Canadian sculptor Tim Schmalz has completed a small model of his planned 100-foot statue of St. Patrick which is proposed for the peak of Croagh Patrick, in Mayo.
Schmalz speaks about his proposed plan in an informal interview from his studio (below). A Christian sculptor and public monuments artist, he discusses the Irish symbolism, associated with St. Patrick, he’s included in the three-foot model, including the Celtic cross, shamrocks and snakes.
Last month, IrishCentral spoke to Schmalz about his proposed project and asked our readers what they thought of the idea 100-foot statue. Sixty-five percent of respondents said they liked the idea.
The sculptor, whose studio is in China, compare his new project, set to be one of the largest statues in the world, to Statue of Liberty, which was gifted by the people of France to the people of America in 1886. The robed figure looking out from New York’s harbor is a symbol of freedom and a beacon to immigrants reaching America’s shores. Schmalz’s idea is that this giant statue of St. Patrick should be similar.
He told IrishCentral, “I was always excited about the idea that the Statue of Liberty was given as a gift by the people of France to the people of America, and for the people that know this small fact it adds an extra dimension to the statue.”
Here’s a video of Schmalz speaking about the sculpture in his studio:
15 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Maureen Hawkins | Mar 19, 2013, 10:51 PM EDT
Seriously ugly.
IrelandNorth | Mar 19, 2013, 01:06 PM EDT
I suspect Tim may have unwittingly drawn down some static against the institutionalised church, the experience of which has been generally negative for too many, rather than anything to do with his proposed statue. Can't help wondering about the scale of St Patrick to the Celtic cross, and the curved branches thereof. Still, a novel idea. If New York can have Liberty, and Rio Christ the Redeemer, why not Croag Patrick have a Patrick. It couldn't be any worse than the aesthetically challenged Spire which the then Irish government inflicted on Dublin to fill the void left by Nelson's Pillar at a cost of €7.5m of Iris taxpayers money. A phallic statue of St Patrick might go some way to alleviating the repression of the serpentine sexuality of the native pagan Druids 1.5 milleniua later. Hmmm!
RedBranch | Mar 19, 2013, 11:57 AM EDT
Lads, lads there's work in this for the Mayo men. My guesstamet, around a million a foot.
Searlit | Mar 19, 2013, 12:49 AM EDT
No way! That would be a blemish on such a naturally beautiful mountain.
fromGort | Mar 18, 2013, 06:52 PM EDT
A weird looking bishop riding 'nessie-s'; with a quazar going off behind him. He can go ahead and make it if he wants to, but it should NEVER be allowed on Croagh Patrick.
waspish | Mar 18, 2013, 04:45 PM EDT
What an absolutely disgraceful attempt to either gain publicity or deface the Reek. I hope the creature responsible is banned from Ireland permanently.
mayoman | Mar 18, 2013, 01:38 PM EDT
This proposed monument is an absolute monstrosity.
pilib04 | Mar 18, 2013, 12:34 PM EDT
Does anyone ever give the artist an idea of what is desired. I am very disappointed with the artist's rendition of St. Patrick. In fact, I am sure from a distance no one would know it was St. Patrick. Leave off the accoutrements and make a statue of Ireland's patron Saint.
Jerry Kelly | Mar 18, 2013, 11:11 AM EDT
Smaoineamh uafásach. Fág an sliabh mar a ndearna Dia é agus mar a bhfaca Pádraig é. ////////// A horrible idea. Leave the mountain as God made it and as Patrick saw it.
newnation | Mar 18, 2013, 10:29 AM EDT
not the worst idea but this is not the right statue!! the statue showed in an earlier article would be much better.
FrPeteOFeely | Mar 18, 2013, 10:20 AM EDT
Schmalz designed it, and "schmaltz" it is. And also "Eyesore" it would be, perched atop Croagh Patrick.
Unamac143 | Mar 18, 2013, 10:10 AM EDT
Is he planning to give it as a gift, as the French did, or ishe expecting to get a pretty penny for it? Regardless, I hope the government declines the offer. They've already ruined the cliffs of Moher and especially the Giant's Causeway with the "improvements" there. And what immigrants would itwelcome, geograpically placed as it would be?
MacConDubh | Mar 18, 2013, 09:55 AM EDT
Dreadful.
BoysofBantry | Mar 18, 2013, 09:13 AM EDT
Will the Irish Government accept such a huge statue and allow it to be placed on the mountain? I certainly hope not. Let us see the power of nature, the bleakness of the mountain and few human creations, regardless of their quality placed there.
ellenfromcork | Mar 17, 2013, 12:16 PM EDT
The scale of it appears off.St Patrick should be bigger and the snakes smaller.