In this recent film Ronald Rae talks about his granite sculptures sited at Rozelle Park Ayr which portray The Tragic Sacrifice of Christ. The granite for the centre piece, The Deposition, came from Kirkmabreck Quarry in Creetown. This was his first monumental work. The granite for the remaining sculptures came from the Old Harbour wall in Ayr. The project was funded by Kyle and Carrick District Council and unveiled in 1979 by George Younger, then Secretary of State for Scotland.
Rozelle Park is open all year round. It offers beautiful woodland walks, two art galleries with changing exhibitions, a high quality craft shop, a coothie tearoom and of course the sculptures. Well worth a visit.
This second video of Ronald Rae’s magnificent exhibition at The Falkirk Wheel features five of his animal sculptures two of which are endangered species and one a cloned creature. Since filming Tyger Tyger and Sheep on a Crag have found permanent homes. Part Three will cover the remaining sculptures.
Ronald Rae now has ten sculptures on exhibition at The Falkirk Wheel in Central Scotland where the Forth, Clyde and Union Canals meet. The exhibition is free.The Falkirk Wheel is the world’s first and only rotating boat lift, a masterpiece in engineering. In this video Ronald Rae talks about his most poignant works in the exhibition. Two of the five sculptures in this video are no longer at the Wheel. St.Francis moved to the NTS Threave Gardens near Dalbeattie on temporary loan. Due to the generosity of NTS members George and Sue Thomas it will now be remaining at Threave indefinitely. Man of Sorrows has been bought by a private collector down south.
Ronald Rae has two sculptures, the Horse and Highland Cow, sited on the beautiful Isle of Eriska in Argyll. Each sculpture has a unique setting – the Horse is on the edge of the nine hole golfcourse with the stunning back drop of Loch Linnhe, and on the wilder west side of the island with distant views of the mountains of Mull, the Highland Cow is never alone having two donkeys for friends. Guests who stay in the five star Isle of Eriska Hotel are fortunate enough to have a private view of the sculptures whilst playing a round of golf or on one of the many Nature walks round the 300 acre island.
There’s a rock outside the Mac
With a man’s head on it
Seems to have fallen from the sky
Like a tailless comet
Landed with quite a bump
That airborne gent
One eye tight closed in a painful wince
One eye wide open with the shock of the event
This chunk of Kemnay granite
Shaped like a human shell
Whiskers neat like a Holywood Jesus
Or a tidied-up John Bell
A cow approaches it fondly
For this is her new scratching-post
She rubs her golden neck along its edge
Dispelling all her itches to the coast
Four letters mark the granite base I.N.R.I.
I ponder their meaning initially:
“It never rains on Iona?”
Or perhaps what that cow is doing:
“I Nuzzle Rock Indolently.”
Granite 5x8x7ft 7.00 tonnes. Location: Isle of Iona.
The site for the Fallen Christ sculpture on Iona is on land where sheep and cattle freely graze. This touching photo of a cow nuzzling Christ’s head was captured by David Coleman of the Iona Community. It was published on the cover of the Coracle, magazine of the Iona Community accompanied by this poem by Ruth Burgess.
If I listen I can hear what you are thinking share what you are feeling let your pain touch me be amazed by your love…
Even in stone you speak you breathe
To see a short video about this sculpture go to Latest News on the right hand column of this page and click on Ronald Rae visits his Fallen Christ sculpture on Iona.
Not everyone manages to go to Iona because of the long journeys involved – from the mainland of Scotland it requires two ferry journeys and 40 miles on a one track road through Mull. It is said of Iona that it is a hard place to get to and an equally hard place to leave. After seeing this video I think you will understand why.
Ronald Rae’s Fallen Christ has now been on Iona for two years. A sign directs visitors to find the sculpture past the Abbey on the hill next to the George MacLeod Centre, home of The Iona Community. The sculpture is in memory of Jim Hughes, an Iona Community member – it was Jim who decided to have the sculpture there.
Granite:5x4x2ft 3.00 tons. Location: Rozelle Park, Ayr. Sold.
The Deposition – The Tragic Sacrifice of Christ
One of five sculptures portraying the Tragic Sacrifice of Christ, the centrepiece of which is this deep relief of the Deposition of Christ – Christ being taken down from the cross.
The deposition is a complex work which Rae began at the age of eighteen and partly carved during his time at Edinburgh College of Art when he was influenced both by Michelangelo and cubist forms. He finished the piece twelve years later at Rozelle Park, Ayr.
The granite for this sculpture came from Kirkmabreck Quarry in Creetown.
To see a short video about this sculpture go to Latest News on Video on the right hand column of this page and click on Ronald Rae visits his earliest sculptures at Rozelle Park Ayr.
Granite:5x4x3ft 3.00 tons. Location: Rozelle Park, Ayr. Sold.
Edessa Messiah
One of five sculptures portraying the Tragic Sacrifice of Christ. This sculpture was based on the Turin Shroud which was found in the city of Edessa in 544 AD believed to be the burial cloth of Jesus of Nazareth.
The granite blocks for four of these sculptures once formed part of the Old Harbour wall in Ayr. The project was funded by Kyle and Carrick District Council and opened in 1979 by George Younger then Secretary of State for Scotland.
To see a short video about this sculpture go to Latest News on Video on the right hand column of this page and click on Ronald Rae visits his earliest sculptures at Rozelle Park Ayr.
Granite:5x4x3ft 3.00 tons. Location: Rozelle Park, Ayr. Sold.
The Scourging of Christ
One of five sculptures portraying the Tragic Sacrifice of Christ. This sad work depicts Christ’s acceptance of being beaten on the way to the Cross. The other side of sculpture shows his naked torso.
The granite blocks for four of these sculptures once formed part of the Old Harbour wall in Ayr. The project was funded by Kyle and Carrick District Council.
To see a short video about this sculpture go to Latest News on Video on the right hand column of this page and click on Ronald Rae visits his earliest sculptures at Rozelle Park Ayr.
Hand-carved granite sculptures in public and private collections
