Cllr Welsh talks to George Wagstaffe about the Naiad - Video and audio transcripts

David Welsh - Hi, I’m Cllr David Welsh and I’m Cabinet Member responsible for Heritage and Art and I’m here today with George Wagstaffe. The artist behind this great piece, the Naiad. I’m just going to ask you George, do you want to tell us a little bit about the history of the Naiad.

George Wagstaffe - To cut a long story short, she was exhibited in London and it was there that Arthur Ling saw her, the city architect and bought her for Coventry. She was placed in the newly built Belgrade Theatre for a while and then she was cast in fibre glass and went into Palace Yard. She was in Palace Yard and then finally cast in Bronze and was in Palace Yard for really, I think, almost 40 years. Moved finally to the Lady Herbert’s garden and then was attempted to be stolen so she finished up really in Swanswell Gate which was a shame. A lot of public resentment about keeping her away followed and then she was given back to me really to get her refurbished and repatterned in my foundry in Wales and now of course she comes back and she’s here in splendour. So, it’s a long story but it’s very beautiful and in a way it tells you a bit about what art is.

David Welsh - And the Naiad is so important to people in Coventry, it’s part of our history and I’m really pleased that we’ve got it here in the new regenerated Upper Precinct where so many people can enjoy it. From the unveiling today, so many people have been able to see it and enjoy her so thank you so much for your time.

George Wagstaffe - I’m very pleased too. I think it’s a wonderful setting and it’s so nice that she’s here.

David Welsh - Definitely, thank you for your time George. Well what a great story from George where he’s told us about the history of the Naiad. It’s so important to people in Coventry and what we’ve seen today at the unveiling is how people enjoy public art. How public art makes a space. That’s the importance of it. The Naiad is part of our history, it’s