Three years after the untimely passing of renowned singer Amy Winehouse, a bronze statue in her likeness was unveiled in Camden, London, to honor her memory. As reported by Camille Banzon in Ecumenical News, the sculptor, Scott Eaton, expressed how he did his best to capture the late singer’s persona:
“The design for me as the artist, the design process starts with understanding the person. Amy was about attitude. She was small but she had big personality,” Eaton said in a report.
Having a statue made in one’s image often means that person has made a significant impact in his or her industry. Amy Winehouse did just that in the realm of music; and she now joins the ranks of other notable musicians who have been immortalized in bronze sculptures, including Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, and Jimi Hendrix.
One might ask why bronze is normally used to create such magnanimous and inspiring sculptures. This is because bronze has some special properties that make it a viable medium for such an endeavor. Bronze is essentially a mix of copper and tin, a combination which results in both strength and malleability.
Compared to other metals like copper and iron, bronze is more responsive to the processes of smelting and casting. It is typically resistant to corrosion, and when tempered, becomes harder than copper and most other copper-arsenic-based alloys.
Additionally, when molten bronze is poured into a clay mold, it does not leave air bubbles. This property is particularly vital for artisans and sculptors, as air bubbles in clay molds often leave unwanted imperfections on the finished product.
Reputable companies like Rotax Metals, provide artists and other users with their bronze needs in several shapes and sizes, including high-quality bronze bars, sheets, and rods, that make perfect materials for casting in any size and shape.
These noted suppliers also provide bronze sheet metal and bronze supplies in other forms, to such industries as aviation and marine; as well as to architectural and industrial designers; furniture, and jewelry makers; and hardware fabricators.
Bronze symbolizes timeless wisdom, intelligence, prosperity, and human advancement. Thus, it is only fitting that people who have made such a lasting impression on others through their craft are celebrated with bronze statues that will last as long as their legacies and inspiration.
(Source: Amy Winehouse: Life-sized bronze statue erected in Camden, London, Ecumenical News, September 16, 2014)
