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Project Blackjack
Saint John the Baptist
The Virgin and Child
Throughout  2021 I was extremely privileged to work on a prestigious commission to produce two  sculptures, each over two metres high, for the tower of the beautiful church of St. John Baptist in Cirencester; one of the Baptist, and the other of the Virgin and Child. Entitled "Project Blackjack", the commission was for the replacement of two stone sculptures removed from niches half-way up the tower in the 1960s, because they had become dangerous. They were also blackened with age, which is probably why the street beneath the statue of St. John became, over the years, known as Blackjack Street. Details of my intentions and a continuing record of the sculptures progress can be seen by clicking here, or by visiting the church's website dedicated to the project, http://www.projectblackjack.org.uk/or their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CirenBlackJack/ .The installation took place place in August, and on 5th September, I had the honour of accompanying Bishop Rachel of Gloucester as she ascended in a cherry-picker to bless them.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who have made this project possible. Firstly the project committee, and particularly its secretary. Meg Blumsom; and the Vicar, Canon Graham Morris, for his boundless enthusiasm and theological advice. I also want to thank the foundry, Bronze Age, for their continuing help, support, and immense skill. They are so often the unsung heroes of sculptural work. Likewise, my thanks go to Lucy Branch, the conservator, for her invaluable advice; to the architect, Antony Feltham-King, and to Andrew Hewitt and his team at Artful Logistics, without whose expertise the sculptures would not have been in place. Lastly, I wish to thank the people of Cirencester, who have given the sculptures and me a tremendous welcome. It should never be forgotten that all public artworks are a team effort, of which the artist is only a part.
The eminent conservator Lucy Branch, whose company Antique Bronze looks after many of the most important bronze sculptures in London, including Nelson's Column, Eros and the Albert Memorial,  interviewed me during the course of this project.. The interview can be heard on Lucy's website, Sculpture Vulture, which contains references to her own work and interests, together with podcast links and transcripts of other interviews.

Rodney Munday- Sculptor Much Hadham, Herts SG10 6BB UK Miramont, 09140, Oust, Ariege, France Phone +44(0)1279 843652 (UK) +33(0)561 964672 (France) Mobile 07981 472751 email rodneymunday@gmail.com
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