Coeur d'Alene Fire Station public art project

Thanks to the city of Coeur d'Alene's dedication to supporting the arts the latest public art project is now completed. This project is for the front public entrance to the new Fire Station #3 built on 15th street at the foot of Cherry Hill.


	This is the preliminary design for the front entrance door. The image is a fireman in action emerging from smoke and flames with a tribute verse incorporated behind the fireman. The next step is to submit the design, revised to the committee's recommendations, along with a proposed budget to the Coeur d'Alene Arts Commission at their meeting. In the meantime resources are gathered, models persuaded, props located, supplies ordered, dimensions calculated, tools readied and workspaces cleared.

	Here is the basic design for the outside door pull. There is a matching push plate for the inside of the door. They were fabricated out of steel by Custom Fab of Coeur d'Alene (my brother John Wastweet) then powder-coated.
						My gracious model Dave poses for fireman detail. Thanks Dave! You're a good sport.
From humble beginnings the image emerges in the studio. On a sealed board cut to size, using oil based modeling clay the basic shapes are blocked in and the fireman takes shape. This is about 12 hours of work so far. These great props were graciously provided by the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department.
					After achieving the necessary masses attention is given to the underlying muscle structure. Here the heavy folds of the coat are taking shape over the top. There is now about 30 hours of hands-on time and 9 pounds of clay.
Here the face is making some progress, though still not finished. These are the slow stages where details are added gradually and thoughtfully. The ear is carefully modeled even though most of it will be covered by the chinstrap. Areas not seen are still important.
The background tribute verse was specially written just for this project by Mike Nevills and Anna Powell. Thank you both! Through the smoke and grime The firefighter walks a path of bravery. Making safe the way for those Who are powerless against the flame.

						The clay is nearly finished! This shows about 70 hours of sculpting time and countless hours of study, research, paperwork and just plain staring.
				The clay now finished, a plaster cast is poured and the tribute verse is carved in by hand using sharp steel tools. This plaster cast is a "negative" so the lettering is carved backwards. When this is done another plaster is poured from this one to make a "positive".

AT THE FOUNDRY - Seen here, at the Cire Perdue foundry is the large green rubber mold, the first step. Wax is then poured in this mold and cut into five manageable pieces. Each piece is dipped into a ceramic slurry and sand to form a shell. The wax is burned out of the shell and bronze poured in. After the bronze cools the shell is chipped away.
	Here are the five pieces right out of the shell, not much to look at yet and still lots of work ahead. Now the pieces will be welded back together and the seams repaired as well as the small pits and abrasions left from the pour - this is called "chasing".
				This is the furnace room at Cire-Perdue foundry where the bronze was cast.
the foundry's slurry room The light colored bronze, sandblasted and waiting for patina
A series of chemicals and heat are used to create the patina finish. Seen here is Jon Gustafson at Cire-Perdue applying the patina.
			The finished bronze was presented to the Arts Commission, the Fire Department and the City of Coeur d'Alene on Dec 21st, 2001 at the new Fire Station's open house. Thanks to everyone who came to show support.
		The bronze and handle are installed in the door and waiting for the final moulding trim around the bronze. Stop by the Fire Station 3 at 15th and I-90 in Coeurd'Alene and see the completed door!
Click here to see the finished door!