'The Deer's Cry' sculpture can be found in the Market near to the entrance to the Car Park. It consists of 12 metal panels which are the work of Manx Artist Nicola Dixon and are her interpretation of ten lines from the poem 'The Deer's Cry' which are meant to relate to Peel's history and its environment.
The 'Deer's Cry' which is also known as 'St. Patrick's Breastplate' or 'The Lorica of St. Patrick' is an historical poem or prayer reputedly written by St. Patrick.
The following is a news article written at the time when the sculpture was first installed:
'An historical poem and prayer, supposedly written by St. Patrick, has been translated into a stunning new art work, which has been installed in the Market Square, Peel.
‘The Deer’s Cry’, also referred to as ‘St. Patrick’s Breastplate’ or ‘The Lorica of St. Patrick’ has been transformed by Manx Artist Nicola Dixon into 12 metal panels, depicting ten lines of the poem, which she feels relate to Peel’s history and the environment.
‘The lines I chose to work with are: “I arise today, through strength of heaven, light of sun, radiance of moon, splendour of fire, speed of lightning, swiftness of wind, depth of sea, stability of earth and firmness of rock”.
‘They really place you in environment, and in nature. I thought was great for Peel, because Peel is one of those places where there is always people in the environment. You look up and there is always someone on the hill, or on the beach, or on the breakwater.
‘The depth of sea is shown as the life under the sea, the stability of the earth is shown as the Manx landscape, the view up the coast and the firmness of rock is Shown as St. Patrick’s Isle’.
‘I also have the history of boats coming to Peel, with Viking boats, followed by Manx Nickies, Herring drifters and the motorised fishing boats. There is also sea life included, such as seals, Minke whales, herring, queenies and basking sharks.’
Nicola has worked on these panels for most of this year. She prepared a series of drawings, which set out the flowing narrative of the piece, before sending them to a foundry in the UK that specialises in water-jet cutting of metal.
The pieces were then finished off and installed by the Gallas foundry of Douglas.
‘There has been a lot of heart and soul put into this. It had to be right for Peel. It has been an extreme challenge, but all the better for it,’ she said.'
by Mike Wade
mike.wade@iomtoday.co.im
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