A New Sculpture for Grand Cayman by Simon Morris

Press Release

British-born Canadian sculptor and Fellow of Royal Canadian Geographic Society, Simon Morris, is working to install a new nine foot (2.7m) underwater statue titled, Angel of the Reef, on Soto’s Reef in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, in conjunction with authors Nicholas Harvey and Nick Sullivan. Their book, Angels of the Deep: A Tropical Christmas Novella, served as the inspiration for Morris’s creation. 

The project was commissioned by Gary and Liz Frost of Living the Dream Divers, who have already started the permit application process, while Morris assists in the fund raising by selling limited edition prints and bronze 1/6 scale replica sculptures of the statue to fund the larger installation. Ian Popple, Reef Smart was instrumental in the creation of the limited edition (L/E) print by combining Simon’s original 3D digital design of the sculpture with actual reef scans of the local area.

Angel of the Reef will be Simon’s fourth large sculpture in Cayman. In October 2000, his first underwater sculpture in Grand Cayman was the mermaid Amphitrite, placed in 50 ft/15 m of water at Sunset House, Grand Cayman Island, and which has been voted the most popular shore dive on Grand Cayman, the world’s most visited single dive destination. 

Simon’s second sculpture in Grand Cayman, is titled Tradition, which portrays two life size figures—a young boy at the helm of a schooner, learning the art of navigation from his father—that was unveiled by His Royal Highness, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, on May 10, 2003, for the Quinte Centennial Anniversary of the discovery of the Cayman Islands by Columbus. The statue is In Memoriam to the nearly 500 Caymanian souls who were lost at sea as recorded since 1792. Originally installed at the ruins of Fort George, the sculpture was relocated after Hurricane Ivan to a safer spot in Heroes Square. 

Simon is also the sculptor of the storied Guardian of the Reef, , a world-wide limited edition of just four signed, numbered and dated bronze statues cast in the United States. The first edition, which stands 13 ft/4 m tall was completed in October 2013, unveiled at DEMA in Orlando in November 2013, and sunk in Grand Cayman, 62 ft/18 m deep on April 12, 2014, by Divetech Ltd., at Lighthouse Point, West Bay.

Angels of the Deep

Simon’s new statue was inspired by the novella Angels of the Deep by Harvey and Sullivan. The plot revolves around a sculptor well known for placing large bronze sculptures underwater who is commissioned to create a new piece as a gift from the British Royal Family to the people of the Cayman Islands. Unbeknownst to the sculptor, there is a plot to kill a member of the Royal Family on Christmas Eve. To this end, the piece is hijacked on the way to the unveiling and filled with high explosives prior to the ceremony. The protagonists foil the plot and save the Royal Family but the sculpture is blown to smithereens.

Nicholas Harvey interviewed Simon Morris to ensure the portions of the book relating to the creation and placement of the bronze sculptures were correct. These discussions led to Nicholas Harvey writing the sculptor in the book as actually being Simon Morris, with references to both the mermaid Amphitrite and the Guardian of the Reef.

The two authors and the sculptor have become determined see it brought to reality and are seeking stakeholders and champions to raise the funds for the creation of the sculpture and to assist local environmental efforts to save the Green Turtle. There is a huge synergy for this project to stimulate/provide economic stimulus for the Cayman Islands and to continue to elevate public awareness of the fragile nature of our marine environment and the need to protect it for future generations.

Description of the sculpture, Angel of the Reef

The sculpture, as described in the book, had some inherent issues with cost, impracticalities to cast, and strength.  The sculptor and authors have discussed this, and the redesign will be featured in the plot of Nicholas Harvey’s upcoming addition to his AJ Bailey Adventure series aptly titled, Angel of the Reef.

The sculpture includes the three iconic ambassadors of Grand Cayman, the mermaid, the stingray, and the green sea turtle. The goal to raise awareness, to protect the marine environment, and to raise funds for the conservation and preservation of the green sea turtle remains a priority.

The mermaid is looking towards the surface with arms stretched forward and curved up, welcoming the divers from above. The stingray is in intimate contact with the mermaid’s back with the wings slightly curved around her shoulders in a protective manner. The mermaid’s head is angled back and up, and the stingray’s head follows that angle, appearing like a halo behind her, adding to the angel concept.

The “Angel,” the mermaid herself, is 9 ft/2.7m from the tip of her tail to the top of her head. She will be installed on a “Layer Cake” style Reef Ball concrete structure. The stingray and sea turtle are approximately life size portrayals of large individuals.

“Our goal is to install the sculpture to continue to promote the  amazing diving experiences that Grand Cayman has to offer,” explained Simon Morris. “We plan to create a Cayman-based nonprofit organization (NPO) that will continue to raise funds for the green sea turtle in the Cayman Islands, so the project will have ongoing environmental benefits as well as commercial ones.”

For more information about the project and/or to purchase a limited edition print or statue go to: ANGEL OF THE REEF.

DIVE DEEPER

Underwater Filmworks: The Mermaid Grand Cayman

Underwater Filmworks: Guardian of the Reef

Simon Morris, F.R.C.G.S.
Sculptor
Blue Heron Road, British Columbia

[email protected]

www.sculptorsimonmorris.com

www.guardianofthereef.com