Anatomy of a sculpture

[Edith K. Thurmond]

Sitting on a park bench in front of SNU's Marchant Family Alumni and Welcome Center is a life sized sculpture of the beloved and long deceased professor, Dr. Fred Floyd. This statue was a gift to the university from several alumni, including Dave McClung who had a major role in its inception and delivery. Dave was recently presented a small version of this sculpture at SNU for the contributions he has made to the project.

The dedication of the statue, attended by several hundred people who loved Dr. Floyd, was held in November 2004. The Marchant Center has long since been completed and is a beautiful signature edifice of the SNU campus with Dr. Floyd, seemingly, welcoming all who enter the grounds and building. The sculptor has also done several other sculptures on the campus with one being a life sized (or larger than life) soldier kneeling in prayer.

Below is a series of photos documenting the well-known sculptor, Scott Stearman, at work at his studio in a small Colorado town in the Rocky Mountains. In a conversation with Scott, he said it took him three months to complete this commission. A CD with 110 photos of the project was given to me by a grandson of Dr. Floyd's and and here's trusting that a few of them will be of enjoyment to you.

It is unnecessary to comment on every photo but you can see that the work starts with the red clay and the first formation was the head. The body form was then done with all the particulars eventually finding their places on the sculpture. The bronzing process then followed and was quite involved. Scott got the detail "down pat" and everything seems very authentic - even the "ecology stick." The photos taken at the dedication reveal the love that BPC-BNC-SNU alumni since 1932 have had for this honored professor.

Anatomy of a Sculpture

[Edith K. Thurmond]

Continued.....

[Edith K. Thurmond]

Further....

[Edith K. Thurmond]

And....

[Edith K. Thurmond]

Now....

[Edith K. Thurmond]

L.D. McNall and his wife, Mary Lee, are seated on the bench with Dr. Floyd. Mr. McNall is the president of the Class of '37 and has edited a bi-annual alumni newsletter for 69 years. He still comes back to the campus for Homecoming every year and enjoys the many friendships made while a student at BPC. Always ones to embrace new experiences, the couple completed a parasailing adventure earlier this year in the Caribbean.

[Edith K. Thurmond]

Hundreds came on that very cold November day for the dedication. The first photo is symbolic of many who came and greeted "Dr. Floyd." The final photo of Scott Stearman with his commission says it all: Mission Accomplished. Here's trusting you enjoyed this virtual anatomy of a sculpture in the making.

Blessings,

[Eugenia Whitten]

How very impressive!

[Jim Franklin]

Edith, how precious it is to me that you shared this of my colleague, Beloved Dr. Fred Floyd and my former student, Scott Stearman. I just hope he and Scott Skiles enjoyed my class as much as I did having them in the class. Dr. Floyd was a prince among men and I feel that God gave me the special privilege of knowing Dr. Floyd. When he asked me how much the interest was on the loan that we took out for the adoption expenses of our older son, he said let me help and loaned us the amount to pay off that loan for half the interest for which we are eternally grateful that he was so kind and generous.

[Dave McClung]

Sitting on a park bench in front of SNU's Marchant Family Alumni and Welcome Center is a life sized sculpture of the beloved and long deceased professor, Dr. Fred Floyd. This statue was a gift to the university from several alumni, including Dave McClung who had a major role in its inception and delivery. Dave was recently presented a small version of this sculpture at SNU for the contributions he has made to the project.

The dedication of the statue, attended by several hundred people who loved Dr. Floyd, was held in November 2004. The Marchant Center has long since been completed and is a beautiful signature edifice of the SNU campus with Dr. Floyd, seemingly, welcoming all who enter the grounds and building. The sculptor has also done several other sculptures on the campus with one being a life sized (or larger than life) soldier kneeling in prayer.

Below is a series of photos documenting the well-known sculptor, Scott Stearman, at work at his studio in a small Colorado town in the Rocky Mountains. In a conversation with Scott, he said it took him three months to complete this commission. A CD with 110 photos of the project was given to me by a grandson of Dr. Floyd's and and here's trusting that a few of them will be of enjoyment to you.

It is unnecessary to comment on every photo but you can see that the work starts with the red clay and the first formation was the head. The body form was then done with all the particulars eventually finding their places on the sculpture. The bronzing process then followed and was quite involved. Scott got the detail "down pat" and everything seems very authentic - even the "ecology stick." The photos taken at the dedication reveal the love that BPC-BNC-SNU alumni since 1932 have had for this honored professor.

Anatomy of a Sculpture

Thanks, Edith. I had not seen these photos. I was unable to attend the dedication, but saw the sculpture for the first time at Homecoming in 2005. Here is a picture of me with Dr. Floyd.

[Edith K. Thurmond]

Thanks, Edith. I had not seen these photos. I was unable to attend the dedication, but saw the sculpture for the first time at Homecoming in 2005. Here is a picture of me with Dr. Floyd.

Thanks for posting! You were there the day after the grass sod was put down and the new shrubs were planted. I didn't think that would be accomplished before Homecoming that year but the sidewalks were poured just a few short days before and the yard and flower beds finished the day before visitors arrived. The new building was finished but it was very close timing - both inside and outside. Whew!

Blessings,

[BobHunt]

Edith, I cant believe how exact they can do that kind of work! I didnt know the person, but can see well how fine tuned it is done!

[Linda McClung]

Sitting on a park bench in front of SNU's Marchant Family Alumni and Welcome Center is a life sized sculpture of the beloved and long deceased professor, Dr. Fred Floyd. This statue was a gift to the university from several alumni, including Dave McClung who had a major role in its inception and delivery. Dave was recently presented a small version of this sculpture at SNU for the contributions he has made to the project.

The dedication of the statue, attended by several hundred people who loved Dr. Floyd, was held in November 2004. The Marchant Center has long since been completed and is a beautiful signature edifice of the SNU campus with Dr. Floyd, seemingly, welcoming all who enter the grounds and building. The sculptor has also done several other sculptures on the campus with one being a life sized (or larger than life) soldier kneeling in prayer.

Below is a series of photos documenting the well-known sculptor, Scott Stearman, at work at his studio in a small Colorado town in the Rocky Mountains. In a conversation with Scott, he said it took him three months to complete this commission. A CD with 110 photos of the project was given to me by a grandson of Dr. Floyd's and and here's trusting that a few of them will be of enjoyment to you.

It is unnecessary to comment on every photo but you can see that the work starts with the red clay and the first formation was the head. The body form was then done with all the particulars eventually finding their places on the sculpture. The bronzing process then followed and was quite involved. Scott got the detail "down pat" and everything seems very authentic - even the "ecology stick." The photos taken at the dedication reveal the love that BPC-BNC-SNU alumni since 1932 have had for this honored professor.

Anatomy of a Sculpture

Wow! Those pictures were very interesting! Thanks, Edie! What talent goes into a sculpture.

[Mike Wooldridge]

Edith, thanks so much for the pictures. I was a student of Dr. Floyd's, and knew Scott Stearman when we were students at BNC/SNU. I saw the sculpture when I was on campus for Homecoming.