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Rescue plan for proposed Tolkien statue
The Arts Council will be asked to come to the rescue of Birmingham’s controversial JRR Tolkien statue after plans to raise money from fans of the author were derailed by the credit crunch.
A scheme to auction off leaves to hang from the 20ft tree which was set to take root in the centre of Moseley failed to attract enough buyers.
The trust behind the sculpture needs to find £60,000 of the £80,000 it set out to raise.
Plans for the art, depicting a fictional tree-like Ent creature from the Lord of the Rings trilogy close to Tolkien’s childhood home, divided opinion.
The South Africa-born novelist moved to Birmingham as a child and spent many years living in the village.
Heritage campaigners objected to its size and said it was "over the top" for the village setting. But councillors said they hoped it would become a draw for fans of the writer’s work.
Individually wrought and engraved gold and silver-coloured metal leaves went on sale on internet auction site eBay for £500 each after the structure was granted planning permission in September, 2007.
They will feature the names of fans that have contributed towards the artwork and hang at the foot of the sculpture when it is completed.
Despite an initial rush for the leaves, only about 60 of 370 leaves have so far been sold. The leaves are still on sale at Marcus Galleries on Alcester Road in Moseley, priced at £200.
Source: Birmingham Post
Posted: May 29th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: JRR Tolkien
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