Sculpted seagulls sent back to skip
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The seagulls in Peter Nicholas's sculpture wound up where they started: in a skip.
The famous sculpture of 42 seagulls, which has hung in the entrance to Cardiff Airport since 1970, began life as a sketch of seagulls circling a rubbish heap.
But a recent refurbishment of the airport resulted in the aluminium birds being thrown into a rubbish skip.
Mr Nicholas, 62, is asking anyone who laid their hands on a bird to bring it back to him so he can reassemble his sculpture.
The pounds 4,000 commission for the sculpture in 1970 was the turning point in Mr Nicholas's career. "An international airport was a prize reference in a cv that was growing. I can no longer refer to it on my cv, except in a negative way," he said.
Mr Nicholas, a fellow of the Royal Society of British Sculptors, is pressing for a charter of artists' rights: "It shouldn't happen to anyone else." He is also demanding a full explanation from the airport authorities.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments