Rare ‘creepy statue’ finds new home

By Erin Brodbeck
Collegian Editor
October 18, 2006

The Creepy Statue on the Quad is now the Creepy Statue in the Art Museum.

The “Walking Madonna” statue that formerly occupied the Main Quad on campus was moved to the La Salle Art Museum Oct. 13 after the art museum staff discovered that the sculpture with its own Facebook profile was worth more than anyone at La Salle originally thought.

La Salle Art Museum Curator Madeleine Viljoen and others at La Salle first believed that there were three other “Walking Madonna” statues, but a recent auction of a fourth at Christie’s in London had the sculpture going for $750,000.

After discovering the enormous value of the statue, Viljoen decided it was time for the “Walking Madonna” to reside in a safer home.

“The sculpture is such a natural asset. We didn’t want any freak incident to damage it,” Viljoen said.

The “Walking Madonna” on La Salle’s campus is one of four by the British artist Dame Elisabeth Frink. Frink created the sculpture in 1981 by designing a cast of the statue and pouring bronze into it.

Since she only made four sculptures with the cast, they have become extremely valuable. By moving the work to the art museum, Viljoen is ensuring that the sculpture will remain safe and in its best possible condition.

The statue had already suffered some minor damages caused by natural elements, such as bird droppings, and some not-so-natural elements like the ketchup that appeared to be smeared on her face, Viljoen said.

A metal conservator worked on the “Walking Madonna” this past week, touching up imperfections and applying wax to these places. According to Viljoen, the statue was in excellent condition, considering the fact that it had been exposed to the elements for so long.

La Salle hired the George Young Company to transport the sculpture to the art museum. It was the same company that recently moved another local icon-the Rocky statute that was relocated to the bottom of the Philadelphia Art Museum steps.

As a result of the move to the Art Museum, perhaps the statue can be appreciated for what it is - an unusual rendering of a typically recognizable religious figure. Students who pass the sculpture on their way to class have deemed the work “creepy” and “ugly,” but these judgments fail to acknowledge what the artist has accomplished.

According to Viljoen, the statue is remarkable because of the Virgin Mary’s position: walking instead of sitting or standing with Christ as a child. Also, Mary has not been depicted as the serene and delicate woman people are used to seeing.

“The expression on her face suggests that she is old and has experienced a lot in her lifetime,” Viljoen said.

The other “Walking Madonna” sculptures remain in England, with one in Salisbury and the other in Frink’s garden at her home, according to Bro. Joseph Grabenstein, University Archivist.

La Salle acquired the sculpture with funds from the class of 1988, and Benjamin Bernstein, though Grabenstien wasn’t sure where or who the statue was purchased from.

Students have mixed opinions about the statue.

Viljoen said, “It’s very controversial -one student said that the Virgin Mary shouldn’t be so old and ugly looking.”

Whether students think the statue is an eyesore or a quirky La Salle icon, the “Walking Madonna” is ready for visitors at her new home in the Modern and Contemporary collection.

brodbecke1@lasalle.edu