New London - Two years ago, in a moment of artistic inspiration, Jesse Goode poured orange urethane foam down the side of a vacant upholstery shop on Bank Street and created a community discussion on art and aesthetics.

The Blob, as the abstract mass became known, generated enthusiastic conversation, became a mini tourist draw, inspired a downtown movie night, and was briefly considered for a seat on the City Council.

On Tuesday, 18 months later than originally scheduled, the artwork will come down.

"Although it is impossible to remove the Blob's Spirit from New London folklore, I will be removing the sculpture,'' Goode wrote to friends and supporters on Friday.

At 11:30 a.m. Tuesday he will begin uninstalling the sculpture.

"I am in the process of finding another home for the Blob, or a pasture for it to live out its remaining days," he went on to say. " Does anyone have ideas? If we can not find a new place for the beloved Blob, we will be forced to commence with the customary honors that arise from death itself; we'll have a funeral."

In April 2008, Goode was one of 10 chosen to participate in the city's Storefront Initiative program, which gave artists $1,500 stipends for artwork that would dress up some of the downtown's empty storefronts. The show was supposed to last six months.

Goode's sculpture, which seemed to appear over night, became an overnight sensation. People stopped and took their pictures in front of it. Posters appeared that read "Vote for Blob for Mayor.'' There was a contest to name it that came up with the likes of "Seagull Dropping,'' "Magma," "Mistake," Escaped Art'' and "Snot It.''

While not everyone was thrilled, even the owner of the coffee shop next door capitalized on the chatter. Barry and Susan Neistat, owners of Muddy Waters, offered a Blob Green Salad that included orange sections and Blobcheese dressing.

But last week, the Neistats wrote a letter to the editor of The Day, declaring "the joke is over."

"We at Muddy Waters Cafe on Bank Street were unfortunate enough to have a tremendously ugly 'blob' hanging off the vacant storefront next door to us,'' the Neistats wrote. "Fifteen months later, it is still there, hanging as a horrible eyesore." They offered free coffee for two months to person responsible for removing "this disgusting piece - legally, of course."

"Enough is enough,'' Susan Neistat said Friday. "It was funny at first. It's not pretty anymore."

As for the offer of free coffee, Frank McLaughlin, the downtown development coordinator, said he would have Blob gone by Friday.

"It's not gone yet,'' Susan Neistat said.

Goode took the notice that he had to remove the sculpture in stride.

"Now is your chance to take a last look at the Blob,'' he wrote. "Tuesday is a day to see if New London's wounds are healing.

"Is the Blob a scab to be removed once again exposing vitriol and impotent rage? Or, will moving the Blob unveil a new chapter for New London ushering in spring time, a united community, a completed parade and a respect for the arts on a civic level?"

He signed his missive: Blob Daddy.

k.edgecomb@theday.com