You Fine Sculpture
Today, we share with you a custom bronze sculpture, made by You Fine Art Sculpture factory, installed at Tuskegee University, Alabama, United States. This bronze memorial sculpture depicts a doctor, a nurse, and a recovered polio patient.
The sculpture we made has a very high degree of reduction. And every figure in the sculpture is realistic. Our client was very satisfied after receiving the sculpture. And there is a grand unveiling ceremony was held for it after the installation was completed. We would tell you the story behind this sculpture in detail as follow:
We were honored to receive an email from Governor Harry Bruce McNeal, Rotary District, 6880, on December 28, 2019. In the email, he told us that he wanted to customize a life-size statue of a doctor, a nurse, and a disabled child. In order to understand the story behind this custom sculpture more clearly and restore it perfectly, we have communicated with customers many times.
Story Behind the Sculpture:
Polio, which started in New York City, became an epidemic in the United States in the last century. The disease mainly affects children. After being infected with the virus, limb paralysis usually occurs 3-10 days after the onset of the disease. When the trunk muscles are paralyzed, the head could not stand upright, the neck and back are weak, and they could not sit up and turn over.
In the 1940s and 1950s, African American children with polio were not well treated. And the disease had been tormenting these children. Fortunately, the Tuskegee Palsy Center is the only place in the South where black children with polio could be treated.
Black physician John W. Chenault, researchers, and other support staff conducted a major polio eradication study at the Tuskegee Infant Paralysis Center. And, they treat many young black polio patients. These treated children are eventually able to walk successfully.
In honor of the important research, the Tuskegee Center for Infant Paralysis has done to eradicate polio and to thank Black researchers and physicians for their contributions to the fight against polio. The Rotary District 6880 hoped to raise funds to build a related bronze memorial sculpture.
Confirm the Production:
As the project approval, fundraising, etc. would take some time. No doubt, we are patiently waiting for the approval progress of the project. During this period, we also had some communication with the customer. And, through the efforts of both sides, confirmation and production of the sculpture finally began in February 2022.
This bronze memorial sculpture depicts Dr. John W. Chenault, nurse Warren A. Turpin and a young polio patient named Gordon Stewart. We could see that Gordon Stewart, a treated polio patient in the sculpture, could stand up successfully with the help of crutches. And, there was a big smile on his face. Next to him, Dr. John W. Chenault and nurse Warren A. Turpin looked at Gordon Stewart happily.
Excellent Craftsmanship:
The artisans in You Fine factory were very moved when they learned the story behind the sculpture. So they attached great importance to the production process. After each step was completed, they would take pictures or send videos for customers to confirm.
Once they found some small parts could be adjusted. And, they would make corrections in time. Before casting, our factory’s professional clay model artists would also make a 1:1 clay model. Also, these realistic clay models provide a good reference for the casting. The traditional lost wax method is used in the casting. And the silicone mold is used so that every detail of the figures could be highly restored.
Shipping and Install:
After the sculpture is finished, we ship it to the customer by sea. of course, The customer was very satisfied after receiving this sculpture and invited the installer. And, the installation team used a crane to mount the bronze memorial sculpture with steel bars at the bottom on the perforated granite base.
So, the bronze memorial ended up standing next to John A. Kenny Hall. Well, they used to be the John A. Andrew Memorial Hospital. Then, the Infant Paralysis Center treated many young black polio patients.
Unveiling Ceremony:
On August 4, 2022, family members of former doctors and researchers, Rotary members, leaders of the March of Dimes, Alabama representatives, and guest speaker Federal Judge Myron G. Thompson were special guests at the monument unveiling. They delivered related speeches.
YouFine factory has always listened carefully to the requests of customers. And, we patiently understood the stories behind the sculptures. Then, our artist made every sculpture carefully with heart. If you are interested in our sculptures or would like to have custom-made sculptures, please feel free to contact us.
Tips:
- Rotary International: Rotary International is a humanitarian service organization that brings together business and professional leaders in order to provide community service. Rotary members work together to: Promote peace, Fight disease, Provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, Save mothers and children, Support education, Grow local economies, and Protect the environment.
- March of Dimes: March of Dimes is a United States nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies. The organization was founded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938, as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, to combat polio.