Journey of a Bronze Statue—a gift with many aspects—from idea to community icon By Renee Fite
The impact of public art is multi-faceted. It can help define a community, bring it together, draw tourists to visit and share its history, especially when a committee of citizens decide to surprise an exemplar volunteer. Oklahoma sculptor Denise Ford was commissioned last year to capture Beth Herrington’s likeness. When completed the statue will be featured on Tahlequah’s historic Thompson House lawn, an icon she rallied to rescue. It will commemorate her 90th birthday as well as honor ongoing decades of community service. Known fondly as a woman of many words, the retired elementary school music teacher and local history expert was shocked speechless on the occasion of learning people were planning a statue of her, “I’m very, very, very humbled. I just cannot believe it. Needless to say, I’m thrilled beyond words!” Last fall when first visited by this writer, Ford was soft spoken, yet welcoming and enthusiastic to show the early progress and not the least insecure about it being photographed. Even in the beginning stages her face and form were clearly recognizable. From the time Ford saw the photos she thought Herrington seemed like someone she “would like to know.” “I was so grateful to receive the call that, ‘our Beth,’ was to grace my studio! I saw photos of her walking with a young child and instantly the flood gates of my perception opened. Candid photos give me a truer sense of the person and their nature. In a particular photograph, I saw her whole body was, actively listening to the young boy as they walked together. Her head bent down, closer to the boy, as she was matching him step by step. This was the aspect that bridged the gap in their differences.” She is a very special lady, “and I’m honored to have been able to create this work of her. Working with the clay day to day, I could feel Beth’s heart for children.” Asked if she would like to meet the model in person, Ford said, “before I meet Beth, I need to complete what I’m doing. It is important for me to see her reaction to the work. I am needing that initial gut critique in her response, and I only get one shot at that.” When Herrington was treated to a trip to Tulsa to view the finished clay piece, accompanied by a few committee members—friends and church members where she has played music for decades—she never dreamed it would be so incredible.
Sculptor Denise Ford works from photos and intuition creating this piece of Beth Herrington and a child that will grace the historic Thompson House lawn in Tahlequah, OK. Photo by Renee Fite
“I was flabbergasted,” she said, in awe of Fords’ ability. It was an inspiring experience, “to think someone can create something so life like. She’s very talented, I can’t imagine being able to do what she does. It’s just amazing, not because it’s me but that she captured the posture of me with the child wonderfully.” Mark Gish, committee organizer, said seeing Beth’s reaction was, “a blast! Beth was speechless, that says it all! I can think of four or five people in town who could be honored with statues, every town has
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