UPDATE: New Miss Fancy statue awaiting final permits for installation in Avondale Park [PHOTOS]

After plenty of hard work bringing the bronze, 15-foot Miss Fancy to life, she’s almost ready for her official installation. We caught up with Nelson Grice, the artist behind the new Miss Fancy statue, to find out when we’ll get to see her in all her glory. Keep reading for sneak peek photos and details.

UPDATE: Nelson Grice has shared that Miss Fancy’s public unveiling will take place on Saturday, December 10 at 11AM at the main entrance of Avondale Park. Mark your calendars and don’t miss out on this monumental moment!

Making Miss Fancy

Bham Now has been keeping up with Miss Fancy’s progress every step of the way and we can’t wait to see the final results. When we last caught up with Nelson, he was in the midst of the final bronze pour for the long-anticipated statue. Since then, he’s been hard at work assembling Miss Fancy’s 146 individual pieces.

“Ted Metz and Hank Simpson were a huge help in assembling the big girl. We completed assembling the pieces at the end of July. Then I welded up all of the seams and by the end of this week, she will be completely finished.”

Nelson Grice, Artist

Based on the real-life Miss Fancy, a beloved elephant who roamed Avondale Park in the early 1900s, this 15-foot statue will be displayed front and center in Avondale Park.

How she came to be

The story of bringing a new Miss Fancy statue to Avondale Park traces back to one of the neighborhood’s most beloved civic leaders, Ron Council. When a smaller Miss Fancy statue in the park was damaged and later disappeared, Ron made it his mission to bring her back to her rightful place.

Tragically, he passed away before he could see Miss Fancy return. So, his wife Martha Council made it her mission to continue his legacy and raise money for a brand new Miss Fancy statue. Grice took on the project and has been bringing the beloved elephant to life ever since.

What are the next steps?

Wondering what exactly needs to happen before we can see Miss Fancy at the entrance of Avondale Park? Nelson filled us in on the next steps.

“Right now we are waiting on permits from the parts board in Birmingham. Once we get our permit, we will begin to excavate the land and pour the footer for the sculpture. Once we pour the footer, we will attach the plates and posts and weld her onto those plates. Then, we will build the pedestal box and pour the final layer of concrete. After that, we will place the stones around the pedestal to match the surrounding columns at the entrance of Avondale Park.”

Nelson Grice, Artist

Mark your calendars for the big reveal—Dec. 10

• What: Join artist Nelson Grice and friends as the long-awaited Miss Fancy statue is unveiled to the public.
• When: Saturday, December 10 | 11AM
• Where: Avondale Park, 4101 5th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35222

Follow Nelson on Facebook and Instagram for updates on Miss Fancy.

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