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SCULPTURE | MEDALS | THE A.W. PROJECT EXHIBITIONS | MAKING MEDALS | CONTACT | LINKS |
 Alexander Wood MonumentChurch & Alexander Streets Toronto, Ontario See pictures of the production process.
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Dennis O'Connor, gallery owner and President of the Church-Wellesley Business Improvement Area committee was the driving force behind the monument. He invited me to submit two sculpture ideas for the monument on May 29, 2003. I created a contemporary design and a traditional design. The contemporary design included a plaque at sidewalk level surrounded by five eighteen foot bronze trees signifying "Molly Wood's Bush". The committee liked both designs but chose the traditional design. The remainder of the year was spent working with Toronto City Hall to get all of the permits and agreements in place so we could proceed with the actual sculpture. In 2004 the maquette was enlarged at a studio in Montreal. We had an on-site meeting in the summer to see a mock-up of the base to better judge the placement and size of the project. At that time I was invited to not only be the sculptor for the project but to also act as Project Coordinator. In Montreal the sculpture was completed, molds were made and a wax produced. The wax was shipped to Artcast in Georgetown, Ontario in December 2004. During the winter months of 2005 the sculpture was cast in bronze and the reliefs and the plaques were completed. In May the installation was organized. A five foot hole was dug below the sidewalk level and a cement foundation was poured. A crane brought in the five tonne granite base from Quebec and it was placed on the foundation. On the Friday before the unveiling the eight foot statue of Alexander Wood was lowered on to the granite base and a covering was placed over it ready for the celebration the next day. More on the production of the Alexander Wood monument. On Saturday, May 28, 2005 a large crowd assembled for the official unveiling. The program included a choir, pipe band, drag queens, red balloons and much more. The monument has been proudly welcomed by the gay community. Alexander Wood is back again in his own "Molly Wood's Bush".
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| SCULPTURE | MEDALS | THE A.W. PROJECT EXHIBITIONS | MAKING MEDALS | CONTACT | LINKS |
