The Big Dance At Gretna Green

Holding hands is such an affectionate way to show love, and if you are ever in the Gretna Green area, be sure to go and visit The Big Dance. It is a 13-foot high artwork modelled on Ray and his wife's hands.

There is a lovely poem that accompanies it. The Big Dance

' It was a night club in some or other city,

When she caught him looking at her, She said

“Hey you you'll have to buy a ticket if you just want to stand and stare,

But if you want to talk,

Then I'm prepared to listen,

And maybe we can have some fun,

laughed out loud but neither had the notion,

That 'The Big Dance' had just begun..'

This may resonate with many romantics and Ray said it is quite close to his and Bev's story. Awww!

You may be familiar with Ray Lonsdale and his Corten Steel artwork. When he first started, Ray and his wife Bev, were proactive with seeking commissions. At one stage, they sent out approximately 500 brochures explaining the artwork and that Ray was open to commissions. They got one reply back. This was from Alasdair Houston MBE, Executive Chairman, Gretna Green Group. It was a serendipitous moment as Alasdair was in the market for a sculpture. They discussed ideas, and Ray came up with the bespoke The Big Dance that has become an iconic photographic opportunity. There was a tight deadline, and when finished, it took a day to remove it from his workshop for transport. People must have taken a double look as it travelled to Scotland.

From Valentine's Day 2010 The Big Dance has stood at the centre of the Sculpture Garden outside the world-famous Blacksmiths Shop at Gretna Green.This is a place that has over a million visitors a year and holds 5,000 weddings a year. You may be aware that youngsters eloped to Gretna Green? In the mid-18th century, English law was introduced, such that young couples had to be at least 21 years old to marry without their parents' consent. However, in Scotland, the law was more flexible, and you could marry with two witnesses. As long as you stated there was no reason why you couldn't marry, a simple handfasting ceremony confirmed you as Married by Declaration, along with the sonorous sound of the blacksmith's anvil being struck. Gretna Green started marriages in 1754, and it became a family business in 1885. Gretna Green is not far from the English/Scottish border.

If you know the romantic song by Leo Sayer called 'Moonlighting', Gretna gets mentioned.

In New Zealand, there is a piece called Togetherness, which echoes The Big Dance. Unfortunately, the NZ artist refuses to acknowledge this.

"We are selling limited edition prints of 'The Big Dance' prints (previously unreleased) in order to go towards funding our upcoming legal case against NZ sculptor James Wright.

A few people suggested a go fund me page for this purpose but that didn't sit too well with us , as we'd rather people got something for their money regardless of the outcome.

The kind words and encouraging comments have been heartwarming to receive and if anyone feels they can get behind this campaign by purchasing a sketch it would be very much appreciated

The easiest thing would be to walk away from this but then what is to stop it happening again and again to any artist anywhere. This will cost us rather than make us money I'm sure as legal systems are expensive but right is right and wrong is wrong. If the art appreciation community can get behind this we can all hopefully do some good."

"Following on from selling the limited edition A3 size prints of 'The Big Dance' we now have A5 size double sided commemorative cards for those who wanted to support us with the plagerism case but couldn't justify the cost of the full size prints. Image on one side and info on the other. Limited edition of 300 each one signed and numbered. They can either be picked up from Two Red Rubber Things for £5 or posted out for £1 extra"

Ray and Bev Lonsdale

Contact Tworedrubberthings Facebook page.

Here's a nice romantic photograph from our Fabulous Norther Lorraine London

My thanks go to Ray and Bev for their permission to quote and use their photographs.