Faxon gets commission to create McWherter sculpture

Bell Buckle artist Russ Faxon puts a patina on his sculpture 'The Signing,' which illustrates how creativity flows from an artist. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Order this photo]

But when you walk into his real studio -- not the gallery where the finished pieces are displayed -- you realize Faxon takes that leap from artist to genius. The working studio looks like a Tim Burton landscape, from the tiny clay maquettes cavorting on the shelves to rows to the rows of disembodied hands on the walls, beckoning, waving, or simply resting. On tables, shelves, desks and floors, beautiful women and laughing children compete for attention.

A native of Bowling Green, Ky., Faxon has been sculpting all of his adult life and his work now graces the Tullahoma Fine Arts Center, the Cookeville hospital, St. Augustine's Nashville, Bell Buckle's own city park, and many more places.

In his 'sculpture graveyard,' Faxon demonstrates how he uses armatures to get exact proportions. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"I've been very fortunate," said Faxon, whose gentle voice and demeanor seem at odds with his tall, blonde Viking appearance. "The commissions keep coming in."

State recognition

One commission in particular has Faxon excited. The Ned R. McWherter Monument Commission announced this week that he was chosen to produce a bronze statue that will serve as a permanent tribute to the former Tennessee governor.

Faxon said he had spoken with commission chairman Terry J. Oliver several years ago about the project, but things seemed to fall through at the time. When he heard last year on a newscast that the commission had decided to go through with the project, he sent Jones a letter congratulating them on the decision and asking who the artist was going to be -- and why he wasn't chosen.

"I wanted to know if it was something I'd said, so I wouldn't do it again," he said laughing.

It turned out Faxon was the commission's premier choice -- the news had been leaked before he could be notified.

"We couldn't be more pleased to have someone of Russ' caliber to undertake this project," said Oliver, a long time friend of McWherter's. "It's important in a project like this to capture not just the likeness but also the essence of a person, and Russ has proven himself to be an exceptional sculptor with other well-known works of art."

A true honor

Getting the McWherter commission -- which is being paid for with donations only, no taxpayer funds -- means far more than a check for the Bell Buckle artist. The fact that he truly admires the former governor's work and life makes it an honor as well.

"McWherter is one of the most admired and beloved governors this state has ever had," said Faxon, recalling the night McWherter left office and the lights of one Nashville skyscraper were left on to read "Thank You Ned."

"He was so progressive," Faxon went on. "What's amazing is he only had a high school education. He had concern for his people, his community. He earned everything. To think about a small town boy going as far as he did -- that's incredible. It takes stamina, courage and intelligence."

McWherter, a native of Weakley County, served as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1968 to 1987, including seven consecutive terms as Speaker of the House. He served as Tennessee's 46th governor from 1987 to 1995 and championed many public causes including improved public education, transportation, economic development and health care. He has also been recognized for his support of many local service and civic organizations.

Gracious host

Faxon draws his inspiration from everywhere, everything and everybody, he said. The Tree People outside his studio, for instance, can be seen everywhere. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The artist said he discovered many more positive aspects of McWherter's personality after meeting with the man himself to make sketches and discuss the statue.

"He was standing on the porch waiting for me, waiting to greet me," said Faxon. "That says a lot about him. I was really honored. It was like I was the most important person on the world -- he makes everybody feel that way."

He said McWherter was gracious, but determined.

"If he doesn't know what he wants -- man, I did a ton of drawings -- he keeps on until he finds something he's comfortable with."

Oddly enough, one of the things McWherter wasn't truly comfortable with was the idea of his own statue. Faxon said McWherter wanted no public funds to be used for it, and he didn't wanted it placed anywhere that would "ruffle feathers."

The commission is currently undertaking fundraising efforts to support the production of the bronze statue. The Weakley County Commission has authorized the project and placement of a monument at the courthouse in McWherter's hometown of Dresden.

Although the original press release stated the statue as life-sized, Faxon said the statue would actually, like the governor, be larger than life.

"He's about 6-foot-4, but the niche the statue is going in is bigger," he said.

To keep McWherter's likeness from being dwarfed by its resting place, the statue will be about 7 feet tall. It will also take about 10 months to a year to complete.

'Lost wax' casting

Faxon uses the "lost wax" casting method. First, he makes a maquette -- a version of the proposed work, done to scale on a much smaller size. Once the maquette is approved, Faxon will take it and begin work on the real piece. For those of you who think art is exclusive of science, think again. To transfer the dimensions of the tiny maquette to the larger-than-life statue, Faxon has to draw on algebra, engineering, physics, calculus, geometry and more. By the time he has finished the piece and added the patina, he will have also used his knowledge of chemistry and metallurgy.

Once he has built the underlying framework -- the armature -- out of stainless steel, Faxon will add the clay and the true sculpting begins. A rubber mold is created from the original clay sculpture and it is that mold the foundry will use to cast the bronze piece. A wax model is made first, then covered with layers of plaster. The mold is heated and the wax melts, only to be replaced by the bronze.

Faxon found his way to Bell Buckle via Kentucky, Nashville, and Italy. He taught school in Nashville for a year, then studied under Italian sculptors for six months. After he came home from abroad, he worked at his uncle's golf school for a year.

"Then I threw all my sculptures into the car and headed for Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Connecticut," he said. "I got some shows -- darned if people didn't start buying my work! It just kept on growing."

At one show in Nashville, Faxon was approached by the art teacher at Webb School who asked him to do a year as an Artist in Residence. That was in 1979 -- and Russ Faxon never left.

"I like it here," he grins. "I've been here ever since. I've been very fortunate and I keep on getting work."

How to help

Anyone interested in contributing to the fundraising efforts for McWherter's statue can send donations to Tennessee FFA Foundation, Inc. in care of the McWherter Monument Fund, P.O. Box 295, Dresden, TN 38225-0295.