Growing Form

Merchant made a number of sculptures on a similar theme based on a 6 in tall pyrophyllite carving he owned. The original piece was more open in form but Merchant's sculptures in bronze, aluminium and ceramic, grew more enclosed. The Burton Arts Council commissioned Growing Form from Merchant as a development of the theme, with a focus on "growth".

The sculpture is formed of a 2 m tall cast aluminium body atop an 80 cm high granite plinth. The plinth is in the form of a square-based pyramid with sides 53 cm in length. A plaque on the pedestal gives the name of the sculpture, its sculptor (Reverend Professor Moelwyn Merchant) and the year it was installed (1982). The plaque further notes that the work was "commissioned by Burton & District Arts Council aided by West Midlands Art". It stands near to the library and the flood plain of the River Trent in Burton upon Trent. Merchant had intended the piece to be surrounded by two rows of slate columns; due to budget constraints this element was not installed and instead it was enclosed by a…