Eye of the Needle

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The Eye of the Needle was originally made for the annual exhibition of embroidery at Ramster House and Gardens near Chiddingfold, Surrey. Being vertical the sculpture has been an axis point in the collection and at exhibitions I have  arranged other sculptures around it. I found the rope at Pounds naval scrap-yard in Portsmouth and bought it for £20; used as a 'thread' it gave me a scale to work to and as an element in the sculpture has taken many different shapes often defining territory and sometimes tied with knots; as a reminder. I was interested in the enlargement of small-scale objects associated with the human hand; jacks, small tools, a tea infuser; and in particular finding an image for skills associated with the thumb and forefinger.
It is interesting to see the different components that went into its fabrication; the effect of galvanising shows all the joins even after they are ground flat. Except if you use stainless steel wire in your MIG welder.
It is nothing new to compare our lives to a journey through a needles eye. So unbelievably specific. All the thoughts and actions you have, going through one channel, an elliptical Circle to travel through; and one littered with metaphors. Camels and rich men, eyes and doorways lurk in the icon.