Following the enormous artistic and financial success of the H.P. Lovecraft Bronze Bust Project, the natural successor was Edgar Allan Poe as a fellow master of the macabre. Originally suggested by Alison Maxell, then executive director of the Providence Athenauem as a companion piece to the Lovecraft bust, the Poe bust would be placed in Providence but it was ultimately not to be. So, I approached the Boston Public Library who graciously accepted the donation proposal.

Graham Humphreys created another masterpiece poster to lead the charge in creating the brand for these bust projects and easily matched the magnificent poster art for the Lovecraft bust project. Old friends Reber Clark and Anthony Penta created some terrific project videos that helped to get the message out and Jeffrey Combs, my friend of many years, graciously agreed to bring his one man performance "Nevermore" to Boston theater audiences as part of the project.

What really got this project propelled into the limelight was the public support of genre' luminaries such as Guillermo del Toro, Neil Gaiman, George RR Martin, Peter Straub, Stuart Gordon and so many others who, as with the Lovecraft bust project, lent their good names to guarantee the success of the project.

Thanks to the many fans of Poe worldwide, the project team and I were able to exceed the financial goal once again which allowed us to make a $1000.00 donation to Read Boston, the local children's literacy program.

A whirlwind Halloween weekend was had with the bust being unveiled to an enthusiastic audience in the beautiful Abbey Room of the Boston Public Library where I was able to meet in person many of the kind project donors from around the world and thank them firsthand for their generosity. The next night saw an incredible tour de force performance by Jeffrey Combs as Poe himself at the Somerville Theater to a capacity crowd. I was able to sit front row center between my wonderful daughter Chloe and Susan Jaffe Tane, the world's premier collector and historian of original Poe material. Susan has championed many exhibitions and artists dedicated to celebrating Poe's life and influence and I was honored to enjoy her company and her patronage.

The bronze bust of Poe was placed in the cavernous recesses of the Boston Public Library awaiting it's final placement for display in the new Johnson Wing, a 78 million dollar renovation that opened to the public in July, 2016. Poe took his place among other beautiful busts of Mark Twain, Maya Angelou and many others, which was an honor for me to be included in such august company. The donation was awarded to Read Boston on behalf of the many project donors shortly after the final display of the bust and the project was completed.

A long artistic journey to be sure, but one that I was extremely proud of and always will be, forevermore.

- Bry

An early sculpture of Poe that I had made that served as a model for the bust sculpture.

The historic Boston Public Library at 700 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116

The beautiful Abbey Room of the Boston Public Library where the unveiling would take place.

Graham Humphreys displaying more of his routine brilliance with the original project art!

Ready to rock with the clay and photo reference. Note the completed armature and base in place.

My set of 1962 Cadillac hubcaps that I thought would make a great model for the iris of the eyes! ;)

Closeup detail with rake marks. You can see how I used the Cadillac hubcaps for an eye design!

Is this what Poe looked like in the altogether? Only Mrs. Poe knew for sure! ;)

Since no profile photos exists of Poe, I had to do some guesswork here.

The reverse profile. Lots of guesswork.

Starting the cravat. I thought I'd get a little fanciful with it and incorporate some sweeping lines to create a flow.

A step closer to more clothes.....

The finished sculpture with all the available photo reference and my earlier Poe statuette in the background.

Had to pose with the man himself!

At Lavens Monuments with the finished bronze donor plaque!

At the foundry prepping the sculpture for the mold.

Sculpture with the silicone done and shimmed, ready for the plaster jacket.

Mold complete. Note the drilled holes along the edges for the nuts and bolts to hold it together.

Randy starts the slurry process over the lost wax.

Paul grinding the assembled bronze bust!

Assembling the bronze pieces to create the completed bust.

Paul and Bry nail down the look of the patina.....

Paul begins firing the chemicals to create a rich, caramel bronze patina.

Bry at the entrance to the Abbey Room of the Boston Public Library.

Right after uncrating the bust and pedestal in the immense basement of the Boston Public Library!

The moment of the unveiling with the entire team!

The unveiling with Bry, Poe, Izzy Lee and Jeffrey Combs. :)

Speaking at the unveiling in the Abbey Room, filled to capacity!

An honor to bring Poe back to the city of his birth.

The bust, plaque and pedestal on display in the Abbey Room the night of the unveiling. Mission accomplished!

The project team for the Edgar Allan Poe Bronze Bust Project: L to R: Jeffrey Combs, Mark Redfield, Chloe Moore, Reber Clark, Bryan Moore, Anthony Penta, Izzy Lee, Graham Humphreys.

Another view of Poe on display.

The plaque that the Boston Public Library placed to accompany the bronze bust. I was honored for their recognition.

Two years later at the opening of the renovated Johnson Wing. The Boston Public Library chose a sightly different display to match the other busts, but I think it looks quite nice and all the bronze plaque donors were honored.

Reber Clark's great poster for the "Nevermore" performance on Halloween night! An honor to have produced this show for Boston audiences!

Another great poster for the "Nevermore" performance!

Legendary author and project supporter Neil Gaiman visits the Poe bust!

Dacre Stoker and Boston Public Library President David Leonard pose with the Poe bust!