Art-Bio.Com, Intrest of Dick Trench

Items of Interest about Dick Trench

In 1977 Dick signed up for a sculpture class at the South Bend Art Center. An engineer by profession, Dick had an interest in art, but no formal training. The enthusiastic, talented people at the Art Center were just what he was seeking. One day, there was a call from a lady looking for someone to illustrate a story she was writing. Dick agreed to do the illustration and met his future wife, Genevieve. Dick admits that after illustrating a second book, he knew they were right for each other. Between them, Dick and Genevieve have five children and two grandchildren. All of the children are grown. Their adopted dog, (orphan) Annie shares the Trench home.

Bust of Dick's Daughter

One of Dick's creations is the head for a statue of a Civil War soldier. The statue was in a cemetery in downtown South Bend. It had been vandalized in the early seventies and was headless until city officials agreed to have the statue moved to the Military Honor Park with the stipulation that the head be replaced. Dick was recommended to George Murat, Director of the Military Honor Park Museum. Ron Staley of Bud's Wrecker Service moved the statue to Dick's studio. To match the body of the statue, Dick used a donated block of Vermont granite for the head. He also cleaned and repaired the statue. Dick is donating a photographic journal to the Military Honor Park Museum. It documents the 300 hour repair process.

George Murat, Ron Staley and Dick Trench with the repaired statue

Early in 2005, Dick joined the Fire Arts, Inc. group in South Bend, a not for profit organization for professional and emerging three-dimensional artists. Fire Arts includes areas for pottery, woodworking, blacksmithing, modeling and making plaster or rubber molds, as well as kilns and a bronze melting furnace . Fire Arts is active in the community, allowing schools to bring classes to visit the studios, watch demonstrations, and ask questions of the artists. If local schools would like their students to experience art activities that use expensive equipment, Fire Arts is glad to share space, equipment and expertise. Fire Arts also offers scholarships, as funds allow, for talented high school students.

Fire Arts in South Bend

More Items of Interest about Dick Trench

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