The Martyr - sand sculpture

All things considered I'd prefer to live for a cause than die for one. I see all round the world that their are people who would give their life in the name of their religion but for me I think I'm a bit more 'a la carte' when it comes to the rules laid down by institutions. I was raised a good Irish catholic but as time went on it has morphed into a bit more of a personal belief system. The main thing I take form it all is 'Do unto others as you would have them do onto you' or to paraphrase ' Don't be a dick'. It's a simple enough philosophy and if more people lived by that rule maybe, just maybe we could all get along.

Losing my Religion

One of the strangest things about organised Religion is when groups from the same belief system separate into different gangs and decide that the others are sinners because they aren't following the right rules which are laid down by some guy or other. It can all be rather silly especially when they start killing each other in the process of being dicks. Then there are the ones that think their team is so good they are willing to give their life for it. I'm sure if God was looking down he would tell them all to cope on to themselves.

I supposed this is the main things that got me distancing myself from organised partisan religion. There have been so many dick things done in it's name and people following along because someone told them so. It seems that many give up their own sense of morals for the greater tribe.

Case in point the story of Margret Ball.

Another year, another exhibition

We were asked to make our sculptures about the history of Dublin Castle at this years exhibition because they were putting up the money and wanted a say. We really didn't like the idea of them dictating the theme but decided to agree for this year hoping to convince them later that it should be an art exhibition and not just illustrations which is was what sand sculpture was becoming International. So we took a deep breath and held our tongues.

It is quite a historic building and there were many stories to draw from, I chose the story of Mrs. Ball

For Gods sake

In 15th century Dublin she married into a rich family and had a life of leisure. Bearing 10 children and her husband became Lord Mayor of the city. All was rosy until Queen Elizabeth 1 decided that she wanted everyone in her realm to follow her as the Religious leader of the Church. The pope in Rome should not be who her subjects looked to, she was the Queen by Devine right. Of course Margret and many other Irish people were not for changing and continued on their Roman Catholicism in private, saying mass at home

When Margret eldest son Walter followed in his fathers footsteps into politics he embraced this new religion and when he got the job lord mayor he had his 68 year old mother arrested and dragged through the streets of the city up to Dublin Castle where she was thrown in the dungeons till she repented and changed her tune.

Margret said 'Nope' and there she died from deprivation three year later. Keeping her Religious values. She was beatified by Pope john Paul II in 1992 for being a team player.

The sculpture

I represented the story with Margret Ball laying dead below two different angels symbolising the two different same religions. These characters stand in very neutral poses of unconcern over the body which lies below the chapel window of the castle.
A simple enough piece in composition but I liked the iconic image it gave of a darker time in our history.

Epilogue

Even though her Son Walter was such a Dick, Margret still bequeathed all of her belongings to him after her death. Although she could have easily changed her will.

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Ps

Thanks for reading. I use Steem to document my work as an ephemeral Sculptor of sand, snow and ice, among other things. This will hopefully give it a new life on the Steem blockchain. Below you will find some of my recent posts.

Clash - short film

Berlin Olympics 1936 - sand sculpture

A hop, skip and jump - sand sculpture

I hope you'll join me again soon
@ammonite