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General News: Snow Mermaid on Academy Avenue

Jim Lawless moments after he finished making the mermaid.
Jim Lawless moments after he finished making the mermaid.
A rear view of the mermaid.
A rear view of the mermaid.
Frank Ostrander's photo of the sculpture.
Frank Ostrander's photo of the sculpture.
The mermaid in the early evening.
The mermaid in the early evening.
Monday morning the mermaid was moved to the shade.
Monday morning the mermaid was moved to the shade.
February 25, 2008

The mermaid snow sculpture on Academy Avenue became a hot topic on Sunday.

Minutes after noon, the first reader had sent in a photo of the sculpture, which Dr. James Lawless created in his front yard at the corner of Second Street. A veterinarian and noted painter of marine and still life paintings, Lawless has lived in Cornwall since 1980 and has often made snow sculptures of cats. 

“People who know me, they come to expect that I’m going to do something,” Lawless said in a phone conversation. It’s the first sculpture he’s made since 2005 -- and the mermaid theme fits right in with his ties to the sea.  (Visit Lawless Gallery here to see some of his work.)

Lawless took some photos of the snow mermaid just when it was completed at midday on Sunday. By evening, the head had started to turn and lean backwards.

Frank Ostrander tried his hand at photographing the sculpture. The website editor took some photos around five the evening on Sunday, then again on Monday morning.

On Monday, the statue had been moved and the mermaid’s left arm was missing beneath the shoulder – taking on the look of Venus de Milo.

If people have more photos of the mermaid, feel free to send them to [email protected].

Comments:

I have been told of Dr. Lawless' artwork, and now see an example. How beautiful "she" is.


posted by coop1 on 03/15/08 at 7:35 PM

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