Okeke Says Damage to Philip Goldson Bust was Severe
Stephen Okeke
Okeke said that he has observed that the bust was in a bad shape, caused by the accident and lack of maintenance over the years since it was mounted at the entrance to the highway. Now he said that the material he is using will not require any kind of maintenance. He also said that the bust, after its repair is completed, should last another ten years out in the open. This time around, Okeke says that he will supervise the installation of the bust, to ensure that stanchions are placed around it for protection against damage that may be caused by traffic accidents or protests.
Stephen Okeke, Sculptor
“The damage was more than I expected but we already signed on to doing it and I wouldn’t go back and say: “Hey, I need some more money (Laughs), so we had to go on with it. But also, there was a lot of damage because of weathering, and it hasn’t been maintained in any form for the past twelve, fifteen years, and that material needs maintenance. If I ever would have done any other public sculpture, I would never do any more in cold bronze because it’s not maintained. It has to be hot bronze. So what we are doing right now is a permanent struct-temporal fix. If you want a temporal fix you might have to convert it to actual metal, hot bronze. But for now, we go with what it is right now and after the repair, I believe strongly it will last another ten years without any need for maintenance work but over time, those kinds of public sculptures should be maintained. Somebody should be contracted to do the maintenance. Any other public sculpture, maintenance should be done. Unfortunately, for so many years, people had taken it as “Okeke’s project, but now people have seen the benefit it has had to the tourism industry, to education, and it has become a fixture in the community.”
Marion Ali
“So it will last ten years if nobody crashes into it?”
Stephen Okeke
“(Laughs) I believe strongly, nobody will comfortably crash into it because the ministry has given their word, which was part of the conversation for my taking the job, that they have to protect it install it properly the way it should be done. Whether you agree with his politics or not, the accomplishments and the significance of Philip Goldson cannot be put in doubt. They have to put a barrier. They have to put it on properly, the way it deserves and the way we deserve to see it. I have to supervise the installation. That is part of the conversation for my taking the job this time.”
Marion Ali
“So we can see the monument back up by Christmas?”
Stephen Okeke
“Definitely sure, definitely.”
