PREPARATIONS are being made but no definite funeral arrangements have been settled, so far, for renowned Guyanese artist, Philip Moore, who died last Sunday morning.
In an invited comment yesterday , Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony said the ministry is keeping in close contact with the dead man’s family but no definite programme can be planned as final decisions will be dependent on them.
He informed that other artists are, currently, holding a wake at the Burrowes School of Art, to which Moore was attached up to the time of his passing.
The late artist’s son, Philip Moore (Jnr.) confirmed that no date has been set for the home going due to the fact that overseas based relatives are expected.
He said the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport had honoured its promise and representatives travelled to Berbice for talks with the family on Monday.
The junior Moore said he would be visiting Georgetown today for further discussions at the ministry.
The deceased, who was 90 at his death, was mostly known for creating the 1763 Monument (Cuffy) on Vlissengen Road in the city.
Cared for at the time by his son, Philip Moore succumbed at the home of the former, Lot 7 Lancaster Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

Born 1921, in then British Guiana, Moore had little formal education but received a school leaving certificate in 1938. At an early age, he accompanied his father, a balata bleeder, on his expeditions into the forests. To Moore, the forest was an enchanted place filled with spirituality and he believed he was an ancient spirit reincarnated in a modern body.

Converted
Around 1940, Moore converted to Jordanite Christianity, a religion which focused on self-help, personal pride, communal life, hard work and study of the Bible. As an artist Moore considered himself “spirit taught” following a dream in 1955, in which a large hand reached down to him from the heavens and a voice commanded him to begin his career as an artist.
In this time he made a modest start, refining his skills by carving wooden canes and, before long, developed proficiency in manipulating tropical hardwoods such as purple heart and cocobolo. His early subjects included portraits, animal figures, sports heroes and stylised magic drums. Eventually, he turned to other forms of art, such as painting and poetry. By 1964, his intuitive carving abilities came to the attention of local authorities at the Department of Culture and they hired him to teach arts and craft.
Motivated by love for his native Guyana and assisted by the Government, Moore got the chance to create the 1763 Monument, the largest bronze sculpture in the region. The piece depicts rebellion leader Cuffy as a defiant, African warrior. He wears a pre-Columbian-like helmet and African breastplate and stands at the ready to march against any enemy who dares to desecrate his homeland. It also features traditional African motifs such as the stylised masks used for leggings and breastplates as well as its non-Western sculptural proportions.