\n In 2022, Darwen-based artist Marjan Wouda had a temporary three-part installation in Whitaker Park entitled \u2018Familiar\u2019.\n<\/p>\n
\n It was based on three local folktales, the largest sculpture being a 3.6-metre Corten steel hare which the locals nicknamed \u2018Mr Hare\u2019.\n<\/p>\n
\n Marjan said: \u201cTo have a sculpture in the right place can really transform it, and I think Rawtenstall town centre is so lovely with the hills, and it connects the sculpture to that habitat as well.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cI think maybe we are waking up to the importance of our moorland, especially with climate change.Sir Hare outside The Whitaker (Image: Brandon Marples)\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cPeople are fascinated by hares. They seem to occupy a special place in people’s imagination, so I think that helps to get people talking, as they are very much endangered, their numbers are going down.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n The campaign was suggested by Andy MacNae, MP for Rossendale and Darwen,\u00a0and linked Mid Pennine Arts (MPA) with Marjan and other local enthusiasts to bring back the sculpture.\n<\/p>\n
\n Creative director of MPA, Nick Hunt, said: \u201cAndy recognises the importance of art out in the landscapes to provide a new kind of destination and focal point.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cLocal people had the previous experience of having it for six months at the Whitaker, so they had it up close and were sorry to see it go.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n Lancashire County Council\u2019s Culture and Sports Fund has already pledged more than \u00a39,500 to the campaign,\u00a0and almost \u00a34,000 has come from local backers.\n<\/p>\n
\n Those who have contributed more than \u00a31,000\u00a0will be honoured with a plaque next to the installation.\n<\/p>\n
\n Nick added: \u201cI think Marjan is a really exceptional artist, I really admire her work, and we want to support her.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cIt\u2019s always a challenge raising funds, especially in the current climate, so we definitely don\u2019t take that for granted.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n Bob Frith, a local artist\u00a0and founder of the Horse and Bamboo Theatre, said: \u201cFor me, the hare represents nature, mystery and folklore.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cMarjan\u2019s powerful and much-loved sculpture will bring these things right into the heart of Rossendale.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n The dog in Marjan’s \u2018Familiar\u2019 collection has been installed in Clitheroe, and she revealed that she will be looking to install the cow on Parlick Hill to follow the folktale.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In 2022, Darwen-based artist Marjan Wouda had a temporary three-part installation in Whitaker Park entitled \u2018Familiar\u2019. It was…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":322430,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3939],"tags":[4021,4020,4022,77,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-322429","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-design","8":"tag-arts","9":"tag-arts-and-design","10":"tag-design","11":"tag-entertainment","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114981714949372537","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/322429","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=322429"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/322429\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/322430"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=322429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=322429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=322429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}