The larger-than-life monumental bronze sculpture of “Merlin” in the Old Marketplace parking lot roundabout in West Sedona disappeared this week.
But the disappearance is not theft, nor a magic trick by the great Arthurian magician of legend.
According to city of Sedona Arts & Culture Specialist Nancy Lattanzi, Sedona police officers were contacted by residents and were informed that the iconic sculpture was removed by the property owner to be restored.
Christopher Fox Graham/Larson Newspapers
“I reached out to PD who investigated,” Lattanzi stated in a text message. “The property manager had it taken to be restored. It was not stolen. Shows how meaningful art is & the impact it makes to us all.”
“Merlin” was sculpted by the late John Soderberg, Ph.D. [Oct. 13, 1950-May 13, 2023], who lived in Sedona and Camp Verde. The larger-than-life statue of the wizard Merlin was installed more than 35 years ago, first at Hillside Sedona, then at the Old Marketplace, and has been an iconic sculpture in West Sedona.
Soderberg’s younger daughter Misty Soderberg, herself a noted sculptor, said that the sculpture is the most iconic representation of her father’s work.
“Merlin’s Chair” located 97 feet to the north-northwest, over a water feature at Old Marketplace, was also removed for restoration.
Christopher Fox Graham/Larson Newspapers
At Soderberg’s celebration of life in May 2023, Sheila Jackman, who commissioned “Merlin,” also talked about Soderberg’s sense of humor. While sculpting “Merlin,” Soderberg had dinner with Jackman and their families. He produced an envelope marked “family jewels” and spun it around a lazy susan.
When Jackman opened the envelope, there were about a dozen photos of male body parts inside, and Soderberg asked her to “pick one” so that he could make the statue anatomically correct with the part of her choice.
Photo courtesy of Pete Galea
There is no confirmed date as to when the restoration will be complete or when the works will be reinstalled.
Video about John Soderberg, Ph.D. “Merlin” by Jill Trenholm
John Soderberg’s artist statement about “Merlin”
“The inspiration behind my sculpture of Merlin (created 1994) stemmed from various aspects of my life,” John Soderberg stated in an artist statement about the work. “One influential factor was my father’s covert missionary work in Afghanistan, which led to extensive travels during my early years. These journeys exposed me to different cultures, including visits to Rome and other sites renowned for their fine art. These encounters ignited my passion for becoming an artist, prompting me to start painting with oils upon returning to New Delhi from one of our trips.
“Our nomadic lifestyle continued as we relocated to Thailand and spent eight years there. During this time, I had the opportunity to revisit Rome and once again witness the profound impact of Michelangelo’s Moses sculpture, which deeply moved me at the more mature age of nine.
“A chance encounter while strolling along a Hawaiian beach further fueled my desire to become a sculptor. At an arts and crafts fair, I stumbled upon a remarkable sculpture of an elderly, bearded man standing behind a chair. Carved from a single tree trunk, this masterpiece rekindled my aspiration to create something equally evocative.
“The amalgamation of Michelangelo’s Moses, the carved figure on the beach, my time in England, and the tales of Merlin gradually coalesced over the course of 35 years, culminating in the birth of my own rendition of Merlin.”
David Jolkovski/Larson Newspapers
Merlin first appeared in the 12th century in Historia Regum Britanniae, written by Geoffrey of Monmouth [1095-1155].
Merlin is a powerful wizard who counsels several kings, most notably the legendary King Arthur, who is said to have reigned in the late fifth and early sixth centuries and was noted in English legand for his conflict with the invading Anglo-Saxons. While some texts suggest that Merlin’s magic and shapeshifting powers were granted by demons, or through his connection to pre-Christian Celtic druidic deities, Arthurian legend portrays him as a benevolent Christian advisor to Arthur, who assisted the young king to remove a magical sword from a stone, whose removal was said to anoint the new king after a long interregnum, and later assisting Arthur and his Knights of the Round in their quest for the Holy Grail.
