Flying Pterodactyl Sculpture
In 2019 I was invited to create a sculpture for the Enchanted Woods area at Shambala festival. With ‘extinction’ as the carnival theme that year, and the option of rigging the piece in the trees, I choose to make a pterodactyl. As I researched (and became slightly obsessed!) with these amazing creatures, I learnt that technically I was making a Pterosaur – the generic name for these winged reptiles of which pterodactyls are one type. Myself and artist Rosa Roberts spent two days in the beautiful woods before the festival creating the piece, which became known to us simply as Terry.
It was fascinating to study and re-create the structure of a pterosaur in willow. Terry ended up with a 15ft wing span and was brilliantly lit by optic artist Caz from Nematode. And then – my favourite moment – skilfully & carefully rigged up in the trees. From there he looked out at all the revellers in this otherworldly venue, night and day throughout one scorchingly hot festival.
