels, and has a distinctly Welsh theme, representing nature and his interpretation of humanity’s treatment of the planet.
The cross features a resin casting of the Green Man’s face at its centre, surrounded by bronze painted leaves mounted on a blue and green mirrored sun base.
A rising blue sun tops the pieces and the shaft of the cross is decorated with pieces of varnished mulberry wood taken from a fallen 400-year-old tree in the Archdeaconry garden in St Davids Cathedral Close, home to the Rev Sophie Whitmarsh.
The tree pieces have red mirror discs embedded, representing the bleeding of nature and various stones gifted to Andrew from countries around the world – from all four Home Nations to as far afield as Russia, Australia, India, Thailand and Morocco.
Remember Me includes three statues of people holding planet earth in their hands, a metallic plaque of the Welsh Dragon, a sculpture of St David, a pair of hands which flash with red light and a white dove made in Andrew’s signature style of mosaic pieces of mirror, glass and resin.
“This sculptural cross project comes with a message to everyone to ‘Be Aware’, as it deals with human’s disregard for their home planet – Earth,” explained Andrew. “I call it a Living Organism of the Planet and it was inspired by my visit to St Davids.”
As soon as travel restrictions allow, the cross will be transported to St Davids to be displayed at the cathedral. The Very Rev Dr Sarah Rowland Jones, Dean of St Davids, said: “In giving Andrew the mulberry wood, we had no idea it would return here, and yet what could be more apt than a cross?
“Its glorious design presents us with, dare I say, a provocative as well as often all too necessary invitation to look at the cross with fresh eyes. It drives home the twin realities that the sins Jesus bore there include humanity’s maltreatment of our planet, and the redemption he won embraces all of creation.”
This project came about due to a connection between Andrew Logan and Sophie Whitmarsh, who met many years ago at an exhibition at Roche Court in Salisbury. They bumped into each other again in St Davids last summer where Sophie is now curate and minor canon at the cathedral.
She is delighted to be involved in this venture. “It was such a wonderful surprise to see Andrew exploring the cathedral grounds and a pleasure to be able to show him the beautiful architecture and the history of this remarkable site in which people have worshipped since the sixth century,” she said.
“Andrew has drawn inspiration from so many aspects of St David and having the cross here for a time will add to the already world renowned cultural, historical and spiritual significance of St Davids Cathedral and city. ”
The sculpture itself will hopefully be installed ready for viewing at the Cathedral this summer.
