Lucille Ball Statue - H 2015
Post JournalThe sculptor responsible for the “frightening” Lucille Ball statue that’s been terrorizing local residents is now offering to fix it for free, admitting it is “by far my most unsettling sculpture.”
In a letter to The Hollywood Reporter, artist Dave Poulin writes, “I take full responsibility for ‘Scary Lucy,’ though by no means was that my intent or did I wish to disparage in any way the memories of the iconic Lucy image.”
The 400-pound bronze sculpture, which was privately commissioned and publicly displayed in Ball’s hometown of Celoron, N.Y., in 2009, upset many locals and even inspired a Facebook group dedicated to its removal (“We Love Lucy! Get Rid of This Statue”).
“From the day of its installation,” Poulin continues, “I have shared my disappointment in the final outcome and have always believed it to be by far my most unsettling sculpture, not befitting of Lucy’s beauty or my ability as a sculptor. Yes, in retrospect, it should have never been cast in bronze and made public, and I take complete ownership of that poor decision.”
Poulin says he’s willing to refurbish the statue at his own expense.
“Over the years,” he writes, “I have felt blessed to have inspired and touched the lives of thousands of people who do enjoy my other works, and am heartsick at the feelings that have been evoked as a result of the Celoron Lucy.”
“I am a down to earth, hard worker from a humble background. I enjoy what I do, and if a handful of decent folks can find some enjoyment in my work, I am OK with that.”
Poulin says he’ll be going back to the Village of Celoron to “offer to remove the current statue with the promise of creating a new beautiful and charming ‘Lucy’ in its place.”
Click here to read the full letter.
A spokesperson for the Celoron mayor’s office told THR the statue would remain on display until Mayor Scott Schrecengost decides on a repair plan.
Despite Poulin’s offer to fix it for free, Schrecengost has said he doesn’t want Poulin to retouch the statue; he wants a new artist to repair it.
