The "boys," as Dick Kron, artist and sculptor, affectionately refers to three figures which make up the Firefighters Monument in Brockport, have taken a little road trip in preparation for creating similar figures in bronze. Kron spent six months in his local wood shop carving, sanding and creating the characters out of white oak. Those "boys" stood in the Monument for the last four years. On September 26 he was there to wish them well on their trip to Toms River, New Jersey. Sculptor and artist Brian Hanlon of Hanlon Studios made the trip to Brockport to meet with Kron and fire department officials before he inspected the figures he would take back with him. He anticipates spending nearly as much time in his shop prepping them, and having the bronze poured and colored, as it took Kron to initially carve them. Hanlon plans to have the bronze figures back and in place before Memorial Day 2007. "We are sad to see the Monument without any firefighters raising the flag, but at the same time look forward to having them back in the spring," said Brockport Fire Department Police Information Officer Christopher Martin. According to Hanlon, the wood carvings possess "a piece of the artist." He plans to create bronze figures that will capture and maintain that piece of Kron in the reproductions, along with a piece of himself. A crane from Sign Maintenance of Brockport (who lifted them into the concrete in August of 2002) and Village DPW workers lifted and loaded the figures into the waiting truck for Hanlon Studios. Each firefighter figure originally weighed around 700 pounds. Kron estimates they lost some of their water weight as the wood cured, but are still quite heavy. Martin stated in a press release: "We very much want the community that has supported this project since the attacks of 9/11 know how we came to this difficult decision. Those of us close to the project have all witnessed advanced and somewhat unexpected aging of the wood figures due to our western New York weather. In light of the overwhelming popularity the Monument enjoys, coupled with our strong desire to keep the Monument and the message it delivers, a vital fixture in our community, we find it necessary to convert the three firefighters to a more permanent structure or medium. We have discussed with Mr. Kron (who currently maintains the figures annually) and we feel that having them bronzed will preserve them and the Monument for many years, and for generations to come. Kron's original art will be used to cast the new molds required to create the bronze figures. Once completed, the wood carvings will be returned to Brockport where they will find a home in the Fire Department Museum." "As with any project of this magnitude, we will need additional funding to complete this update, and we are asking that anyone wishing to support this project may either sponsor a brick in the Memorial Walkway (forms available at www.brockportfire.org) or call 637-1030 to request one. If you have no interest in a brick, but would like to forward a donation, feel free to send it to: Brockport FD Monument Fund, P.O. Box 254, Brockport, NY 14420-0254," Martin stated. October 1, 2006 |
