2022 Miss Fancy statue: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
The campaign to commission a large-scale statue was begun by [[Ron Council]] of the [[Friends of Avondale Park]] shortly after a smaller [[2012 Miss Fancy statue]] was damaged in an auto collision and removed from display. After Council's death, his son, [[Bryan Council|Bryan]] took over the project. | The campaign to commission a large-scale statue was begun by [[Ron Council]] of the [[Friends of Avondale Park]] shortly after a smaller [[2012 Miss Fancy statue]] was damaged in an auto collision and removed from display. After Council's death, his son, [[Bryan Council|Bryan]] took over the project. | ||
The 10-foot long by 13-foot tall sculpture features three children riding on the elephants back, inspired by a [[1934]] ''[[Birmingham Post]]'' photograph and by the illustrations by [[John Holyfield]] in [[Irene Latham]]'s children's book ''[[Meet Miss Fancy]]''. | The 10-foot long by 13-foot tall sculpture features three children riding on the elephants back, inspired by a [[1934]] ''[[Birmingham Post]]'' photograph and by the illustrations by [[John Holyfield]] in [[Irene Latham]]'s 2019 children's book ''[[Meet Miss Fancy]]''. | ||
The work was installed as the centerpiece of the plaza facing [[41st Street South]] in late [[2022]] and was dedicated on Sunday [[December 11]] with a trumpet ensemble providing a fanfare and a peanut vendor offering snacks. | The work was installed as the centerpiece of the plaza facing [[41st Street South]] in late [[2022]] and was dedicated on Sunday [[December 11]] with a trumpet ensemble providing a fanfare and a peanut vendor offering snacks. | ||
Revision as of 10:12, 12 December 2022
The 2022 Miss Fancy statue is a large-scale bronze statue of the beloved elephant Miss Fancy, created by Nelson Brice and displayed at the south entrance of Avondale Park, where she formerly reined as "Queen" of the zoo.
The campaign to commission a large-scale statue was begun by Ron Council of the Friends of Avondale Park shortly after a smaller 2012 Miss Fancy statue was damaged in an auto collision and removed from display. After Council's death, his son, Bryan took over the project.
The 10-foot long by 13-foot tall sculpture features three children riding on the elephants back, inspired by a 1934 Birmingham Post photograph and by the illustrations by John Holyfield in Irene Latham's 2019 children's book Meet Miss Fancy.
The work was installed as the centerpiece of the plaza facing 41st Street South in late 2022 and was dedicated on Sunday December 11 with a trumpet ensemble providing a fanfare and a peanut vendor offering snacks.
In the meantime, the original statue was located in 2021, leading to a separate fund-raising campaign to restore it for a different site on the west side of the park, closer to Avondale Elementary School.
References
- Gervais, Gabby (February 1, 2022) "Location finalized for new Miss Fancy statue in Avondale Park." Bham Now
- Gervais, Gabby (May 20, 2022) "Final bronze pour completed for new Miss Fancy statue in Avondale Park." Bham Now
- Smith, Ruth Serven (December 11, 2022) "The best reactions to Birmingham’s new Miss Fancy elephant statue." AL.com