“The Mower” Sculpture

Just back from the entrance to Bidgood Park stands a 6'2" bronze sculpture of a man swinging a scythe through a field of hay. "The Mower" was created by renowed local artist Gerald Squires using a 'lost-wax' method. Formed with about a half-tonne of clay, the large and detailed piece was a year long labour for Squires. The artist located an old wooden scythe, which was cast in wax and bronze as well. Photos taken during this process can be viewed below.

Squires other works include dramatic landscapes in acrylic and oil, stained glass, and sculptures like the 6' high statue of Shawanadithit, which stands in the Boyd's Cove Interpretation Centre. See more of his works here or visit the Emma Butler Gallery in St. John's.

Gerald Squires created "The Mower" using "The Lost Wax Method"

Preliminary sketches for proposed Mower sculpture

The Mower Sculpture by Gerald Squires

Working on the Maquette (scaled-model) for "The Mower"

Gerald Squires with the Armature

Molding the clay

Pants and suspenders used to create authentic look

Keeping the clay form upright

Cast in plaster

Upper portion of the sculpture

Separated pieces of the Sculpture

Cast in bronze

Luben Boykov (left) and Gerald Squires (right) adding the finishing touches

Unveiling the Sculpture at the Bidgood Park ribbon-cutting ceremony

The sculpture in a side profile

The sculpture with plaque

The plaque with Leo Tolstoy quote (from Anna Karenina)

Leonard Ruby recalls the life The Mower represents

The Mower captures the essence of Goulds farming heritage. Squires designed the figure to appear in motion; never idle and actively involved with the surrounding landscape. The Goulds community was formed, at its core, through these basic tangible relationships with nature. For most of the community's history, farmers here worked the earth with hard, routine manual labour. What they reaped and built was their own. And so this park commemorates that effort and remains for everyone to enjoy as their own.