Featured last May in The Mississauga News, Daned was described as a dragon with a heart of steel, seeking an outdoor locale, and who's good with children and animals.
That turned out to be true, as the Murrays have discovered. After reading about the dragon, they contacted Holly Atkinson, who was looking for a new home for the six-by-six-foot sculpture she created for a show a few years ago. Daned was rather large for the backyard of her Creditview and Britannia Rds. area townhouse.
The dragon was constructed from an 80-pound steel armature that was covered with layers of wire before an artist's cement was applied. Atkinson named it Daned for a show called From Dragons to Dragonflies.
The artist had become attached to her creation, and visited Murray at his home to ensure its well-being there. As she rounded the front porch of his house, making her way down the lush landscaping into his backyard, she had a good feeling. She met his wife, Colleen, and 14-year-old daughter, Lisa-Marie, and knew Daned would be a welcome addition.
And when she envisioned Daned standing proudly beside the Murrays' backyard patio, overlooking 17 acres of the Grant Clarkson property only steps from the Credit River, she immediately struck a deal.
"Holly said everything just feels right," Murray said. "She knew he would be well looked after here and she was able to let go of Daned."
A few days later, Daned and the small dragonfly, Liara, that's perched on his front paw, arrived at his lush, greenscaped home. Immediately, Lisa-Marie and Daned became friends.
Like her parents, she enjoys watching a variety of animals who wander over to smell the newcomer, including skunks, rabbits, cardinals, ravens, raccoons and goldfinches. Red foxes are even seen lurking, on occasion.
jslack@mississauga.net
