Mark LeMieux and his company Platypus Productions, from Paulding, Ohio has teamed up with Troy Ganser of T.A.G. Art Company, of Fort Wayne, Indiana on a special project. They have been busy working on a sculpture and wagon for the 80th Birthday celebration of Riley�s Hospital for Children. The wagons are a symbol of the Indianapolis based hospital and are used to transport the children around the medical center.
Mark was originally contacted by the T.A.G. Art Company about the sculpture over a month ago. �When Troy contacted me he said he wanted a life size sculpt of a girl with a broken leg,� said Mark.
From that description, Mark then set to work designing a sculpture that would fit into the famous �Riley Wagon�. He started with an armature forming the basic shape and size of the child. Then using several different techniques of clay and cloth sculpture he built up the sculpture to look like a real child.
�I didn�t want to model it after my children. I just didn�t know how I would feel about having a copy of one of my children sold at auction,� Mark laughs. �I really wanted a real looking child, but not realistic, something in between, stylized.�
Once finished with the sculpture, Mark then fiber-glassed the entire surface. This made the sculpture more solid and durable.
�At first I wanted to make the child as real as possible, but about half way through I had the idea to make it look like a bronze statue. I thought that it would be classier looking, and a real looking child statue might look kind of creepy. I didn�t want �Chucky� sitting in our wagon,� said Mark.
The entire project took just under a month. Mark even worked 20-hour days the last week to ensure the completion of the project. �I had to bring in these big shop lights so I could continue to work into the night,� he said. �I know how important the hospital and it cause is, and I want to be sure to give them the best possible sculpt I could do with the time and budget I was given.�
While Mark worked on the sculpture, Troy was busy working on the wagon. He decided the best way to represent the community of Fort Wayne was to celebrate it�s diversity. The phrase �God bless us, every one� was craved in to the sides of the wagon in nineteen different languages, including Russian, Chinese and Swedish.
Troy also tied tin cans and streamers to the back of the wagon so that Kids Fest participants could sign them. � We�re also hoping Mayor Graham Richard and other local celebrities will lend their signatures,� said Troy. �In a sense, the community can aid in the project.�
Mark also wanted to takes a moment to thank Troy and The T.A.G. Art Company for the opportunity to work on this project and for this wonderful cause. The two companies work together frequently. �Troy and I have been friends for several years. It is always an enjoyable experience working with him and his company.�
�It has always been about the children,� said Mark. �You are only a child for such a short time, and to be sick or hurt during that time is such a shame. I have three children of my own and if they were sick I would want the best treatment for them, too. I�m just glad I can help other children by giving my time and the talents God has blessed me with. I hope this project will bring a lot of joy and, when sold, assistance to the children.�
The wagon and sculpture will be unveiled September 20th in Fort Wayne, Indiana during Kids Fest, a local celebration for the Children�s Hospital. The event will take place between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Dairy Queen located at 10207 Illinois Road in Fort Wayne.
The other cities chosen to design a wagon are Evansville, Indianapolis, South Bend and Terre Haute. The wagons will be auctioned off online starting October 7th with all proceeds benefiting the hospital. Details are at www.rileykids.org .
For more information on the T.A.G. Art Company feel free to contact Troy Ganser at: [email protected]
For more information about Platypus Productions feel free to contact Mark LeMieux at: [email protected]
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