Serpent Sculpture Lands In EG Library

A large strange-looking serpent-like thing can be seen near the checkout desk at these days - an interactive sculpture created by artist Lisa May in conjuction with the that took place in September.

Jennifer Neuguth, who's Festival Fete put on the festival, told May that she wanted "some kind of a creature that had an alien or maybe serpent-like features," said May, "but I could play with ideas."

She also wanted something children could actually touch and sit or stand on. So May picked up an old beach chair from the street in Newport and used that as the basis for her creation.

At the art festival, which took place in the parking lot at on Division Street, children painted parts of what became the serpent.

Nora Anderson, 4, and her brother Joseph, 2, were the first children to test out the sculpture earlier this month. They were a bit timid at first, sitting on the seat politely. But May encouraged them to give the creature a full test-drive. Soon Nora and then Joseph were standing on the seat of the creature, flapping its wings and shaking its head to the sound of bells.

"Now we have mastered the vehicle," said May. "Awesome. That is awesome."