The Eastport mermaid statue Nerida was created in bronze by Eastport resident sculptor Richard Klyver in the years 2012 – 2015, and it was unveiled on August 1st, 2015. It sits on a large rock specifically placed on the existing rock harborfront in Eastport for the mermaid to sit on. map
I heard about this project in 2012, and asked Richard to preserve some photos of the process from the beginning.
He used the ‘lost wax process’, a 12-step method to get from initial clay model to final sculpture. It includes making a plaster mold from the clay, then making a hollow wax model inside the plaster mold. Then making a ceramic mold around the wax model (inside and out) and melting out the wax (hence the name ‘lost wax process'). This is followed by pouring molten bronze into this ceramic mold to fill the space where the walls of the hollow wax model were. Finally, the bronze is removed from the ceramic mold, finalized and given colors (patina) using special chemicals and hot flames.
Creating a bronze sculpture is not for the faint of heart!
References:
● https://bangordailynews.com/2015/07/22/news/mermaid-to-adorn-eastport-harbor-walk/
● The Mermaids of Earth coffee-table book: See page 128 in the book about this sculpture.
