Giant wooden statue gets the chop

[Merlion]

Different sculpture materials have different problems to be tackled. This news report seems to show one of the problems of a large wood carving installed outdoors, and the problem upkeeping it.


Giant wooden statue gets the chop

A 20ft-high wooden sculpture is being chopped down because it has become infected with a fungal disease.

Chainsaws are being used on the figure of Mercia Man in Gaol Street, Hereford, because it has become unstable.

In recent weeks scaffolding has shrouded the popular figure of a knight which was carved from the remains of a beech tree by Philip Bews.

The sculpture is to be dried out and treated and it is hoped it will return by the middle of the summer.

Mercia Man, which was commissioned by Herefordshire Council, was erected in October 2000.

Councillor Roy Stockton, cabinet member for community services, said the sculpture would be taken to a storeroom in Rotherwas for a few months.

"This will allow him to dry out before we apply various wood treatments to preserve him," he said.

"This could take three to four months but should mean that he will last for a further 60 years."

Click here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hereford/worcs/4808396.stm) for the full BBC article.

[sculptor]

18 months ago, I took my (ISIS) (http://www.geocities.com/mandali/TAKEtheARTtothePEOPLE.html?1034052309710)truck into the dealer to repair/replace a faulty injector pump---they had an 18ft tall wood carving of their founder, the father and grandfather of the owners, still in the original tree attached to the ground
fungi were consuming it from the roots up
I offered to cut it down cure the problem, and make a stand to mount it at their new showroom---(I convinced them to place it inside so it would outlast them). Wooden statues place outside need annual maintenence--a task which I doubt would be performed continually in perpetuity
I had to remove more of the bottom than anticipated, then scrape out the rotten wood from the bottom-then mix planer shavings and sawdust with resin and repack to form a flat strong base to which i could attach a pedestal foundation--1/2 the anchor bolts were placed in the new resin bottom.
in all, i drilled over 90 holes into rotten spots and injected resin,then refinished the surface with screened(standard flour sifter) sawdust mixed with resin and brushed on in imitation of the grain. Once dried and several touchups later, sanding then coating the entire surface with resin, then laquer.
It stands today in their showroom and is a little over 14ft tall with its pedestal. I inspected it yestereve when I dropped off the truck, and it only had 2 blisters in the surface, and none of the holes were readily observable.

A great reason to do business with a local business is reciprocity.
especially if the're competent fair and honest.
The truck is there today getting more maintenence.

rod