2002

SP0686 : Forward statue, Birmingham

taken 22 years ago, near to Birmingham, England

Forward statue, Birmingham
Forward statue, Birmingham
The statue was cast in polyester resin, and it represented the march of Birmingham from its smokey industrial past into the future. Figures included Joseph Chamberlain with his monocle and Josiah Mason, founder of the University, with an armful of books. The Lady of the Arts, from the city's coat of arms, blew a kiss to the past, while an actress curtsied to the Repertory Theatre. The formula on the shoulder of the leading figure referred to DNA, representing the continuing advance of scientific discovery. The Birmingham-educated scientist, Maurice Wilkins, shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962 for work on DNA.

The sculptor was the late Raymond Mason, one of Birmingham's most famous artists. Surprisingly, this was the first home commission for an artist with work in Canada, the United States and France.

Unfortunately, at lunchtime on 17 April 2003, the statue was irreparably damaged by fire. It was later removed.

Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Ann and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Historic sites and artefacts City, Town centre Primary Subject: Statue
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Birmingham [2305] · Art [245] ·
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
+
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
TIP: Click the map for more Large scale mapping
Grid Square
SP0686, 3408 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Ann   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Sunday, 16 June, 2002   (more nearby)
Submitted
Friday, 29 March, 2019
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SP 0612 8664 [10m precision]
WGS84: 52:28.6593N 1:54.6793W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SP 0612 8664
View Direction
Northwest (about 315 degrees)
Clickable map
+
NW N NE
W Go E
SW S SE
Image Type (about): close look 
This page has been viewed about 29 times
You are not logged in login | register