New Statue of Mary Wollstonecraft

[belleager]

I don't think anyone has posted on this yet, but I remember people discussing fundraisers in this section. The artists have finished their 50cm scale model. It's based on Martin Jennings' work as proposed, but another sculptor, Emma Lavender, is developing the project. I think she's done an extraordinary job - here are photos. They're now looking for a home for the full size version

That's gorgeous. She looks wise and strong, and I love the movement in her coat.

And here Emma Lavender's scale model beside Jennings' original proposal - he asked her to take over the project, partly so that it would be a woman's work, he said

She's interrupted and multi-tasking, apparently - looking forward to see what's happening, reaching back to steady her pile of books.

Whole bench to be in bronze so people polish it as they sit on it.

She looks a bit like Dumbledore but none the worse for that. Bronze is exactly right.

Love this.

I love the new version. Hope it gets commissioned

At least she has her clothes on this time!

I like it.

MUCH better than the other abomination

This is a brilliant representation, love it.

Emma Lavender mentioned reading up on her intensively and mentioning that Wollstonecraft made careful choices about clothes - always wore a corset at all times of day, was represented in a black dress to be taken seriously in male company. That made me feel sad about the careless generic naked doll she's been reduced to elsewhere

Yes, I can't imagine she'd be in any way ok with the naked, formless, emerging from dolphin spit monstrosity.

Many thanks for sharing. You can read more about this here: emmalavender.net/sculpture-mary-wollstonecraft.html

Lavender pointed out that public sculpture has to work and draw you in from every angle. Which (my observation, not hers) is one of the many things the statue at Newington Green fails to do.

Where should it go? Well they should take the baked barbie, melt it down, make a small hat and pop it on the head of this much nicer status.

Thanks - couldn't find a link except to the funding site, which wouldn't be allowed here

Love it. First I've heard of it, good start to the weekend, thank you.

I love the movement in it. She looks dynamic and powerful. A force to be reckoned with!

It's great - the Jennings model is good, dignified - but too static. This one is just bursting with energy.

The less said about the Hambling the better.

That’s so much better.

It's really inspiring and she's massively improved on Jennings' version.

That looks lovely and it's great how much the sculptor has read up about her. I love the pile of books!

Fantastic.

Very powerful.

Fantastic. I do so wish that this could be in Newington Green and the other one chucked in the Thames.

How beautiful, the movement, and her strength pour out of this. A very fitting tribute to a remarkable woman.