Phillip Moore, renowned artist and sculptor has passed away earlier today at the age of 90. He had been in declining health in recent years.
Moore of Manchester, Corentyne, who sculpted the 1763 Monument, began life as an ordinary farm-boy before becoming a well-known artist. He leaves behind a vast body of work.
Moore’s parents knew of his potential wanted him to become a lawyer and he started working at a canefield to supplement his family’s income to save money for his studies.
During that time he discovered he hidden talent by carving a man’s head from wood. He soon began to refine his process to improve the production of his products and was recruited to work at Princeton University in New Jersey as a professor.
On his return to Guyana Moore started working at the Burrowes School of Art where he said that he always taught students that “…art is a form of visual education to stimulate people.”
He answered an advertisement in the local newspaper in Guyana in 1970 and submitted a design for the 1763 monument. To his elation his submission was approved and set about designing a four foot model that was shipped to England where the statue was cast in bronze and shipped to Guyana in 1972.
Today the 1763 Monument stands at the site of the old “race course” now called “Square of the Revolution.
Moore has also done a lot of work in the field of cricket titled ‘Cricket Fantasy,’ and these pieces were exhibited during World Cup Cricket in Guyana.
He recalled one instance where persons came from America and inquired about the price for one of his pieces, and he told them US$5,000. He said they did not have enough money and paid him only US$50. “But when they returned they paid me the balance through my bank account.”
Moore is also a poet and composer. And even though his songs have never been produced, he is optimistic that, “One day my songs would become best sellers and I would make millions.”
Moore opined that where religion is concerned, “The general population of the world needs to understand that each man is a recipient of God Almighty, only so peace can come into this world.”
Moore lived in Corentyne, Guyana with his son, Phillip Moore Jr, who followed in his father’s footsteps and had been producing sculptures also.
