By David Dinell
Derby Informer – September 20, 2017
Submitted by Newz Group – September 28, 2017

Model of statue.
Decades from now, Derby residents and visitors will be passing by and viewing a statue of two firefighters at the corner of Madison and Woodlawn – a piece of public art whose seeds were planted in 2017.
It will be an eye-catching bronze work, say its supporters and artist John Parsons, who has been commissioned to create the life-sized piece and landmark creation that will stand the test of time.
As Parsons put it: ‘We’re leaving a legacy for future generations.”
The artwork will be next to the new Fire Station 81, which is planned for construction next year at the corner of Madison and Woodlawn.
There is a dual purpose to the work, City Manager Kathy Sexton said.
“It will not only honor the many firefighters and their families who have served the community for decades but will also solidify this core area of Derby as the heart of the city,” she wrote in a report to the City Council.
The city has often been noted for not having such a center, and officials want this artwork, along with the new station in the city’s center, to serve that role.
Parsons called the work an investment as it will last more than 100 years, he said.
“That structure will be standing there when they go to tear down that fire station,” he said.
Parsons, a Derby native who for years ran a taxidermy business before switching to sculpting, also has a close connection to the fire-fighting profession as he was one himself before being critically injured in a 1979 hunting accident, which left him with a broken back.
“It’s something that is near and dear to me,” he said of firefighting.
The artwork is totally original, and one Parsons said he worked to incorporate the teamwork inherent in firefighting and capturing the action in answering an alarm.
“These guys aren’t just co-workers; they’re friends, they’re partners,” he said.
The sculpture shows two running firefighters, with the lead firefighter holding an ax in his right hand with his left hand outstretched, pointing ahead and with his mouth open, his partner, with a solemn expression, has his hand on his buddy’s left shoulder, a hose draped over his left shoulder.
A well-noted artist
The work will cost $139,000 plus shipping and installation, for an approximate total of $145,000. The proposal is to raise $50,000 in private donations and use public funding for the remaining $95,000. The city’s portion is already included in the fire station project.
Creating the work will take a lot of time and effort, but it will be worth it, Parsons said. It’s due to be finished by December 2018 and Parsons said it will take at least six months of his time to sculpt it. The plan is to enable the statue to be unveiled concurrently with the open house of the new fire station.
“Getting started now is a good idea,” he said.
Parsons estimates he will use 10 cases of clay, each weighing 160 pounds, to create the figures.
Then the clay molding will be sent to a company in Colorado for the casting, which Parsons called a “pretty complicated process.”
It will have a high copper content, which is one reason why it costs what it does. But given its longevity, going with quality materials gives it a lot of value, he said.
Parsons said he’s excited about undertaking the process of making the full-scale model. The final version will not just be plopped down at the intersection’s corner, but strategically placed in front of what is being called a “wall of fire” feature with LED lighting to highlight it. It also will be surrounded by landscaping.
Parsons, 62, long known for his taxidermy skills, later turned to sculpting in his career and has enjoyed great success, including national awards.
In many ways, he said, taxidermy is sculpting so the transition was not too difficult.
Parsons’ sculptures have been installed at numerous Cabela’s stores as well as many private locations across the U.S.
Given that, it was natural that city officials reached out to him for a piece of homegrown art.
Parsons is impressed with all the community backing the statue process is receiving.
“It’s pretty exciting the support we’re getting from local people,” he said. “It means more to me to know that people are supporting it.”
At the Sept. 12 City Council meeting, there was formal recognition of two groups of donors with one family offering a combined gift of $27,000, followed by several families with close ties to the Derby Fire and Rescue Department and its predecessor, the Derby Volunteer Fire Department, making commitments of up to $5,000 each.
Donations of any size are welcomed by the city and those giving $100 or more will receive a commemorative T-shirt.
Donation forms and information are available at www.derbyks.com/81bronze.
Posted by Gwen Dorr Romine, KSFFA Webmaster
http://www.ksffa.com
KSFFA’s Fire News Blog Home Page
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