A Sculpture Created In Loving Memory of Dick Hathaway

An article about the unveiling in the Times Argus

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:15:00 +0000

Dick Hathaway unveiled

MONTPELIER – A sculpture created in memory of Dick Hathaway will be unveiled on Thursday, Sept. 25, at 5:30 p.m. Sculptor Bridgette Mongeon created a life-size bronze sculpture of Hathaway to be placed on the park bench in front of the fountain on the green at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Hathaway — Prof. Richard Hathaway, as he would almost never allow himself to be called — shocked all his friends when he left this world quickly and quietly the victim of a heart attack at age 71. Hathaway was a rare combination — an outgoing, happy scholar with a burning social conscience; a serious intellectual with a glad heart and a sense that life, even when difficult, was often slightly funny. Hathaway was born in Boston, educated at Bates College and Northwestern University. He taught at Bowdoin and came to Goddard College in Plainfield in 1965. When Goddard downsized, Hathaway moved to Vermont College and later Union Institute, where he became what one colleague described as "the spiritual core of the Adult Degree Program." In 2004 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by Union Institute for his role as a distinguished teacher, scholar, mentor, and civic leader. Hathaway was also a licensed auctioneer who used his talents to benefit many area non-profits. He combined the auctioneer's street savvy with the eclectic intellect of a trained academic generalist, and the verbal skills of a natural stump orator. He was an intellectual salad bar, stocked with the ingredients of a lifetime of reading, a richly associative mind, and a fast tongue.

The public is invited to the unveiling.
Times Argus article

Please send us your photographs and thoughts about the sculpture

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:55:00 +0000

We would love to keep this blog alive with the memories and thoughts of those who loved Dick Hathaway. Please send us your photographs and memories. Also please send us your interactions with he Richard Hathaway sculpture.

Two thousand thirty miles and children climb on the sculpture.

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:20:00 +0000

We added up the miles we put on the SUV. It is about 2,030. Good thing we are flying home. I heard reports from the gallery that Dick has children climbing on him. I forgot to ask how Dick felt about children. I can picture it now. I love the idea, interaction, creating memories. I hope people send pictures.

The Richard Hathway excursion comes to a close and I head back to Texas

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:07:00 +0000

It was wonderful being able to spend some time in Western New York after delivering the sculpture to Vermont. Traveling with someone who never has seen this part of the country offered me the opportunity to show her things like Niagara Falls and Historical North Tonawanda — home of the carousel. We went to the carousel museum while here. In fact, I grew up in the Hershel home on Christiana street. I wish I could have spent a bit more time doing touristy things, but I did get to spend time with family and living so far from them that is always good.

now it is back to Texas and the studio. I have listened to some reports on the Internet about the recovery from Hurricane Ike. Many are still trying to recover and many in my immediate neighborhood still do not have electricity after 19 days. My Southern home will never look the same with the devastation in our Beloved Galveston. I have been so removed from it both physically and emotionally.

On to the commissions in the studio and writing a book with my husband on digital techniques used in the traditional sculpting studio. A subject that I have been writing on quite a bit lately. The publisher is excited as are we. This is a subject that has not been written about.

Trip back to Buffalo- all my responsibilities are over, I can rest!

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:54:00 +0000

We are finished with all of the having to be someplace at sometime! It is great to relax. Yesterday was the trip back to Buffalo. We left Vermont early but spent some time stopping, eating a leisurely breakfast at a place called Bees Knees in Morrisville, Vermont. This little girl was there. I thought she might be an artist and hope that she finds my email and keeps in touch. Wonderful personality! I love her pose. It inspires me to paint or sketch or do something of her.

Stopped at a stand to get mac apples. I love them! It was on the honor system and I just had to show how this worked. Impressive!

We Took a different ferry out of Vermont to NY. I made sure I got some good shots of the trees before leaving Vermont. My favorite is the PUMPKINS AHEAD photograph.

Rain in the Adirondack mountains is not fun to drive through, could not enjoy the ride out as much as I did going up. I did stop and get a picture of the Gloria, bridgette, bear proof garbage cans. This one had instructions. It was a long rainy ride back to Buffalo and we did not arrive until about 8:30. But as soon as I came back into Buffalo I stopped to eat one of my favorite foods from home roast beef on kimmelweck rolls. YUMMMM.

A day filled with spirit and friends. The Unveiling

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 03:11:00 +0000

Today was an incredible day. Spirit filled- with the honoring of Jenna, and Dick and Charlotte.
It started with a long walk in the mountains of Vermont.

Jenna's parents met me in Vermont to pick up Jenna. Jenna was an incredible part of the unveiling of the Dick Hathaway memorial as she was "the angel that came from Texas with Dick."
I loved spending time with Jenna's mom. I am glad that we have our book project going as I can keep in touch with her and still have a connection.

The sculpture of Dick Hathaway was unveiled tonight. David, Dick's son did the unveiling and posed with his dad on the bench. My client was actually the people of Vermont. Those who knew and loved Dick and who helped to raise money to cast the sculpture and bring Dick home. One of the local stations covered the event and I hope to be able to provide the video of this event on the blog at a later date. Several of Dick's friends shared memories of the man, and then the unveiling. I waited to see the faces of those in the audience. The emotion would reveal if I had captured the essence of this incredible man. Tears where shed and the comments were all favorable. Not many people posed with Dick or even sat with him. One person mentioned, "I'll come back when no one is around to spend some time with Dick." I think it will be that way for many and I look forward to sharing the thoughts and experiences of many on the Dick Hathaway blog.
Ben Scotch put a magazine next to Dick stating that this would now be a new tradition. Leave a book for the next person to find. Dick would have liked that.

When the crowed had cleared three young students came up to the sculpture and commented on how incredible it was. "Who did this?" they asked, then next question was one that promoted me to create the sculpture, "who was the man, why did you make it." This gave me the opportunity to tell of the works of Dick Hathaway and what a wonderful man he was, and how we could all be a little more like Dick Hathaway. I know those students will think about that each time that they go by, they may even tell their friends. That is exactly the goal that I wanted to achieve. the memory lives on.

Installation of a sculpture

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:30:00 +0000

After eating a hardy breakfast at Betsy's B & B I headed off to meet the maintenance crew of Vermont College to install Dick Hathaway. It went so easily. The guys had reinforced the bench, and did a great job. They had plenty of muscle to unload him and when placed on the bench his foot touched the ground. there can sometimes be shrinkage with bronze and I feared his foot would not touch. The satchel was placed next to him, holes drilled to secure him and he was actually welded onto the bench. when the gallery curator came she wept. That is the emotional reaction that I long for. It is a younger Dick Hathaway, after placing him the maintenance crew just stood on a looked.

They also took the plywood out of my car. This helped to secure Dick in the back of the SUV, it was also used to secure my windows during the hurricane. It is a reminder of what a long two weeks this has been.

Once the sculpture was placed I could not help but have a few shots of the two of us on the bench. I can't wait to see others interact with the sculpture, and when you do, PLEASE SEND PICTURES. When the sculpture was installed, I covered him with the sheet that I sewed by generator in Houston after the storm. There he sits, a black ghosts awaiting the unveiling tomorrow evening. I can't wait.

This evening I sit in yet another bed in another home, the home of the curator. I guess until now I was working on adrenaline. I feel quite tired now, but relieved! I hear I am hiking in the woods in the morning. I hope I can get up.

When it was all done I jumped for joy!

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:50:00 +0000

I failed to mention the auction items from Pennsylvania and Ohio. Pennsylvania auction item is a small coffee cup. Ohio is a corkscrew from another winery, no we are not winos we just could not find anything at the last minute. I'll have to post pictures of the coffee cup later.

New York's auction is... I believe Jam, but I'll have to look and post that photograph later.

UPDATE
It took much longer to get to Vermont than we thought. we had estimated 7 hours but the ferry from NY to Vermont runs on the hour and we missed it. Then it took an hour on the ferry before arriving in Burlington and another 30 minutes to Montpelier. Dick at this moment is home in his green mountain state.

Prior to getting to Vermont we drove through the Adirondack mountains. I learned so much like, "never sleep in the clothes that you cook in." It is a black bear thing. Gloria and I tried to dump the trash from our cars but could not open the trash cans. It dawned on me that they are bear proof, apparently they are also Gloria and Bridgette Proof. If there was a hidden camera taking pictures I am sure the rangers would have a good laugh at the humans. Cell phones don't work in those mountains either. God forbid something should happen to the car, we have food for those black bears and it also occur ed to me that we could not get to the spare tire for the weight of Dick Hathaway. No more worries about that, we are here now!

The "send help" poster was on the back of a map of the Adirondack mountains.

Tomorrow we install the sculpture. This is what I have worked so hard for the last two years. Can't wait.

Leaves were beautiful in the Adirondack mountains. I think they will even be better by Friday when we leave. We got in so late that we had to stay at Betsy's B. and B.' s in Montpelier for the night.

More later

through Ohio, resting in NY- Vermont in the morning!

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 02:34:00 +0000

Nothing special about traveling through Ohio. I'm glad to be in Buffalo, NY. It is my home town and the resting spot is my sisters house before we go on to Vermont. I'm looking forward to the last leg of drive to Vermont. It will be during the day and hopefully a little more leisurely. I'll post the Dick Hathaway state auction pieces in the next day or so. Just 7 or 8 hours of driving, but still so tired.

Tennessee, Kentucky and more about the Dick Hathaway travels.

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:11:00 +0000

We are just outside of Columbus Ohio, on our way to bring Dick Hathaway to Vermont and Jenna to her mom. Stopped in Memphis the night before last night and was so glad that I had a friend that lived there so we could get some much needed rest—thanks Sunny. Went through Tennessee and before leaving the state picked up another auction item for the Dick Hathaway auction. We found it at a winery. Great place to stop and the blackberry wine was yum. I'll post the name of this winery later, as it is buried in the SUV, along with the wine glasses I bought for myself. Here we picked up a bottle of Tennessee whiskey jelly. The two ladies at the winery posed with Dick. Driving through Tennessee was uneventful but pretty. The Tennessee auction item is a pack of playing cards, with of course the name of the state. One of the criteria for these auction items. Dick and I took a time out from the trip to play a hand or two. A wonderful person at this Holiday Inn express introduced us to the security guard who watched the SUV last night. Thanks Holiday Inn. We are off for a hot meal. I am surprised at how excited I am about toast. Remember we were out of electricity for a while. Through Ohio and next stop is Western New York. More updates later.

In memphis headed to NY- Dick keeps me from getting a speeding ticket!

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 15:18:00 +0000

We made it to Memphis. 10 + hour drive. Couldn't leave Houston until Dick and Jenna were completely secure. Which meant not getting on the road until 3:00. It was a long day, but my traveling companion is great and helps keep me awake and alert. Dick fit into the SUV, which I was thankful for. jenna is kind of tucked into his lap area feet up in the air. That is the way Jenna would travel anyway. I think I can hear here giggling in the back, under the covers.

We counted 63 electric trucks coming in on 59 as we were headed out. I am thankful for them as I was the electric company from Tampa that was at our home/studio the day before I left. Thank you to all of the states that have helped Houston/Galveston area. 59 is one of those roads that you have to go through a lot of little towns. We could not go highway because, well frankly we were not sure what the towns or roads would be like east of Houston, so north it was. Just outside of a small town a police car stopped me to "remind me to do the speed limit" my traveling companion, Gloria said, "they are going to think we have a dead body back there." The officer heard her and glanced back and then jumped. She was so intrigued with the sculpture and taking pictures of it that "remind" us was all that she did. I took a picture of the office, but unfortunately it did not come out. I think I was nervous about the possibility of getting a ticket. I did not, Thank you Dick!

Our route was apparently an evacuation route and it felt appropriate to get a picture of the SUV under one of the signs. The other pictures shows Dick and the souvenirs that we bought for him. In Texas he purchased a thimble, and in Arkansas, Arkansas to be exact, birthplace of Clinton. I wonder what Dick would think about that? In hope we bought a key chain toothpick holder. Can you see these souvenirs in the pictures? We are going to give them to the Dick Hathaway auction that is held regularly at Vermont College in hopes of raising money. I think Dick would like that.

More posts next time we get to
WI FI along the way.

Travel mercies!

Bridgette

We are leaving in two days!

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 02:10:00 +0000

It will take some time to get to Vermont with two stops on the way. My original traveling companion, besides Dick and Jenna was going to be my daughter, but she could not make it. Luckily I have found a friend to help keep me awake along the way.

Went to the foundry today to check on last details and make sure they would have everything ready. I thought I should get a picture of the three of us together.

I know I look like I have the hurricane fog. Yes it is true. I can't tell you how stressful this last week has been. Went to the bank to get money for the trip. The entire roof was blown off of the bank. In the mall next door the entire side of the mall was gone. Had to stop to get more gas containers for the generator. I feel bad leaving my family in this situation but I am very glad to be leaving Houston and the stress of the post hurricane and survival mode.

Soon we will be in Vermont. Can't wait to see the changing of the leaves! Dick Hathaway is coming home, along with an angel!

Dick Hathaway is a Hurricane IKE survivor!

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 02:10:00 +0000

I'm happy to report the studio, the foundry and most of all the Dick Hathaway bronze sculpture are all intact. I spoke to Budget rental car this morning and they said that their SUV's are intact and that one will be ready for me on Saturday. We are leaving then for the long trip up to Vermont. Unveiling is still on schedule for Thursday the 25th.

We still don't have electricity at the home/studio so I don't know if I'll post again before arriving in the North. Wish us well. I'll take lots of photographs of our adventures.

Bridgette

Completion at the foundry!

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:26:00 +0000

Though a storm is raging out in the Gulf of Mexico we were able to finish the sculpture. He looks great.

Spoke to the college about installation and that is underway. All arangements are made to travel. Still hoping the balance of delivering of the sculpture will happen. Those wishing to donate can do so through the T.W. Wood Gallery.

Here you see the sandblasted version of Dick, the foundry man darkening Dick's glasses, and the patina being put on Dick. All my attention must turn to the Hurricane that is headed toward Houston. Pray that winds don't damage the foundry where Dick and Jenna are, nor our home.

Another trip to the foundry.

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:36:00 +0000

Between the bronze of Dick and the bronze of Jenna I have been going back and forth to the foundry every few days. Here is a view of the Hathaway piece upon last visit. Tuesday is patina day. I can't wait.

I have heard it takes three men to lift this sculpture. Not sure how he is going to fit in an SUV but we will do our best.

An update-

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:16:00 +0000

Approval of the metal is one of the final steps. Dick Hathaway is no longer in pieces. Just a few weeks now and Dick will be back in Vermont. Can't wait!

Who is coming up with Dick?

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:36:00 +0000

I thought I would introduce you to Jenna, she is a sculpture that will be traveling on the road from Houston, Texas to Vermont. I need to deliver her to Main. Jenna's mom is coming to the opening to pick up "her little angel." I love the idea that we will be coming up to Vermont with an angel. I wonder if Jenna and Dick have met in heaven?

saying good bye

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:35:00 +0000

Saying good bye-

When I was searching for reference for the Dick Hathaway memorial, I went through the collection of his books and found this page. It seemed so appropriate for what I do, what transpires with the deceased. I think of it often when I am trying to capture the essence of those I have never met and who are now gone.

The poem

Out on the end of an apple tree bough
A birdie was singing a song just now.
And when it was ended
the birdie pretended
to say good-bye,
But he did not know how!

"My body is just something I use to carry around my head."

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:02:00 +0000

"My body is just something I use to carry around my head."

The foundry e-mailed today, wanting the bench that Dick Hathaway was created on. I had it loaded into the van and brought it over to them. When arriving to the foundry the Hathaway sculpture was everywhere! Pull yourself together Professor! Miguel the master foundry man was diligently working on putting him together. It won't be long. What was that quote that the professor used to say, "My body is just something I use to carry around my head."

PLEASE MAKE PLANS FOR THE UNVEILING!

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:53:00 +0000

August 25th 2008, TW Wood Gallery. ( not sure of the time)

DATE IS BEING MOVED TO SEPTEMBER 25th 2008 5:30

There is nothing like molten bronze!

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:40:00 +0000

I had posted these on my home page blog, but thought I should update anyone watching the process of crating the Dick Hathaway memorial.

June 10
The professors glasses are all fogged up!
While at the foundry dropping off the Jenna waxes and picking up wax two, I snapped these pictures of Dick Hathaway. Here you can see his head foot and...? The white stuff on the metal is the ceramic shell. The foundry will now break this away and begin to weld him back together again. Quite a process!

While at the foundry dropping of the Jenna waxes and picking up wax two I snapped these pictures of Dick Hathaway. Here you can see his head foot and...? The white stuff on the metal is the ceramic shell. The foundry will now break this away and begin to weld him back together again. Quite a process!
June 05
today I went to see the pour of pieces of the Dick Hathaway sculpture. Here you see them pouring the head, in the background are the some other parts of the sculpture. You could say Dick Hathaway has a hot foot.

June 03

Richard Hathaway
Meanwhile I was able to take some pictures of Dick Hathaway, or at least pieces of him that have gone through the dip process. They are a bit different than the last pictures of the head.

Quite a shell around those wax pieces. If you have followed documentation process before you will note that inside these shells are the waxes. On Thursday the wax will be burned out of these shells until only a cavity remains. The molten bronze will be carefully poured within that cavity. The pour is scheduled for Thursday. I hope to get some good video footage of it for the upcoming video. I just love to watch a pour! There is something very entrancing about that glow!

May 29th
On with the bronze process of Professor Richard Hathaway
The next step, after the creating the waxes, is the gating of the waxes. Pour cups and wax sprues are added to the waxes that came from the Dick Hathaway molds. These are then dipped into a mixture coating the waxes both inside and out. Each of the many pieces will need to be dipped creating a ceramic shell. I went to the foundry today to take some pictures and video of the dip process for the next video that I will be creating about this sculpture. This part of the bronze process will take the foundry about a week.

1/2 way through the foundry process

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Wed, 14 May 2008 03:21:00 +0000

Once all the molds were made they were sent to the foundry and waxes were poured. The waxes are then brought back to the studio to be cleaned up. So here is Dick, gone to pieces! Now that the wax pieces are cleaned they are sent back to the foundry and they are gated up to get ready for the next steps in the lost wax method of bronze casting. I am so excited that Richard Hathaway is well on his way to becoming a bronze sculpture.

Off to the foundry!

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:13:00 +0000

The 6 molds went to the foundry today. I always like taking a picture of the inside of the mold of the face. It looks so strange. I still have 3 more to make. Can't wait for this week to be over with.

Messy, Messy, Messy!

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:11:00 +0000

Once shims are put into the sculpture to create a parting line the rubber is painted on. Then each side receives the mother mold made of plaster. My hands go through a dry week as I mix each batch of plaster with my hands. When it kicks and begins to cure it does so very quickly. The means haste in putting on the coat of plaster. This is why my studio is an absolute disaster right now. Plaster is everywhere, including spots on the cabinets, the phone, the tv remote and all over me. Just a few more days of this mess. That is not a birds nest on professor Hathaway's rubber face, it is hemp that is added to the plaster to make it strong.

Professor Hathaway has gone to pieces! This is not for the weak of heart.

noreply@blogger.com (isculpt) — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:06:00 +0000

It is all part of the process. Not for the weak of heart. We have spent many months perfecting the sculpture only to cut it to pieces in the end. Each of these pieces will have rubber painted on top of them. Then a mother mold is added on top. They call it a mother mold because it holds the rubber in place. This process is grueling work. It will probably take me an entire week of long hours to complete all of the molds. The sculpture is cut up into 9 pieces.