When Sculptor, Anthony Bennett met Sheffield's last Grinder, Brian Alcock, in 2009, he was horrified to realise that once Brian retires (he was then 70 years young), and the last jobbing grindstone stops turning, then that will be the end of more than 600 years of professional stone grinding in Sheffield, and with it will be the loss of the skills associated with the trade - forever.
Wishing to influence this predicament in some way, Anthony persuaded Brian to collaborate with him, to create a series of sculptures and other artworks, to illustrate the plight of the grinder, focusing on the fact that the industry is presently much alive, creating bespoke cutting edges for prototype blades and cutting tools.
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The resultant series of artworks allude to a continuum delineating the creation of Bespoke Cutting Edges, in Sheffield, mechanically and digitally, and to show that the skills of the stonegrinder could continue to benefit contemporary designers, prototypers and craftspersons, if the will is there to keep that grindstone working.
“Life”cast hands.
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I was first introduced to Brian Alcock by Ken Hawley MBE, renowned collector of tools, and all things made in Sheffield. Ken was helping me with a project I was starting, which was inspired by his collection. As he was showing me handtools used in the cutlery industry, I noticed that the wooden handles of the tools had been shaped, worn away through constant use, by the hands of their respective employers. I saw “ghosts” of hands grasping the handles. When Ken informed me that there was only a few “Little Mesters” left working in these industries, I asked him if he would introduce me to them, so that I might ask them If they would be so kind as to allow me to cast their hands, holding the tools of their trade, so that the casts could be displayed in Kens collection as a kind of portrait of their skills. What is a tool without the hand that wields it?
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When Brian shook my hand for the first time, I was amazed at the size of his hands. They are huge, and powerful. Very distinctive. He had to be my first subject. He agreed. I made the moulds at my studio, and we got along like a house on fire. He told me all about himself, and his work, and I was hooked. Distracted totally, from the project I had started. I had to work with him to create something, something which showed he is alive and kicking, ready to pull a punch or two.
Seeing him working at the grindstone was awesome (still is). So much potential for artworks. Lets do it.