Sakakawea
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Views of Foundry Work Making Statue Replica for Placement in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol

Click on photos below to link to high-resolution image. Photos on Capitol grounds by Sharon Silengo; foundry photos courtesy Tom Bollinger.

The work site on the North Dakota Capitol grounds
The work site on the North Dakota Capitol grounds		 View of Statue being prepared for casting
View of Statue being prepared for casting.		 Arizona Bronze owner Tom Bollinger (left) visits at the statue site with Jenny Yearous and Mark Halvorson of the State Historical Society of North Dakota
Arizona Bronze owner Tom Bollinger (left) visits at the statue site with Jenny Yearous and Mark Halvorson of the State Historical Society of North Dakota
Governor Hoeven talks about the importance of Sakakawea to North Dakota
Governor Hoeven talks about the importance of Sakakawea to North Dakota during a news conference featuring the Arizona Bronze foundry, at the statue site in Bismarck Sept. 12, 2002. To the Governor's right are Merl Paaverud, Director of the State Historical Society of North Dakota, which is managing the project, and Marijo Shide of Larimore, ND, co-chair of the General Federation of Women's Clubs of ND, which helped raise $50,000 for the replica project. 		Arizona Bronze moldmakers Joe Charleston (top) and Zdenko Milatovic work on preparing mold for Sakakawea Statue
Arizona Bronze moldmakers Joe Charleston (top) and Zdenko Milatovic work on preparing mold for Sakakawea Statue		 Spraying the statue in preparation for molding
Preparing the mold of Sakakawea Statue.
Spraying the mold of Sakakawea Statue Preparing mold of Sakakawea Statue Preparing frontal mold of Sakakawea Statue
Sakakawea Statue covered with green mold replication aid Under cover scaffolding, Joe Charleston (right) and dZdenko Milatovic of the Arizona Bronze foundry of Tempe, Arizona, prepare and attach shims to the green mold covering the statue of Sakakawea and her son, Jean Baptiste
 Under cover scaffolding, Joe Charleston (right) and Zdenko Milatovic of the Arizona Bronze foundry of Tempe, Arizona, prepare and attach shims to the green mold covering the statue of Sakakawea and her son, Jean Baptiste, that stands on the state capitol grounds near the entrance to the North Dakota Heritage Center.		 A closeup of Jean Baptiste, as he and his mother, Sakakawea, undergo the replica process on the state capitol grounds in Bismarck
A closeup of Jean Baptiste, as he and his mother, Sakakawea, undergo the replica process on the state capitol grounds in Bismarck.
The green rubber mold has been coated with plaster to create the
The green rubber mold has been coated with plaster to create the "mother mold," a hard outer shell, which will keep the rubber in the shape of the original mold after the original is removed.		 The "Mother Mold"
The "mother mold" consists of urethane plastic. After its removal, the underlying green rubber mold is again exposed, as seen in the next three photographs.		 Mold covering Sakakawea Statue
Mold covering Sakakawea Statue.
Beginning to separate parts of the mold covering the Sakakawea Statue
Beginning to separate parts of the mold covering the Sakakawea Statue.		 Mold being removed from Sakakawea Statue on North Dakota Capitol grounds
Mold being removed from Sakakawea Statue on North Dakota Capitol grounds.		 Photo of Sakakawea wax base
October 2002. Now back in Arizona Bronze's studio in Tempe, AZ, the statue replica begins to take shape. Here is the wax base, as pulled from the mold.
The wax lower skirt portion of the statue replica
The wax lower skirt portion of the statue replica. 		Sakakawea Statue wax head
The wax head of the statue replica, showing both Sakakawea and her infant son, Jean Baptiste, nicknamed "Pomp." .		 Demolding a section of the statue
Foundry workers demold a section of the sculpture.
Applying wax dressing
Wax dressing being applied to the replica. 		Wax dressing as applied
Wax dressing as applied to the replica. .		 Pieces of the Sakakawea Statue replica in the foundry's shell room
Pieces of the Sakakawea Statue replica in the foundry's shell room. .
Rough head and shoulder section cast of statue
November 2002.
Rough cast sections of the statue,		 Rough middle section cast of statue
as the replication process continues. 		Rough feet and base section cast of statue
.
Sections of statue welded together.
January 2003.
The completed metal work and chasing on the Sakakawea Statue replica.		 Sections of statue welded together- ready for application of the patiana.
The next step will be completion of the patina to match the color on the original on the state capitol grounds in Bismarck.		 Statue inscription.
The plaque that will be featured on the statue's base in National Statuary Hall.
Assembled statue- side view with child.
January 2003.
Work continues on the replica,		 Assembled statue.
shown here being assembled in metal. 		Assembled statue- side view
Assembled statue frontal view.

 Assembled statue rear view.
 Assembled statue up-close facial shot.
Assembled statue- head and shoulders view.

 Signature plate on statue.
January 2003. Artist Leonard Crunelle's signature plate at the base of the statue. 		Statue with patina applied.
January 2003. Different views of the Sakakawea Statue replica after the patina covering has been applied.
Statue with patina applied- front view.

 Statue with patina applied- side view.
Statue with patina applied upclose view.
January 2003.

For further information on Arizona Bronze foundry see www.azbronze.com.

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