Bronze Sculpture Company, Big Statues, Presents Nurse, Triathlete, and Mother with Bronze Bust

Bronze sculptor, Matt Glenn, of BigStatues.com has just completed a museum-quality bronze bust for the Core Family, to honor their mother, Jacquie Core.
Jacquie Core has been an Ironman Triathlete as well as a registered nurse for over 33 years, and her family wanted to create a lasting tribute that would honor her daily service.
Her son, Jesse Core approached bronze sculptor, Matt Glenn with several pictures and ideas for a bronze sculpture that would capture her unique personality. Matt Glenn created several clay versions of a bust, or sculpture of her head and shoulders, before settling on the final design. To get the perfect likeness, Big Statues worked for over four months to get just the right texture and look of her hair, skin, and uniform.
The final result is a stunning 2 foot tall bronze sculpture of a strong, heartfelt woman with a friendly smile. The combination of her sweet spirit with the power and weight of the bronze material captured her distinctive confident and caring personality exactly. Cast in a classic bronze patina and mounted on a rich wooden base, the bronze bust of Jacquie Core will be accompanied by an 8 inch by 10 inch bronze plaque, engraved with one of her family’s favorite quotes, “The best patient care always starts with empathy.”
The bronze statue was shipped this Wednesday, October 26th and will be unveiled at Mr. Core’s home this weekend.
The custom bronze bust has been a growing trend in Big Statues’ recent clientele over the past year. Working with customers interested in honoring family members, patrons, and institutions all with such rich histories and accomplishments, but ultimately limited by their spending budgets, Big Statues has been able to offer an economical alternative for these consumers. Because the bust is only a sculpture of a person’s chest or waist up, it does not capture the full body of the figure. However the sculpture is still life-size, and when elevated on a table or stand, it creates the same desired effect of feeling as if the person sculpted is truly standing in front of the viewer.
For more information about the bronze sculpting process, bronze sculptor Matt Glenn, and the bronze sculpture foundry, Big Statues, visit http://www.bigstatues.com.

Royal Rosarians unveil bronze statue to mark upcoming centennial year

The Royal Rosarians on Sunday unveiled the bronze statue that marks the 100 year birthday of the nonprofit civic organization.

More than 200 members and friends of the Royal Rosarians were expected to gather for the ceremony Sunday afternoon in the International Rose Test Garden in Southwest Portland. The unveiling of the bronze sculpture marks the beginning of the centennial celebration for the Royal Rosarians, which became an organization in 1912.

The $41,000 bronze sculpture of a Royal Rosarian was created by bronze sculptor Bill Bane and was presented to Portland city Commissioner Nick Fish as a gift to the city from the Rosarians.

The life size statue is the third bronze statue to be placed in Washington Park. The Royal Rosarians are the official greeters and ambassadors of goodwill for Portland by mayoral proclamation.

Bronze statue of departed child unveiled before family

A bronze, life-size statue of Austin Haley was unveiled outside his family’s home Monday, on what would have been his 10th birthday.

Austin was killed accidentally by a stray bullet Aug. 3, 2007, when a noble police officer was trying to shoot at a snake in a tree. The 5 1/2-year-old boy was fishing with his grandfather at a nearby pond when the tragedy happened.

“The bronze statue is of his likeness when he was 5 years old and it is amazingly close,” said Jack Haley, Austin’s father. “The other thought is, I can’t believe what a gracious gift it is that somebody would do this for us. It’s amazing to think about that.”

A friend that Haley wouldn’t identify — pending the person’s permission — commissioned the bronze sculpture that Haley said actually was completed two years ago.
Haley said he and wife, Renee, both said they wanted the large bronze statue placed in a public space where people can see and reflect upon it in an uplifting way.

“We wanted something positive to come out of it,” he said.
That hasn’t happened yet, so the work of art was unveiled outside the family’s home on Etowah Road, about 40 feet from the street, until it can be moved to a suitable, agreed-upon public place.

Bronze sculptor John Gooden of Kingfisher created the custom sculpture of Austin sitting with a book in his hands while he looks up toward the sky.

Jack Haley said Gooden started by making a clay rendering of a little boy who was Austin’s best friend and was about the same size.

From there the sculptor worked from numerous pictures of Austin to create what Haley called a “perfect likeness.”

The bronze sculpture is on a granite stone base that was donated by Martin Marietta Materials of Mill Creek, Oklahoma.

“The statue is done in his likeness and it’s his size and we miss him like crazy,” Jack Haley said. “We’ll see it every day and wonder how big our boy would have been and how handsome.

“It’s hard to lose a child as it is, but we take it a day at a time and just try to keep everything in a positive perspective.”

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Custom Bronze Sculpting Foundry Honors Top Athletes of Brigham Young University with a Bronze Plaque

Bronze Sculptor, Matt Glenn, of Big Statues in Provo, Utah, unveils 4 x 9 foot wooden and bronze plaque to honor track and field athletes of BYU from the past ten years. The Curtis Pugsley Athlete of the Year Award will recognize top athletes annually.

Big Statues, a custom bronze sculpting company, unveiled The Curtis Pugsley Athlete of the Year Award on Friday, October 7, 2011, at the dedication ceremony of the Brigham Young University Track and Field Athletic Department.

The Curtis Pugsley Athlete of the Year Award, named after an exceptional track and field athlete of Brigham Young University, Curtis Pugsley, will annually recognize the most talented male and female track and field athletes of the university.

Curtis Pugsley was a multiple All-American and decathlon champion from 2000 to 2004, during his studies at BYU. Since that time, Curtis has suffered various health complications, including a malignant tumor that has caused him to amputate his leg. During his opening speech before the unveiling of the plaque, Curtis said that it was the perseverance and attitude of his time in track and field that made him stronger for every other challenge that has come in his life.

The 4 foot by 9 foot display was composed of a polished wooden base, adorned with bronze bordering, name plates, title plaques, and a central hand-sculpted medallion. This 3-D relief bronze medallion, measuring 23 inches tall by 33 inches wide, and featuring the BYU logo, 6 miniature figurines of athletes, the Olympic leaves, and a banner, was hand sculpted by artist Matt Glenn of Big Statues.

When Matt Glenn was first approached by the Head Track and Field Men’s Coach, Mark Robison, in January of 2011 about an idea for a bronze plaque that would honor the track and field athletes of BYU, he was delighted to learn of Robison’s close proximity.
After initial design meetings in person, where Matt Glenn and Big Statues’ graphic designer were able to meet with the donors and athletic administrative staff for the project, the parties concluded on an impressive nine foot long display that incorporated the total layout of each athlete’s name with a place for the featured biographies of the most recent award winners.

The finished design resulted in thirty name placards on the left and right sides of the BYU track and field medallion. On the night of the unveiling, at least twenty-one of those places were filled with the engraved placards of male and female athletes of the year from 1991 to 2011.
In the years to come, the remaining placards will be filled with each new athlete’s name until the time comes for the placards to begin cycling out. In this way, the plaque will become a timeless piece, honoring past and present in the many years to come.

Inside the indoor track at the Smithfield House of the BYU Provo Campus, hundreds of visitors, alumni, family, and friends from the past 50 years came to congratulate each athlete and to witness the unveiling of the display that would bring them all together.

Surrounded by rows upon rows of tables and easels displaying past team photos, newspaper articles, student artwork, and other related memorabilia, the atmosphere of the crowd before the unveiling event was that of momentous pride, nostalgia, and cheer. Young children and toddlers of athletes from the 1990’s, now grown and established in the community with families and careers of their own, ran around tables and stored track equipment, as their parents reminisced together.

After an opening speech by Curtis Pugsley, who shared moments of personal trial and how athletic dedication extends beyond the track to every other part of life, the award was finally revealed. Triumphant music accompanied the sweeping gestures of the blue cloths as Marc Robison removed the sheets to reveal a stunning bronze display under the lights of the auditorium.

One onlooker expressed his awe, stating “Look at this, this is magic! When the kids of athletes come here and see their fathers’ and mothers’ names up on that plaque. It’s about time they get the recognition they deserve…They’re really memorialized. This is going to create a legacy that will go on for years…”

This theme of legacy, memory, family, and honor was indeed carried throughout the entire night. After an original video was screened, compiling footage and photographs of each athlete in their respective events, each athlete was announced with their accomplishments, handed a framed action shot, and photographed in front of the plaque.

One athlete of the year and his son travelled all the way from Africa to be recognized and share in the night’s celebration. Another, Leonard Myles-Mills, reversed places for a moment to be honored with his peers, as he has since become assistant track coach. It was a truly touching moment when one award recipient’s young daughter jumped out of her seat and cheered for her father before his name was even finished being read aloud.

The ceremony closed with a touching photograph of all of the athletes of the year, holding framed portraits of their most celebrated events, standing together in front of the Curtis Pugsley Athlete of the Year award display.
For more information about Matt Glenn, Big Statues, and the custom bronze statue foundry, visit http://www.bigstatues.com.

Track & Field Instates New Track Athlete of the Year Award with Bronze Plaque Display by Big Statues

Miles Batty, Leif Arrhenius and Lacey Cramer Bleazard were named the 2011 Track Athletes of the Year last Friday night, as the BYU Track and Field teams held a ceremony to honor the recipients of the newly instated Curtis Pugsley Track Athlete of the Year award in a bronze plaque display.

Along with the 2011 recipients, the award winners were also determined for the last 21 years and they were honored at the ceremony, as well. “It’s been a long process that we’ve spent nine months trying to put together,” men’s head track coach Mark Robison said.

“It’s been a long process and a lot of work, but a wonderful thing and I’m really pleased with the way it turned out.”

An outstanding legecy of track and field athletes, dating back to 1991, gathered in the West Annex of the Smith Fieldhouse to watch a video presentation about the athletes who were honored, and Curtis Pugsley was also in attendance and helped inaugurate the award.

“I want this award to represent all of us,” Pugsley said. “And as we go through life and we have to face a lot of struggles and trials and problems, it’s about using that same drive that we had in competition to get through life and help those around us.”

Pugsley participated in track and field at BYU from 2000-2004 and was a multiple All-American and conference champion in the decathlon.

The yearly recipient is determined by a scoring system that combines points scored at indoor and outdoor conference, points awarded for All-American and national champion status, school records and spot on the top ten leader board.

“It was a wonderful idea and it really brought together a lot of people that understood what the tradition here at BYU is in track and field,” women’s head track coach Patrick Shane said. “It’s a great tradition that we’ve started and I’m looking forward to keeping it alive every year with a new presentation.”

The custom bronze sculptures of the award display were sculpted by bronze artist, Matt Glenn, of Big Statues.

Schwarzenegger unveils statue of himself at museum in Austria

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger visited his hometown in Austria on Friday to unveil a towering bronze statue of himself at a museum dedicated to his legacy. 

The museum in the village of Thal has been open since July and is in the two-story home where Schwarzenegger grew up. It includes several items that mark significant moments in the actor-turned politician's life, including his first barbell, life-size "Terminator" models and his polished wood governor's desk, the Associated Press reported.

The large bronze statue is of Schwarzenegger as a young bodybuilder –- in trunks and with flexed muscles.

Hundreds of fans turned out to see Schwarzenegger, who visited Austria with his son Patrick.

"For me, this is not only a museum," he said. "It is also a symbol of will ... everyone has a chance."

VA Hospital in Big Spring Texas to rename center after Medal of Honor Recipient George O'Brien

Along with unveiling a bronze statue of Big Spring's Medal of Honor Winner George O'Brien, West Texas VA Medical Center plans to name the hospital after him.
"It could take a while. We're hoping in the next six months," it will go through, VA Community Relations Coordinator Iva Jo Hanslik said.

The bronze figure depicting a Marine dressed in combat fatigues, rucksack on his back and rifle in his right hand, was unveiled in November of 2008 by Hanslik and donor Jerry Worthy. It faces northeast on the hospital campus.

Midland business man and ex-Marine Arden Grover, who attended the ceremony, knew O'Brien for 50 years and played many rounds of golf with him. But aside from making Grover feel better about his prowess on the links, O'Brien was an "extraordinary Marine," earning the Medal of Honor on Oct. 27, 1953, a year after the Korean War battle that brought him the recognition for this rare award for valor.

It was personally bestowed on O'Brien by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Some 3,440 men from all branches of the service and all wars have earned the laurel and only a handful have been Marines.
Unlike other military awards, the Medal of Honor has to go through the chain of command all the way to the president.

On Oct. 27, 1952, a Marine force was holding a "vitally important" hill position near the 38th parallel. They were overrun by Chinese Communists, Grover said. The next day, O'Brien and 100 Marines were ordered to take the position back.

O'Brien raced across exposed ground to the hill, calling for his men to follow. The Chinese unleashed "ferocious" mortar fire that O'Brien later told Grover were like tears.

Shot through the arm, O'Brien was thrown to the ground. He regained his feet, waived his men onward and continued to spearhead the assault, pausing long enough to help a wounded Marine and kill three of the enemy with a carbine rifle.

He was evacuated to the USS Holt for treatment. When he returned to combat later in the year, he was awarded a Purple Heart. There is another bronze statue of O'Brien on the second floor at Midland International Airport.

O'Brien, who was a second lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, learned he would receive the Medal of Honor on a commercial radio broadcast from San Francisco when he was on his way back home aboard a Navy ship.

O'Brien returned to Big Spring about a year after Grover returned to Midland from the war.
"He was an extraordinary Marine and I am very happy I had the pleasure of knowing him," said Grover, who was in the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines.

O'Brien's widow, Sandra, said she liked the ceremony.
"I think it was lovely. I think George would like it," she said.

Their son Robb O'Brien, who traveled to Big Spring from Euless, said his dad didn't talk much about his experience in the war, but was a Marine through and through. Relatives came from throughout the country to see the ceremony.

"Speaking for myself and my family, this statue was (not only) for him, but it's for every man and woman who has fought for this country. He has never said a word about it. He truly felt he didn't do anything anyone else didn't do. He just got caught," Robb O'Brien said.

Growing up, O'Brien said his dad was tough but fair.
"He was exactly like a Marine. We would go to restaurants and held the door for my sister and my mother and their chairs," he recalled. "If we didn't do it right, we'd go out and come back in and do it again. He was quite a guy, but very fair, very honest and loving."