This article is from page 25 of the 2009-04-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 25 JPG
last April in a desperate bid to find a home for the two squirrels when the developer who commis- sioned the work pulled out. If the Ennis man was unable to find an alternative patron, he would have been forced to destroy the unfinished sculpture.
However, after subsequent national publicity, a Cork-based couple made an offer for Mr Wrafter to complete the work.
Yesterday, Mr Wrafter revealed that he received an offer double the amount from another developer.
“His locations lacked what the sculptures needed plus I didn’t think he knew that much about art, this was just a trophy for him. So I de- cided to stick by my guns and go with my principles and with people who know about art and appreciate what it is.”
“To be honest I took the work way further than they needed to go because I wanted this be finished immaculately. Financially it killed me, but I felt it was more important to get it done and get it out there and then come what may after that.”
The completed sculpture includes the eight foot tall grey squirrel weighing nine tonnes and the smaller red squirrel weighing three quarters of a ton.
He admitted to having mixed emo- tions with the removal planned this week for the transfer of the squirrels to the Cork collectors.
“I will be delighted in some way. It has been a big part of my life over the past two years, but I want my work to go in different directions now. I will be sad as well though. It is my most ambitious piece ever. It
is very unusual and I have grown at- tached to it.”
Mr Wrafter said that the public will no longer be able to see his work af- ter itis handed over to its new owners as it will be placed in front of a castle but away from public view. One of the other sculptures on the collec- tors’ estate is by a former winner of the prestigious UK-based Turner uv ier
Mr Wrafter said he was angry that in the past number of weeks, he asked three officials from Clare County Council to come to view the sculpture, but they turned his offer Kenan
“I was very disappointed with the council’s attitude,” he said.