Austin Weishel | Bronze sculpture artist

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Ben Franklin

Ben Franklin has reached his final clay rendition! This sculpture is a life size version of the historic figure, which will be cast in bronze. This piece is currently going through the casting stage.

You can learn more about each step of the sculpture process, from the initial stages of artistic creation to the finishing touches, at www.austinweishel.com/process/

Ben Franklin will be a limited edition bronze sculpture. If you are interested in knowing more about this piece or securing your own Ben Franklin, please contact us below!

austinweishel@gmail.com

970-231-8077

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Memorial in Miller Park

To celebrate 150 years of service from the Bloomington Fire Department, I installed a “Tools of the Trade” sculpture in Miller Park. These installs are always special for me. I love to see the pride and honor of other individuals in the service that chose to make firefighting their lifelong career and passion. It’s also very humbling to see communities gather together to honor the men and women who sacrifice so much for their departments every day.

Please visit https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/bloomington-fire-department-unveils-memorial-in-miller-park/1522073075 to read more about their 150 year celebration and what the fire service means for their community.

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THE HEALING TREE

I was honored to sculpt a piece called “The Healing Tree” which is installed at Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. This piece pays tribute to families of fallen Police Officers and the sacrifice that not only the officer made, but the family as well. The large bend in the tree symbolizes changes, hardships, and accomplishments we all endure throughout  our lives. I hope that family members can see themselves in this piece and appreciate the past, and look forward to the future, despite the twists and turns.

The tree shows branches twisting and turning from the main trunk, with the words “Rebuilding Shattered Lives.” As a family, we all encounter many twists and turns — some unexpected, some tragic – yet they are all part of our story and what weaves us together in the end.  Each family finds different meaning in this memorial piece, but all can agree that together, as families, as communities, we are stronger.

I enjoy seeing my pieces throughout the seasons. This photo was taken a week before Christmas, when we are lucky enough to be surrounded by family, and also take time to cherish moments with loved ones who have passed on. During install, it’s a wonderful moment seeing the bronze shine in the sunlight; a happy and monumental occasion for the individuals and groups I sculpt for. Yet seeing it on a cold day, or covered in snow, reminds me that every season of life brings many changes and challenges, but I’m always grateful for the communities and families I get to serve not only as a firefighter, but as an artist.

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SOMEONE TO KEEP YOU WARM

Here in Wyoming, we have been bracing some frigid cold. 80 mile per hour wild gusts and a low of -11 degrees on New Year’s Day, you can say that we have been bundling up!

Luckily, someone thought of their friends and placed a blanket around the couple in “The Golden Years” to keep them warm during our blistering cold nights.

I hope this reminds you to always lend a helping hand (or blanket!) to a neighbor, as well as hold dear the relationships in your life that make it special.

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NEVADA STATE FIREFIGHTER MEMORIAL

I was honored to be able to create a memorial for the Professional Fire Fighters of Nevada that pays tribute to past, present, and future Nevada State firefighters.  This memorial will be dedicated in May, 2019 in Carson City in the Capital Complex.

Included in this memorial are 5 life-size working firefighters on a crew. Setting the scene is a nozzleman, focused and skillful in his control of the hose. Behind him is the crew Officer, a Captain keeping a close eye on the scene and maintaining his composure as two more firefighters, one male and one female, pull a downed firefighter to safety.

Every firefighter is unique and individual – from the folds of cloth on the pants to the stitching of the name on the bunker jacket, each crew member has their own personality and precise detail.

Having the opportunity to also be a firefighter myself, this is an important piece of work for me. I was able to draw on my own experiences as a member of a crew and the responsibility we each have to protect lives and property of our community, as well as each other during every call.

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Jacksonville Florida Law Enforcement memorial dedicated

 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The 61 names etched into the Fallen Officers Memorial Wall outside the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena represent lives given in the line of duty and the families they left behind.

One grieving father told News4Jax after Thursday’s annual memorial ceremony that the wall not only keeps his son’s memory alive, but tells the story of the ultimate sacrifice officers make.

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“A person never gets over losing a son,” said Charles Shinholser Sr., the father of Charles “Ray” Shinholser Jr.

The younger Shinholser’s name was one of 61 called out Thursday, representing all the local lives lost in the line of duty since 1840.

Ray Sinholser was on his motorcycle performing traffic duty for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office when he was hit and killed by a truck in 1988. He was only 30 and had a wife and two children.

His father said the Fallen Officers Memorial means a lot to surviving families.

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“Our officers will never be forgotten,” Shinholser said. “That’s our goal: to keep our officer’s memory alive.”

Ray Shinholser had a passion for country music, and his legacy lives on in a song he wrote and performed, dedicated to a fallen officer. It’s called “When’s Daddy Coming Home?”

“The day after he recorded it, he died in the line of duty,” Shinholser said.

The voice of Shinholser’s grandson was later added to the song, saying “I love you daddy… Goodbye dad.”

Shinholser’s family sold cassette tapes to raise money for the National Police Memorial in Washington.
Ray Shinholser’s name has been displayed on the memorial since it was completed in 2016.

Kneeling

New additions to the memorial were unveiled Thursday: two statues of officers standing at attention on either side of the wall and another statue of an officer kneeling in front of the wall, leaving a rose at the memorial.

There is also an interactive digital kiosk with information on each officer.

Finker-Frenkel Legacy Foundation donated the statues.

Surviving families said the additions tell the story of the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice for their community.

Copyright 2018 by WJXT News4Jax – All rights reserved.

 

 

https://www.news4jax.com/community/additions-make-fallen-officers-memorial-wall-even-more-meaningful-families-say

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abweishel@gmail.com
phone: 970-231-8077

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