Up She Rises!

Art lovers and the curious are expected to flock to north Devon to see Verity

The 20.25 metre high bronze is of a half-skinned, heavily pregnant  woman. 

She's been made by Brit artist Damien Hirst and is on loan to Ilfracombe for the next twenty years.

Verity is based on Degas's iconic Little Dancer. She holds a sword in one hand the scales in the other.

The massive sculpture has aroused mixed feeling in the town.  Some believe it'll put Ilfracombe on the artistic map, others believe the bronze is unsuitable.

Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Development at Ilfracombe, Councillor Mike Edmunds, says: "She truly is an amazing sight and one I look forward to seeing on the horizon for the next two decades. The people I have spoken to are really excited about her presence and how she could help further boost the local economy. I appreciate that not everyone is a fan of the artwork, but one thing is for sure and that is she's already attracted so much interest into our wonderful town."
 
Local ward councillor, Paul Crabb says: "Love Verity or hate her, there's no doubt she inspires awe, purely from the scale of the statue. And she certainly adds to our 'curious coastal charm' image!"

Contractors will now spend a further week working on the sculpture, with the size of the compound site being reduced to allow for more parking spaces. 

The car park will then be partially closed from 8 November, as it does every year, to allow for boat storage during the winter months. Further landscaping and lighting around Verity will then take place. It is expected this will be completed by the end of November.

Meanwhile, various local groups are currently discussing a possible event on the pier to welcome Verity, once the further works have been completed. 

For more information about Verity's installation, go to  www.damienhirst.com