After a year-long delay, a beloved sculpture in Elora has finally received much-needed maintenance work.
Officially titled It's a question of Who's In Charge, but locally known as The Tall Man, the sculpture is located in the Elora green space, a popular spot where a gas station once stood in the heart of downtown.
Last week, the sculpture was patched and refinished by its artist, Scott McNichol, his assistant and art student, Zoe Beilby.
Kirk McElwain, a councillor of Centre Wellington Ward 2, also helped with the sculpture repairs, which took four hours to complete.
“It doesn’t take that long,” said McElwain, “What it does take is Scott’s knowledge on how to do it and the right materials.”
“The paint should last for quite a few years now.”
Work started in 2019 when cracks began to show up in the back of the sculpture. Maintenance was scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2020, but then the pandemic began.
He explains it was important to finish all maintenance before the crowds come during the summer.
“It’s much harder to work there when people keep getting in the way,” said McElwain.
Since the sculpture was put there, McElwain explains it has possibly become the most photographed spot in Wellington County.
"Everyone who comes into town has taken their picture with the tall man it seems," said McElwain, “It’s thousands of pictures every year, so keeping the tall man in shape should be our focus.”
To help support the project, a donation from the Stephanie Minarovich Green Space Trust Fund was made to pay for the maintenance materials.
With the maintenance work now completed, McElwain mentions the water feature within the green space will be receiving repairs later this year.
As for future maintenance work, the city will be looking after those for the sculpture.
“The township are going to accept it as their responsibility from now on,” said McElwain about the tall man, “So the parks and rec department will be doing the maintenance, although Scott has offered his services anytime they need it to help, and show them what needs to be done.”
