Cinderella’s Coach at the Bath Meeting House
I have driven by the Bath Meeting House dozens of times without ever really registering its existence, but this little old church has been transformed into a wonderful community meeting center.
Beth DeMerchant, the owner of the property, now lives in Ontario, but she purchased and created the Meeting House in 2008 as a gift to her home community and a gathering place in Carleton County.
The upstairs seats about 90 people and contains a small stage, downstairs there is an art gallery and a kitchen.
I met with Michelle and fellow “Free Radical” Gaby Mann on a rainy Sunday afternoon to see Cinderella’s Coach.
This piece was absolutely luscious to look at!
Michelle used all organic and natural fibers to create the sculpture.
The coach itself is carved from a huge Fairytale Squash. I’d never heard of this breed of squash before. It looks like a giant buttercup squash, and it
grows to pumpkin size. She nestled the carved out coach on a bed of woven branches. The coachman is a mouse made from dog fur and the wheels are sunflowers.
The traces are formed from the branches of a Chinese plant called Velvet Leaf…those branches had the soft texture of velvet when you ran your fingers down them.
Community Shines Here!
And a bit of binder twine….which is plant based…to help hold it all together!
Michelle planned to create a horse to pull the carriage using burdock pods held together with fur as her sculpting medium. Interesting use for those pesky burdock burrs, eh?
Check out the wonderful website at www.bathmeetinghouse.com which tells the full story and also contains an absolutely fabulous collection of old, historical photographs of our region. In fact, if you have old photos you are welcome to submit them to be included in this photo essay of the history of our communities!
Stephanie Kelley
