Queen Connie: Gorilla and Beetle

Leicester, Vermont

While we see outlandish promotional statues everywhere else in the country, this is probably the only big, goofy one along the over-protected roads of Vermont.

At the end of the gorilla's upraised left arm is a real Volkswagen Beetle. The statue is called "Queen Connie" because it was built with steel-reinforced concrete by artist T.J. Neil (1940-2010), in 1987.

According to the owner, Neil "did some statue stuff for around our pool. So we asked him if he wanted to do something for this place. He said, 'How about a giant gorilla?' We said, 'Whaddaya want to do a giant gorilla for?' He said, 'So I can make him hold a car.' And we said, 'Okay, maybe a gorilla, but make his other hand stretched down, so people can sit in it.'" Some time after this discussion, the gorilla's identity changed from a he to a she.

The sitting hand is sturdy, but not ergonomically designed, and is not for the unlimber. It's hard to get up into, and easy to fall from. Careful.