A new sculpture coming to Aldridge Gardens

“I’m not concerned about making my art realistic. To me, it’s about expression. I want to create art that is funny, makes people laugh and brightens their day.”
Nelson Grice

In his outdoor studio at the Shelby County Arts Council center in Columbia, local artist Nelson Grice is putting the finishing touches on his latest project—a nine-foot-tall bronze-cast sculpture of a bird dubbed “Long Tall Silly,” a play on the popular song “Long Tall Sally” by Little Richard.

Nelson started working on Long Tall Silly in June 2023 by sketching out different versions on paper and creating a couple of examples out of clay. Once he had a design he liked, it was time to begin the bronze-casting process.

“In my studio, I built a metal frame wrapped in foam and covered in thin slabs of clay, which I used to fine-tune the details of the sculpture. Then, I used a two-part rubber mold material to build molds for the different sections. Once the wax molds are made, they’re covered in casting sand, burned out and filled with molten bronze. After the broze solidifies, I break away the mold, clean up the bronze pieces and assemble the sculpture.”
Nelson Grice

Nelson Grice with the foam-form iteration of Long Tall Silly. (Nelson Grice)

Long Tall Silly was commissioned by a long-time fan of Nelson’s work after he finished installing Miss Fancy at Avondale Park in late 2022.

“She wanted me to create a piece for Aldridge Gardens, and wanted it to be completely in my own style. I build my pieces to be enjoyed by children. They don’t necessarily enjoy sophisticated sculpture, but they enjoy seeing funny, fancifal things. With Long Tall Silly, I included things like screws and bolts to remind kids—and kids at heart—of the things they built with LEGO or Erector sets.”
Nelson Grice

Long Tall Silly has several eye-catching features. Human elements like massive feet (that help with stability), eyes and even a smile at the end of her beak help viewers relate to the bronze sculpture.

“I always try to blend human qualites into my work; I feel that it helps me put more emotion into my pieces. It’s about expression. I taught sculpture to high schoolers for 25 years, and one of my goals was to help them break free of artistic boundries. That’s not what art is about. Everyone has their own unique artistic language, so don’t be influenced by this voice or that voice. Make what speaks to you.”
Nelson Grice

Long Tall Silly will be unveiled at Aldridge Gardens on March 2

Asked what part of Long Tall Silly he’s most proud of, Nelson responded with:

“How proud she stands. Once we get her into place, she’ll stand atop a big boulder in a creek. I can’t wait to see her there, with this proud look on her face. And she is proud. She’s holding nothing back.”
Nelson Grice

Long Tall Silly will be unveiled at Aldridge Gardens on Saturday, March 2 during their Arbor Day celebrations.

Just like with his Miss Fancy statue, Nelson Grice will be selling a limited edition series of 50 miniature sculptures of Long Tall Silly. If you’re interested in purchasing one, reach out to him at nelsongriceart@gmail.com.