During the pandemic I realised what an important role our pets play in our lives, offering us unconditional companionship and helping us feel connected in a fractured world. This event was conceived during that time, and the first fully-funded Blessing of the Beasts took place in 2021. This was followed by another successful event the following year, funded by the Lottery Community Fund. Unfortunately I couldn't secure funding for 2023 but am determined to run the event this year and that is the purpose of this Crowdfunder. I'm inviting anyone that would like to attend, or just support the event, to make a donation towards the production costs, equipment hire and artiste's fees.
The Blessing of the Beasts is a magical,participatory community event - unique to Whitstable, and my long-term aim is to make it an annual event. Everyone is welcome to participate, and I shall be running free workshops leading up to the event, for people to make celebratory icons of their pets (living and dead) for the Pet Shrine.
I am Sadie Hennessy, a Whitstable-based artist, specialising in installations and live events. Here I am, dressed as a sea urchin, with a couple of goldfish and a Dalmatian, at the last Blessing of the Beasts!:
Date: All being well, if the funding is raised, the event is scheduled to go ahead on the 21st September, and heads up, the unmissable, fantastic PCDC have been pencilled in with their fabulous new act 'Party Animals'!
Rewards:
Blessing of the Beasts 3 is generously supported by K2 Screen (K2Screen.co.uk) one of London's premier fine art printers. They have collaborated with Sadie Hennessy to produce 50 wonderful A3 prints as rewards for this project, signed and stamped by Sadie Hennessy. Below is the proof copy...the final print will have silkscreened gold ink on the lettering.Yummy!
Also a £20 pledge is rewarded with a mystery goody-bag packed with artist-made animal-themed gifts including these specially created Animal Lover badges, which can be worn together or separately!