Kate Stobbart Art

Video : Sculpture : Words : Live-Events

The Hills are Alive (2009)

Allenheads Contemporary Arts, Northumberland

I found thirty eight dead moles hanging from a farm fence when out walking in the countryside around Allenheads. I decided to make the moles some dresses and clothe them.

I displayed the words Once Upon A Time written in the grass, using old sheets.  My final piece was “Blue Jacket with Brass buttons” – a bespoke blue cotton jacket to dress a dead rabbit.

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Photo of seven dead moles hanging from a barbed wire fence. There is a meadow of yellow flowers behind. All the moles are dressed in crinoline type dresses that have been made for them.
All photos: K Stobbart – The Hills are Alive – dead moles in dresses
Close-up photo of two dead moles, strung from their snouts on a barbed wire fence. Their flesh is decaying. The moles have been clothed in blue and white floral dresses.
Photo showing face on view of three dead, decaying moles strung up on a barbed wire fence. Their front paws are held out in a crucifix position. Each mole has been clothed in a blue and white floral dress. Being them the sky is bright blue, with lots of billowing white clouds.

Close up of a dead mole, strung up from a barbed wire fence by its snout. The mole is dressed in a blue and white dress - which echoes the blue sky and white clouds behind it. The moles white teeth are clenched tightly shut.
Three dead, decaying moles, all dressed in blue and white cotton dresses, strung up on a barbed wire fence. Flower meadow and bright blue sky behind.
Wide photo shot of woodland and a flower meadow. There is a barbed wire fence in front of the meadow...there are 36 dead moles hanging from this.
Whole group of moles found hanging on the fence
Photo of some stone houses next to a grassy field. The field is green with lots of buttercups in it. Old pieces of linen laid in the meadow spell out "Once Upon A Time"
Once upon at time – sheets in grass
Photo of a dead rabbit lying on green grass next to some pine cones. The rabbit has been clothed in a blue jacket with brass buttons.
All photos: K Stobbart Blue Jacket With Brass Buttons -cotton jacket, brass buttons, dead rabbit