Statue adds magical charm to our library
By Ryan Jones, Year 6, Our Lady Help of Christians School Quake city girls share their lives
WHIMSICAL ARTIST: Sculptor Jennie Scott. OUR Lady Help Of Christians School held an unveiling ceremony for a new library statue made by local artist Jennie Scott last week.
Made to represent an Ent, from Lord of the Rings, Friend of the Forest is made from rebar steel and concrete with some natural driftwood to add authenticity.
Decorated with Aussie animals including koalas, kookaburras, tree frogs, and possums with real rainforest lichen dipped in glue, he looks every inch the rainforest guardian he was made to be.
Positioned like a chair, complete with a seat for students to sit with a book, and with little potted palms all around, he creates an inviting welcome at the entrance to the library.
“We wanted something magical, something whimsical, with links to literature,” Ms Larissa McKirdy, the school’s teacher librarian says.
“We hope that will spark children’s interest to read.
“They read books with magic trees, such as The Giving Tree, The Magic Faraway Tree, or The Magic Treehouse,and SEAT OF LEARNING: Our Lady Help of Christians School’s magnificent new library chair, temporarily called Friend of the Forest. now they get to meet one.”
Among the gathering at the ceremony was the local councillor Terry James.
The school captains, William Munro and Zara Imhoff, were also in attendance.
The statue was unveiled at 1.30pm by the sculptor herself.
Friend of the Forest is a temporary name given by the sculptor.
A competition among OLHOC students will be held to decide a name.