one leg on a bench has become a
tourist attraction in its own right. There
is another cast of ‘Young Will’ near the
entrance of the Chattanooga Theatre
Centre in the US.
One of Lawrence’s later works has been
a life size bronze of John Lennon, sitting
on a bench with his arms outstretched,
and it was the sculptor’s wish that a copy
of it would be sited in Lennon’s home city
of Liverpool.
In the summer of 2015, Lawrence was at
St Andrews in Scotland with Tony Jacklin
who unveiled his four bronze bas relief
sculptures ‘Faces of Golf’ at the British
Golf Museum. Featuring 116 of golf’s
greatest players, the sculpture includes
Mary Queen of Scots, who was said to be
an early aficionado of the sport.
At the time of his death, Lawrence
was working on a play in which Graham
Pountney, who also has a home on the
Island at Seaview, was hoping to play the
part of Churchill.
“Lawrence Holofcener was an
extraordinarily creative man,” said
Graham. “Full of ideas and wisdom: always
bursting to create something new! He was
well-loved and admired on the Island.
“I was fortunate enough to be at the
unveiling of his latest sculpture of
Shakespeare outside the RSC Theatre
in Stratford upon Avon. Just a year or
so before he fell ill, we were in a hotel
in Heathrow, discussing together the
casting of his latest play that’s planned
to open and tour in the UK before
coming to London. ‘The Big Sleepover
in the White House’ is about a two-week
meeting of Roosevelt and Churchill
that set up ‘the special relationship’ and
brought the USA into the 2nd World
Lawrence Holofcener and Graham Pountney
with a maquette of Shakespeare
War. Those two men were the inspiration
behind his iconic sculpture ‘Allies’, which
can be seen not only in Bond St in central
London, but in the Priory Hotel, Seaview
too. I will miss him.”
Lady Grylls has been a great friend
of the Holofceners for many years and
the couple gave her a maquette of the
famous ‘Young Will’ statue.
“Lawrence Holofcener is one of
the best-recognised sculptors of his
generation,” said Lady Grylls.
“A multi-talented charismatic character
who was successful first as an actor
on Broadway - then as a writer and
artist who later became recognised
internationally as a sculptor of rare
genius. The Holofcener life-sized statues
of well-known figureheads in history are
on display all over the world. The limited
editions are collectors’ items.
“I am privileged to have been
given a small maquette of Lawrence
Holofcener’s last commission - the life-
size statue of Shakespeare was created
to commemorate the bard’s 400 years.
This elegant work of art can be seen
standing majestically in the Square in
Stratford-on-Avon.
“With the encouragement of his
beautiful and dynamic wife, Julia,
Lawrence Holofcener was still busy
sculpturing on his 90th birthday. Larry’s
head and shoulder and miniature busts
commemorating Royalty, the good and
the great and the famous, are enjoyed by
the general public throughout the world.
“For example, the Apollo Theatre has
the incredible face frieze of the many
roles played by actor Sir Laurence Olivier.
And the huge bronze frieze of the faces
of 36 famous golfers dating back to Mary
Queen of Scots was unveiled last year at
St. Andrews Golf Course in Scotland.
“However, it is for ‘The Allies’ in Bond
Street that Lawrence Holofcener will
probably be best remembered. Tourists
and shoppers alike stop and stare at
this famous bench commemorating the
historic moment in history when the two
leaders of the free world met before the
USA joined in the last World War.”
In the years to come people will be
interacting with Lawrence Holofcener’s
statues and they truly are a magnificent
legacy and memorial to this ‘Renaissance
Man’ whose creative life spanned music,
theatre and the arts.
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