mother earth

Mother Earth

Risley Moss, Warrington. Commissioned by Risley Moss Nature Park, Birchwood, Warrington. Risley Moss was a former commercially worked peat moss. Mother Earth was commissioned through a residency based in a community school in Birchwood, funded by five Governmental Agencies

Mother Earth was one project in a series undertaken during Phil’s residency. The choice of earth and turf as media was a result of the desire of the Risley Moss Rangers to maintain the ecological integrity of the site as a nature reserve.

The figure represents the annually renewed cycle of animal and plant life on the reserve. The sleeping posture of the figure refers to evidence of Celtic fertility rites, such as Lindow Man found in local peat deposits. Workshops in schools created flowers and butterflies that were planted around the sculpture during a performance by Happenstance Theatre Company.