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Artist puts monument vision on paper

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By CHERYL KUCK

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 4, 2009

PLANT CITY - Artist Eleanore McDade has created a rendering of the Veterans Monument now under construction at Courier Field.

McDade, a longtime resident who moved in 2007 to Blairsville, Ga., returned to Plant City this summer at the request of the Plant City Armed Forces Memorials Foundation. The foundation wanted a rendering of the redesigned 2-acre park, which has as its centerpiece Freedom Rising, a monument by sculptor Duane Scott featuring an eagle clutching arrows.
McDade established her reputation as an arts activist in 1992 as founder of the East Hillsborough Art Guild. Her acclaim as an artist also grew through her watercolor and ink architectural renderings of local landmarks and businesses, including Bruton Memorial Library, the Lee Building, St. Clement Catholic Church and others.
McDade stayed at the Walden Lake home of foundation chairwoman Jennifer Closshey while researching and working on the project.

"This is one of the toughest jobs I have ever undertaken," the artist said.

"With past commissions I was able to photograph the completed structure and work from that. I could go back and take notes to be certain I didn't overlook anything," she said.

"This time, all I could do was take the measurements of the actual space and scale it down for the painting. I only had the city site plans to work from, although I did have a conversation with the sculptor and Plant City Garden Club members," who are designing the gardens, she said.

Closshey was thrilled with McDade's work and sent her an e-mail thanking her.

"You are a talented visionary who captures the feeling and establishes a sense of place. We all appreciate your work and your contributions to this project," Closshey wrote.

McDade's painting may be donated to a public building for permanent display.

The community will be proud of the project when it's finished in a few months, Closshey said.

Visitors to the monument "will recognize and know that this community truly honors, appreciates and respects our nation's veterans," Closshey said.

The painting was displayed at an Oct. 8 fundraiser for the foundation that featured retired Air Force Maj. Gen. David J. Scott. The speaker gave high marks to the plans for the park, which will include a gazebo and medallions for each branch of the Armed Forces on the granite base of the 14-foot tall monument.

"When Maj. General Scott was viewing the bronze medallions signifying each branch of the military service, he expressed his belief that the monument and memorial park not only honors our veterans but also represents a vital link to their heritage while representing a community that is looking toward the future," Closshey said.

For information about the memorial and redesigned park, go to www .veteransmonument.com.

Cheryl Kuck can be reached at wkuck@tampabay.rr.com.

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