Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh and the Hunny Pot,
Newton Free Library, Newton, Mass
Children’s Patio, Bronze mounted on brick. Height: 28"
Eeyore was installed September 15, 1991

When asked to create a sculpture for the Children’s Patio at the Newton Free Library in memory of a 4 year old boy, I thought it appropriate to choose a character from children’s literature.

I chose Eeyore because he is not only a lovable personage, but one from whom a very important lesson could be learned. When the day of his birthday came he was supposed to receive a hunny pot full of hunny, and a balloon. By the time his gifts arrived, the hunny pot was empty and the balloon was broken. Instead of being angry, he took the stick from the broken balloon and made a game of sticking the stick in and out of the hunny pot.

Perhaps we can all learn a lesson from Eeyore.

Winnie the Pooh and Hunny Pot was installed May 12, 2002

On January 17,1995, 14 year old Sarah Oliver wrote to the then Mayor of Newton:

Dear Mayor Concannon, How would you feel if you were outside twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year? You stood alone in the winter with the unfriendly snowflakes nipping at your back. There is no one to keep you warm, no one to talk to. It’s just you and the snow.

I am writing to you about a sad little donkey who lives around these parts. He goes by the name of Eeyore. You may have read about him in A.A. Milne’s books and you may have read that he is a sad little donkey, but even sad donkeys need a friend, preferably Winnie-the-Pooh, every now and then.

I believe it is time for that poor old donkey, who awaits very patiently by the Newton Public Library for his friend, to be giving a late (or early) birthday present: Winnie-the-Pooh. This may seem a little small and childish, but remember, everyone has a little Pooh-Bear in them! I’m sure if a sculpture of Winnie-the-Pooh thumped along and came across Eeyore, that ol’ donkey will give the biggest smile you’ve ever seen. So, please consider giving Eeyore a friend.

I would appreciate hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,
Sarah Oliver.

Sarah died on February 14, 2001. Her parents asked me to design a sculpture of Winnie-the-Pooh in her memory. I added a hunny pot for children to sit on, possibly to cheer Eeyore up. The sculpture was installed on May 12, 2002 with a plaque reading “For The Children of Newton From Sarah Oliver”.