Little Heroes
Little Heroes statues standing in the workshop ready to be moved.
Storytime with the children.
Joan Albertson sitting with friends and Tagg.
Engine 71 ready for the unveiling.
The unveiling!
Police Chief Gullberg speaking to the crowd.
Judy Han, GOPA Board Chair, speaking before the unveiling.
Judy Han and Fire Chief Lewis
Sunny Han and Joan Albertson watch the children explore the new statues.
Judy Han and Jake Ostrow
Tagg, his trainer, and his statue.
Judy Han speaking with Jeremy Pelletier and his son, Bear.
Sparky and friend.
Gresham's new bronze statues celebrate city's "Little Heroes"
by Christopher Keizur for Gresham Outlook
New bronze sculptures outside the Gresham Police and Fire Departments captures child-like wonder and honors first responders.PMG PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER KEIZUR
The unveiling was done via ladder truck at the request of Fire Chief Scott Lewis.PMG PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER KEIZUR
Children at the unveiling of “Little Heroes” enjoyed exploring all the bronze details.PMG PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER KEIZUR
The unveiling Saturday, Oct. 7, was a festive community outing.PMG PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER KEIZUR
Before seeing the statues, kids played with bubbles and listened to a story read by firefighters.PMG PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER KEIZUR
What do you want to be when you grow up?
That question, and the whimsical passion and imagination of kids, sparked the inspiration behind a trio of new bronze sculptures crafted to not only immortalize the potential of youths, but to celebrate first responders across the city.
On Saturday, Oct. 7, “Little Heroes,” the city's newest bronze sculptures, was unveiled with fanfare. The piece, which can be found outside the Gresham public safety building, 1333 N.W. Eastman Parkway, consists of three parts.
“Bear” is a bronze statue of a little boy, wearing a fire hat, drinking from a hose.PMG PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER KEIZUR
The statues portray a young boy, named Bear, wearing his No. 71 fire hat leaning over to drink from a garden hose. Standing next to him is older sister Grace, in fire cadet overalls and boots, hiding water balloons behind her back ready to make mischief. Tagg, Gresham's beloved comfort dog, grips a rope toy in his mouth ready to play.
“I think about someone coming to the station on the worst day of their life,” said Police Chief Travis Gullberg. “Hopefully the statues brings a moment of lightness.”
The unveiling was filled with fun activities for kids. Ahead of time firefighters held a Fire Station Storytime with a book reading. Then there were bubbles and games, face painting and sweet treats. The lifting of the covers was done by ladder truck, an idea from Fire Chief Scott Lewis.
“I'm grinning from ear to ear,” Lewis said. “The statues capture the joy and mischief of youth.”
“Little Heroes” was designed by local artist Jeremy Pelletier, and inspired by Barrett and Grace Pelletier. The art was sponsored by Joan Albertson, a member of Gresham Outdoor Public Art and longtime patron of the city's public pieces. The casting and petunia of the statues was done at Troutdale's Firebird Bronze.
“Grace” is a young fire cadet who honors both the profession and diversity within Gresham.PMG PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER KEIZUR
It was installed Tuesday, Oct. 3, with city crews also updating the concrete to match the splendor of the statues.
“This front entry has never looked better,” Lewis said.
The kids at the unveiling were enamored with the artwork — they investigated the flowing bronze water from the hose; gave bronze Tagg lots of ear scratches, before going to find the real dog for equal amounts of love; and inspected all the details on the bronze girl.
“She looks so real,” one girl marveled.
“Look mom, I'm riding Tagg,” another boy laughed as he hugged the bronze pup.
The girl was in particular designed to celebrate the diversity within the community and mark the opportunities available for children of all backgrounds.
“It's pretty cool the girls looks like that,” said Gresham Fire Cadet Ceyrrah Crecraft. “You don't often see that in art.”
Honoring first responders
“Little Heroes” was unveiled Saturday, Oct. 7.PMG PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER KEIZUR
The statue was spurred by David Baumann, a member of Gresham Outdoor Public Art.
About six years ago he was driving past Gresham City Hall when his wife, Kendra, noted the lack of public artwork in the complex, which includes the police headquarters, flagship Fire Station 71 and Gresham-Barlow School District.
“My wife mentioned how nice it would be to have some artwork on display,” Baumann said.
They turned to Pelletier, an East Multnomah County artist who had a series of sculptures the couple had run across about a decade earlier. Called “Little Heroes,” they were small, playful statues of kids dressed up in different careers — firefighter, doctor, police officer.
“Every kid has a dream of what they want to be growing up,” Baumann said. “We wanted this latest project to be cute and humorous.”
“It is really exciting to be doing these pieces, I like the idea of having my stuff out where a lot of people can see and enjoy it,” said Pelletier, who was at the unveiling.
The statues are the latest work funded by GOPA, which has spurred other public art across Gresham, from the bronze sculptures in downtown to the murals at the Rockwood Market Hall.
“Art is a bridge to our community,” said Judy Han, GOPA member. “You don't always have a city standing behind you in support.”
Technological canvas
As an artist, Jeremy Pelletier begins his process crafting digital clay on the computer.PMG PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER KEIZUR
Pelletier uses futuristic tech to make his art.
The beginning stages of his designs all take place on a screen, using a program that allows him to pull and manipulate a digital ball of clay. Those pixels then map a physical, 3D-printed maquette, or model, that is later scaled-up and forged at the foundry.
“I will jump straight from an idea in my head to sculpting on the screen,” Pelletier said.
Out of high school Pelletier attended art school with a focus on drawing and painting. But during an art history course, which tasked him to dive into a new medium, he began working on an ancient Greek-style bust.
“I immediately fell in love with sculpting,” he said. “I like working things with my hands, and being creative in all mediums.”
From that point he has always been involved in creating. He has freelanced for companies and foundries in the past, and is currently working in the video game industry as the Art Manager for a company that completes outsourced 3D models.
He used those same systems for “Little Heroes,” which he had been working on since spring 2022.
Officer Tagg stands in front of his new bronze likeness.PMG PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER KEIZUR
The boy is 41 inches tall, while the girl is higher as she stands straight. Beside the pair is the statue of Tagg, the 5-year-old black Labrador who came to the Gresham Police Department by way of Guide Dogs for the Blind. He is a comfort dog, supporting any community members suffering trauma. He is especially beloved by kids.
“Taking photos of Tagg to use as references was one of the best parts of this process,” Pelletier said.
If you visit the statue, keep an eye out for one a small detail — a pouch in Tagg's bronze vest filled with business cards that the real dog also carries with him on the job.
Read the original article by Christopher Keizur at:
https://www.theoutlookonline.com/lifestyle/gresham-s-new-bronze-statues-celebrate-city-s-little-heroes/article_7b78e522-63b0-11ee-ac24-57f34eb77834.html
Badges in Bronze -
Gresham statues to honor first responders
by Christopher Keizur for Gresham Outlook
Trio of sculptures to celebrate Gresham Police, Fire being crafted by Jeremy Pelletier
PMG PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER KEIZUR - A maquette model of one of three bronze statues that will be displayed in honor of Gresham Fire and Police.
Growing up every kid dreams of their future job — soaring into space as an astronaut, wrangling cattle as a cowboy, saving lives as a doctor, discovering lost cultures as an archeologist, or battling infernos as a firefighter.
That whimsical passion and imagination of kids sparked the inspiration behind a new series of bronze sculptures being crafted for Gresham, which not only immortalize the potential of local youths, but also celebrate first responders across the city.
"This all started on a whim, and has morphed into a really exciting art project," said David Baumann, a member of Gresham Outdoor Public Art.
About five years ago Baumann was driving past Gresham City Hall when his wife, Kendra, noted the lack of public artwork in the complex, which includes the flagship Police Department, Fire Station and Gresham-Barlow School District offices.
"She mentioned how nice it would be to have some artwork on display," Baumann said. "That is when I thought of Jeremy's work."
PMG PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER KEIZUR - Jeremy Pelletier is crafting a trio of bronze sculptures that will be displayed in front of Gresham City Hall.
Jeremy Pelletier is an East Multnomah County artist who had a series of sculptures the couple had run across about a decade earlier. Called "Little Heroes," they were all small, playful statues of kids dressed up in different careers — firefighter, doctor, police officer.
"Every kid has a dream of what they want to be growing up," Baumann said. "We wanted this latest project to be cute and humorous."
Pelletier is now diligently working on Gresham's latest public art — a trio of bronze statues which will be unveiled outside of Gresham City Hall next spring. There is a little boy, dressed as a firefighter, bent over to drink from a running hose; a young girl in fire overalls with a badge on her shirt; and Officer Tagg, the department's comfort dog, who is sitting beside them in his vest and a toy in mouth.
COURTESY PHOTO: JEREMY PELLETIER - The digital rendering of what all three statues in honor of first responders will look like, with a planned installation of next spring.
"It is really exciting to be doing these pieces, I like the idea of having my stuff out where a lot of people can see and enjoy it," Pelletier said.
The statues are being funded by GOPA, which has spurred many other public art across Gresham from the bronze sculptures in downtown to the murals at the Rockwood Market Hall.
"We wanted to support both the police and fire departments with this piece," Baumann said. "They are silent heroes in our community, so this is something for them."
PMG PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER KEIZUR - As an artist, Jeremy Pelletier begins his process crafting digital clay on the computer.
Screen to reality
Pelletier utilizes futuristic tech to craft his artwork.
The beginning stages of design all take place on a screen, using a program that allows him to pull and manipulate a digital ball of clay. Those pixels eventually morph into a physical, 3D-printed maquette, or model, that is later scaled-up at the foundry.
"I will jump straight from an idea in my head to sculpting on the screen," Pelletier said. "This tool is really powerful, because the program is deep and there is a lot you can do."
Out of high school Pelletier attended art school with a focus on drawing and painting. But during an art history course, which tasked him to dive into a new medium, he began working on an ancient Greek-style bust.
"I immediately fell in love with sculpting," he said. "I like working things with my hands, and being creative in all mediums."
From that point he has always been involved in creating. He has freelanced for companies and foundries in the past, and is currently working in the video game industry as the Art Manager for a company that completes outsourced 3D models.
He uses those same systems for the trio of sculptures, which he has been working on since the spring. The young boy in the fire hat was originally part of his "Little Heroes" series, but the other two have been original creations for Gresham.
"My son posed for the firefighter," Pelletier said. "I like finding whimsy in my work."
COURTESY PHOTO: JEREMY PELLETIER - An early 3D printed model of a young boy dressed as a firefighter, designed by Jeremy Pelletier and eventually cast at Firebird Foundry.
The boy will eventually be 41 inches tall, while the girl will be taller as she stands up straight. Beside them will be the statue of Tagg, a four-year-old black Labrador who came to the Gresham Police Department by way of Guide Dogs for the Blind. Tagg is a comfort dog, arriving on scene to support any community members suffering trauma. He is especially beloved by kids.
Tagg makes appearances at dementia care facilities, classrooms, and community festivals. He first joined the department in early 2020, and one month into the job he visited students at Dexter McCarty Middle School the morning after a classmate was hit and killed walking to school. He also supports his two-legged coworkers, hanging out in the department in-between shifts.
"Taking photos of Tagg to use as references was one of the best parts of this process," Pelletier said.
One small detail that will be in the final piece — a pouch in the bronze vest filled with business cards that the real Tagg carries with him on the job.
These pieces are not only Pelletier's first work in Gresham, but also his first major public installation.
"I've never worked at this scale before," he said.
Over the next few months Pelletier will complete the digital carvings, which will all then be 3D printed. After some final tuning, those will be cast at Firebird Foundry in Troutdale by Chad Caswell. The unveiling is planned for next spring.
"We can't wait for the community to experience these statues," Baumann said with a smile.
Read the original article by Christopher Keizur at:
https://pamplinmedia.com/go/42-news/550615-440502-badges-in-bronze-gresham-statues-to-honor-first-responders?wallit_nosession=1