Sculptors realise Hawaii dream

A long-held dream is about to come true for the sculptor behind the South Brighton Sculpture Park.

Bon Suter and Donald Gibson have developed a special bond over the past 25years.

For years Bon Suter has dreamed of taking her friend and fellow artist Donald Gibson to Hawaii to do some limestone sculpting there.

Gibson is blind, deaf and unable to talk but under Suter’s patient tutelage he has developed into a talented sculptor.

The pair have worked together for nearly 25 years and slowly built up the South Brighton Sculpture Park but soon they’re going to swap the sand dunes of South Brighton for the shores of Hawaii.

Suter has an artist friend in Hawaii who has a five-acre property where she works with people with disabilities and for years Suter has been promising Gibson she will take him there to visit.

“I’ve decided it’s time I made good on that promise,’’ says Suter.

“Donald is over the moon. He’s so excited but it’s probably really hard for him to believe it is actually going to happen till we get on the plane.’’

Friends have organised accommodation for them and for Gibson to go surfing and canoeing. He will also spend some of the 10 days in Hawaii sculpting.

“He’s going to take a whole lot of his carved stone hearts to Hawaii and give them to people he meets as a little gift,’’ says Suter.

“Donald has hardly any money so we're trying to do a bit of fundraising to help pay for his expenses while he’s away. For him this really is a once in a lifetime trip.’’

Anyone keen to help with the fundraising effort should email Bon Suter.

Donald Gibson at work sculpting.