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carving he owned. The original piece was more open in form but
Merchant's sculptures in bronze, aluminium and ceramic, grew more enclosed. The Burton Arts Council commissioned Growing Form from Merchant as a development of the theme, with a focus on "growth". It was intended as the focal point of
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The sculpture is formed of a 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) tall cast aluminium body atop a 80 centimetres (31 in) high granite plinth. The plinth is in the form of a square-based pyramid with sides 53 centimetres (21 in) in length. A plaque on the pedestal gives the name of the sculpture,
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District
Council, ESDC) to the town". The sculpture was unveiled by the chairperson of West Midlands Arts Liz Thomas who said "I think the sculpture gives the area a focal point and reminds people there are sculptors and craftsmen in the community". It was accepted on behalf of the town by ESDC
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on
Merchant, who was a clergyman that turned to sculpture late in life. Merchant stated that he was inspired by the river valley setting of the piece. He described it as resembling "a tulip bud with the front leaf pulled out" and that it was intended to suggest the fragility of nature.
55:. Merchant had intended the piece to be surround by two rows of slate columns; due to budget constraints this element was not installed and instead it was enclosed by a circle of trees. It now stands on a patch of grass adjacent to a flood defence wall and a car park.
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Although the £3,000 cost of the work was covered by the Burton Arts
Council, West Midlands Arts and the Burton Consolidated Charities when it was unveiled on 11 September 1982 it was described as "a huge birthday present gift-wrapped from the council
51:) and the year it was installed (1982). The plaque further notes that he work was "commissioned by Burton & District Arts Council aided by West Midlands Art". It stands near to the library and the flood plain of the River Trent in
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Merchant produced a number of maquettes of which one was selected for full-scale production. It took
Merchant 8 months to complete, requiring 500 hours of his time to sculpt and a further 500 hours to cast and finish.
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is a work of public art in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England. It stands around 2.8 metres (9 ft 2 in) tall with the upper portions in cast aluminium and the lower part a granite pedestal.
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The sculpture is in the ownership of East
Staffordshire Borough Council (the successor to ESDC). Merchant's papers relating to the sculpture, dating from 1981 to 1982, are in the collection of the
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and Fiona
Waterhouse writing in 2005 described it as "symbolic of nature's struggle for life" and "reminiscent of a sprouting seed". The sculpture is the largest work completed by Merchant.
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councillor Joe Parker. The Burton Music Centre brass band performed at the unveiling and it was followed by a dedication service at the nearby
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217:"'Single Form (Memorial)', on southern side of boating lake, Battersea Park, London Borough of Wandsworth"
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Merchant made a number of sculptures on a similar theme based on a 6 inches (150 mm) tall
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was commissioned by Burton & District Arts
Council from sculptor
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Noszlopy, George Thomas; Waterhouse, Fiona (1 January 2005).
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Burton Civic
Society's landscaping works around the library.
252:"Gift-wrapped birthday gift was a growing tulip statue"
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Public
Sculpture of Staffordshire and the Black Country
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306:Aluminium sculptures in the United Kingdom
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20:Pictured in 2012, library in background
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144:Moody, Jenny (31 May 2020).
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42:Description
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94:History
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