Sculpting in Russia

I feel honoured to have been invited to participate in the inaugural New Zealand Woodsculpting Festival in the Udmurt Republic, central Russia, from 18 to 25 August this year.

This is an extraordinary opportunity to work alongside New Zealand as well as Russian and Indigenous Udmurt sculptors. From local wood we will be creating works that are to establish a permanent sculpture park in the forest around the Sanatorium Iac; an area that will serve as a beautiful retreat for people from all over the region. The theme of the festival is based around the local myths and legends of the Udmurt people. It is a joy to share this universal, hands-on process of revealing the forms hidden within a log of wood, cutting across both cultural and language barriers.

Festival organisers will be taking care of me within Russia but I'll need to pay for my own airfares and accommodation from New Zealand to Moscow.  I'll be writing blogs and posting pictures daily, so you can accompany me on this expedition to share a little bit of New Zealand with the people of Udmurt.

On the way home, I'm planning to connect with a significant part of my father's story by visiting Stalag XXA in Poland, where he spent several of his WWII years . It promises to be a very moving experience and I sincerely hope you'll help me to get there through your donations and by telling others about my story. Thank you.