Sculptor's art caught between a rock and a hard place

Now the mystery of the disappearing "rock" at the Edinburgh College of Art can be solved – it fell victim to health and safety rules.

The unusual attraction – which is actually made from polystyrene and insulation board – was taken away owing to fears it could blow away and cause injury.

Graduate Jake Rusby, 24, from Marchmont, created the piece – entitled Job Done – for his degree show in June, getting permission from the college principal to exhibit it above the entrance to the Hunter Building, on Lauriston Place.

But after six months of eager observation by visitors to the college, passing pedestrians and bus passengers, the rock is now waiting patiently inside the college for news of a new home in the city.

Jake, who is now on a sabbatical year as president of the college's student representative council, said: "I have been making inquires about maybe getting it put back up, but there is the possibility of needing planning permission. It's all about making it safe as I only had it weighed down with sandbags.

"I would consider getting it a home somewhere else and am certainly open to suggestions and discussions."

Job Done was designed to show the possibility of getting something impossible done – such as placing a giant rock above an entrance to a building.

It was created from polystyrene and reclaimed insulation board – donated by workers from a building site on Chalmers Street – and needed the help of a crane to be secured in place during the summer.

Jake, who graduated with an MA in fine arts and sculpture, said: "When the guy with the crane arrived, he took a look at the rock and said there was no way he was picking it up. Then four of us moved it by hand and he quickly realised it was not real."

He added: "A lot of people did think the rock was real – a stonemason even asked me once if it was actually a rock – it has had such a positive response."

A spokeswoman from the college confirmed the sculpture was removed as a result of health and safety concerns.

She added: "The rock was on display on the front of the college's Hunter Building to promote the annual degree show and our festival exhibition Milestone, which included a live stone carving event. It has proved a real talking point and a great example of the thought-provoking work our students produce."

Anyone interested in giving the rock a new home should contact Edinburgh College of Art on 0131-221 6089.