The people behind the landmark hope a permanent home can be found for it
People at the unveiling of the statue in 2021(Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo)
The fate of a Liverpool landmark which disappeared two years ago has been revealed. Last week, an ECHO reader who was trying to find the statue of Bob Marley that used to be on Jamaica Street in the Baltic Triangle contacted us.
A quick search online revealed that the seven foot high statue of the reggae legend had been unveiled on September 9 2021 in a ceremony presided over by Levi Tafari as part of the Positive Vibration – Festival of Reggae. It was commissioned by the festival in honour of Bob’s legacy and his impact on millions of people around the world as a symbol of peace and love and had been sculpted by Andy Edwards.
During the ceremony Liverpool artists, Levi and Rory Taylor from the festival, said they were among the many Scousers who had been inspired by Bob’s talent and support for social justice around the world. The statue stood on the corner of Jamaica Street and Jordan Street, facing the Jurgen Klopp mural in the heart of the city centre district.
But it is no longer there, with that particular space being home to a number of artworks over the years, including a bronze statue of a rat and a pop art-style painting.
There was no indication in reports at the time that the landmark was there on a temporary basis however. Positive Vibration, which used to run annually, was held for the final time in September 2022.
Sculptor Andy Edwards and Levi Tafari by the The Bob Marley Statue(Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo)
The only reference that we could find to its removal initially came from the Instagram account behind the team who created The Beatles statue on the Pier Head.
The post from July 8 2023 said: “Our statue of Bob Marley is being removed from its location on Jamaica Street, L1 after nearly two years of display on the corner of Jordan Street.
“We’d like to thank Rory, Positive Vibration, Baltic Creative and the many, many visitors who have supported and enabled the fibreglass sculpture to stand there since it was unveiled by the wonderful Levi Tafari in September 2021”.
The ECHO tracked down the sculptor Andy, who revealed the statue is currently being stored in the Liverpool workshop of the Castle Fine Arts Foundry. He claimed that, although the sculpture was a popular addition to the city, it had been repeatedly damaged. He believes this stems from people climbing on the statue.
Facing expensive costs to keep the statue maintained, it was decided to put it in storage. It’s hoped that a permanent home for it can be found one day, but the search for that has been ongoing for some time.
Andy said: “The short answer is that it is in storage in the Liverpool workshops of Castle Fine Arts Foundry. The statue, commissioned by Positive Vibration, was exhibited on Jamaica Street for 18 months before we had to remove it due to repeated damage.
“The statue was cast in fibreglass with a steel substructure and steel reinforcement to the guitar neck, but after several repairs likely from over-exuberant people climbing on it, we could not afford to keep that level of maintenance up unsupported.
The Bob Marley statue was located on the corner of Jamaica Street and Jordan Street (Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo)
“Our hope was always that we would find sponsorship or support to cast a permanent bronze version rather than the temporary fibreglass but so far this has not been forthcoming despite many enquiries such as yours as to what has happened.
“It had become a designated stop on the City Tours bus trip and received many happy visitors. We took no fee for the making, only for the cost of the materials cost and have agreed for it to be cast it into bronze for the same cost (around £15,000-£20,000).
“It makes me feel very sad to tell you this but maybe one day…”
This was backed up by Chis Butler, the head of Castle Fine Arts Foundry. He said: “The resin statue is in our workshop in Liverpool and has been repaired on behalf of Rory Taylor who commissioned the statue.
“Rory’s plan was to loan it to the BME (British Music) exhibition in the Cunard Building. We would love to see the statue cast in bronze and permanently sited.”
Bob Marley’s son, Julian, headlined the Africa Oyé festival in Sefton Park last year.