A Tribute to Homer Simpson
For the Fans, Cast, Creators and Crew

Moe’s Garden on the Fox Studios Lot, Los Angeles
Dedicated
16 Feb 2012
The Simpsons’ 500th Episode Celebration
The Longest Running Scripted Show in Television History

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What, specifically, inspired the design? Was it a particular photograph, memory, something else?

The vets provided me with their stories, photos, books and even movies like “The Great Escape.”  Once we settled on the overall concept – depicting the liberation moment — I asked them to write what it felt to go thru that experience.
At the end of the slideshow here: http://richardbecker.com/pow-monument there are images of their comments. Those strips of paper are now at the Veterans Museum in Balboa Park.

After that, the design was influenced by certainly my personal style, symbolism we wanted incorporated, etc. One of my artistic goals was to create a work that draws people in to better understand their story, the price paid and the debt owed to these veterans who served doubly — as both soldiers and as POWs.

How long did the whole process take, from conception to completion?
5 years from our first concept discussions to installation. There was quite a bit of schedule slack and downtime while the cemetery construction proceeded in parallel.

Was there a particularly difficult part?
Its a lot of physical work and technique to make something like this. And there was a lot of red tape and process as you should expect for creating something in a National Cemetery. But working with these Veterans and Heroes was an honor and a lot of fun.
I suppose the most difficult thing was emotionally, it was rough as I immersed myself in the research — the stories, the photos — trying to imagine what it would be like to be in that position, it was dark. I suppose it helped with the work, but I had to put away the materials and quit reading.
Also, getting the stance, gestures and facial expression — i spent many hours on those elements.

What does the monument mean to you personally?
It reminded me and made me more appreciative of how the world really works outside of our free, cozy existence.
That there really is a price to pay and that should never be forgotten. It should be honored and respected.

POW MONUMENT

US National Cemetery Miramar, San Diego, California
Dedicated September 16, 2011 

Open to Public
Click Here for Map
15′ tall, bronze, concrete and stainless steel

“This statue will convey the excitement, the trepidation, the exhilaration and emotion of the LIBERATION moment, as the emaciated soldier steps out of the darkness into the “Sunshine of Freedom”.  He portrays the thousands who were bound in captivity by the infamy of foreign enemies.”

“This is to stand as an eternal legacy for our community by reminding visitors of the sacrifice of veterans during America’s efforts to keep alive the hopes and dreams of freedom for the oppressed around the world.”

– Lt Col. Ralph Kling, USAF Ret. Vice Commander,

American Ex-Prisoners of War
WWII Pilot, POW Stalag Luft IV, Germany

LIBERATION
POW Monument for the new Miramar National Cemetery, San Diego, California

POW Liberation rear, in progress

Pedestal Photos Courtesy Universal PreCast

Here are the photos I could find of the creation of the Homer bust.
My process was very non-linear partly because I decided to make the Homer head study as I was figuring out how to create the little Homer for Jim Brooks HoF plaque. So you’ll see various progress photos of little sketchy Homer’s on Jim’s shoulder.

I can sequence these better if that will help and have larger versions of all of these images. A combination of phone pics and my point and shoot.

Cheers,
Richard

Mary Tyler Moore. Emmys Hall of Fame. Copyright ATAS.

Portrait bust of Actress Mary Tyler Moore.

Commissioned

by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for the Emmys Hall of Fame.

Two bronze casts were created. One will be installed in Hollywood, at the Emmys Hall of Fame Courtyard. The second cast will be installed at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Orlando, Florida.

Los Angeles, CA, 10 Aug 2011

The inspiration for her portrait: Mary from the Dick Van Dyke show.
Thanks to FortisRevenge, Cake, and YouTube for this great music video montage of Mary as Laura Petrie.

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