The Japanese artist Sayaka Ganz has donated two of her unique sculptures to raise funds for the Agricultural Benevolent Trust, to be sold in an online auction this week.
Sayaka has created the sculptures during her time on the Island, after she became inspired by the stories of how the winter snowstorms had devastated the Island’s stocks of sheep and lambs, particularly on the west coast.
She has created two sculptures - a sheep and a lamb - in her unique style and hopes the online auction will help to raise a generous donation to the Trust.
“It’s a response to the news stories I have seen about the thousands of lambs and sheep killed in the snow,” she said. “I wanted to make a contribution and donate the proceeds to the IOMABT.”
Graham Crowe, chairman of the IOMABT, said, “The Agricultural Benevolent Trust are extremely grateful to Sayaka for her wonderful gesture in auctioning the amazing sculptures in aid of the snow fund.
“It is a great example of how the impact of the march blizzard and its effect on the Manx farming community has touched the hearts of so many people from different parts of the world. We hope the auction will prove to be very successful”.
It took Sayaka around two weeks to complete the sculptures, incorporating materials which she gathered together while on the Island, such as plastic spoons, coat hangers and kitchen utensils. Her work is well known around the world, including the USA, Europe and Japan.
The Japanese artist has also taken part in environmental projects during her time on the Island, including beach cleaning sessions with local volunteer group Beach Buddies.
The two sculptures can be seen online at www.facebook.com/SayakaGanz, as well as at the Isle Gallery in Tynwald Mills, and bids can be made on Facebook up until 6pm, June 23rd. The online auction will close on June 23rd and the sculptures will be sold to the highest bidder.
• Sayaka Ganz’s exhibition of her unique sculptures - ‘Feng Shui - Wind and Water’ - continues at the Isle Gallery at Tynwald Mills, St John’s until this coming Friday, June 14th.
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