Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter my 'Name an artwork' competition. I enjoyed your creativity and wit!
The entries were poetic, drawn from literature (mainly Watership Down by Richard Adams and A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett), inspired by art history, hills and landscapes, witches, dreams, magic, folklore, and some that are just plain fun.
After much deliberation, I chose 2 titles and combined them to create
"The Skipping Hare of Melangell". Thank you Cheryl and Bobby for their contributions.
The Skipping Hare conveys the movement and mood, while Melangell (Mel-eng-eth) is the Patron Saint of hares which is a wonderful story in its self.
Daughter of an Irish King, Melangell is said to have run away from court to escape marriage - for she wanted none. She stopped travelling when she reached Tanat Valley in Wales and lived as a hermit until one-day Brochwel Yscythrog, Prince of Powys was hunting hares only to find that his quarry found refuge with a fair maid at prayer. Brochwel, taken with her beauty and piety, bestowed land upon her and God so that Melangell could create a space for people and small creatures in need of Sanctuary. You can read a longer version on Wiki or saints preserved
You can visit the Shrine Church of Saint Melangell and nearby the Centre of Saint Melangell offers support for people in need through reflection and listening. You can even stay in the Shepherd's hut or Bewdy Bach, and given the views and landscape it looks like a wonderful writers or artist retreat. I like how the idea of sanctuary has followed through to the present day.
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