Renowned micro artist's miniature sculptures with a Peaky Blinders twist support dog rescue charity's new Black Country hub
A Black Country dog rescue charity has opened a new community hub in Halesowen with an exhibition by a celebrated micro artist from the West Midlands.
Volunteers at Monarch's Mutts Dog Rescue welcomed renowned micro sculptor Wednesfield-born Dr Willard Wigan MBE to help launch the hub at the Cornbow Shopping Centre, Halesowen, with an exhibition of his work which will be in place for at least four weeks.
The exhibition, entitled Through the Microscope and In the Eye of a Needle, comprises pieces which are so small they have to viewed via a microscope, including a Peaky Blinders-themed work depicting a character from the hit show on a horse.
Monarch's Mutts founders Lucy and Kate Antill brought along some of the dogs who need to be re-homed including Tiny Tim the bulldog, who has been with them since December, and said the new hub would complement their charity shop which is already open in the Cornbow Centre.
Lucy said: "We are all volunteers here and anything we can do to raise the profile of the work we do or get the community involved is welcome, because we are not a big organisation but we are all dedicated to getting forever homes for dogs that may have been mistreated or abandoned.
"Willard is a dog lover who I have known for a number of years and his range of work is incredible. It really is worth seeing because he has exhibited all over the world and is renowned for his unique sculptures - the exhibition is a great way of launching the hub, which will be open to the community, and we hope to host many more events in the near future.
Willard, aged 68, who now lives in Birmingham but likes to come back to his "Black Country roots", said when asked by Monarch's Mutts to help out he didn't hesitate - the Halesowen-based charity has re-homed 600 dogs in the eight years it has been in existence.
He said: "The work Monarch's Mutts do is amazing and there is never a shortage of dogs that need new homes but none of them are turned away.
"I am proud of this exhibition, which includes Peaky Blinders-themed work just for the public to see. It is so small that to make something like that you have to control your nervous system and your breathing to get the precision right.
"I hope people enjoy the exhibition and support the work of Monarch's Mutts."
The opening of the exhibition raised around £500 for the charity on the day and the sculptures are on display on at the Cornbow Centre (open seven days) for four weeks.
To donate to Monarch's Mutts contact [email protected] or see www.gofundme.com/f/create-a-local-dog-sanctuary.
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