Metal Information Center

Here is one of our occasional reports from the world of art, which, as regular readers will know, has come a long way from the casting of bronze horses and the painting of still lifes

August 27, 2007 – 1:13 pm

Here is one of our occasional reports from the world of art, which, as regular readers will know, has come a long way from the casting of bronze horses and the painting of still lifes. Recall that the death of the great Red Sox hitter Ted Williams, back in July 2002, was followed by a nasty legal wrangle over the disposal of the remains.The winner was Williams’s son, John-Henry, who had his dad frozen in liquid nitrogen, for resuscitation at some future date. As a normal part of this procedure, the Williams frozen cadaver was decapitated, the head being stored separately. Well, sculptor Daniel Edwards, inspired to creativity by this story, is displaying copies of the late swatter’s head, modeled on the frozen original, with assistance from some photographs of Williams when alive. These objects, made of plaster, are surrounded by Williams and Red Sox memorabilia, and immersed in liquid nitrogen for that touch of authenticity. Alcor Life Extension Foundation of Scottsdale, Ariz., which performed the refrigeration of Mr. Williams, issued an indignant statement condemning the sculptor for seeking to “exploit Ted Williams and his family for monetary gain.” No, no, no. This has nothing to do with money, this is art, don’t you see?