Spencer native donates Dewey sculpture to library

(Photo by Kris Todd) Spencer native Tim Clifford commissioned Prescott, Ariz. professional Heather Johnson Beary to make this bronze sculpture of Dewey Readmore Books, Spencer Public Library's late resident feline. The sculpture was done as a memorial to his late parents, Mark and Catherine Clifford, who lived in Spencer for over 70 years.

When Kay Larson, the library's director, opened the cardboard box with staff members Sharon Joy and Paula Brown surrounding her, she carefully removed the bubble wrap protecting its precious cargo. She then exclaimed, "It's the cat," as a life-sized version of Dewey Readmore Books, the library's now-famous late resident feline presented itself.

The sculptured work of art was commissioned by Spencer native Tim Clifford as a memorial to his parents, Mark and Catherine Clifford. The 1965 Spencer High School graduate, who has been a resident of Prescott, Ariz., since 2004, is a retired postal inspector and Homeland Security worker.

Clifford recalled visiting the northwest Iowa library which hosted Dewey several times a year.

"He just really had an impact on, I think, anybody who probably met him," Clifford said of Dewey, who greeted him every time he visited. "There was something very unique about him."

Clifford, who struggled with how to pay tribute to his parents' memory, recalled visiting with a neighbor who happened to be a Prescott Public Library board member.

"He mentioned that they had just gotten a sculpture there made by Heather Johnson Beary. All of a sudden, the clouds parted and I came up with this idea of donating a statue of Dewey to the Spencer library as a memorial for my folks. They always loved animals, so I thought it was kind of a nice combination," he said.

After visiting with the professional sculptor from Prescott on the telephone, and hearing her excitement about the possibility of being involved with such a creation, Clifford knew he'd located the person who would help to honor the memory of his parents.

He then returned to Spencer to attend the 2008 Clay County Fair, where he had Vicki Myron, the local library's former director, autograph "Dewey: The Small-Town Cat Who Touched the World," the best-selling book she co-authored with Bret Witter.

Clifford then trekked to Sisters Mainstreet Cafe, which is mentioned in the book, before visiting with Larson and Spencer library board members to see if they'd be interested in hosting the bronze sculpture of Dewey.

"Kay was very enthused about it," he recalled. "So, when I got back, I commissioned Heather to start working on it."

In the meantime, Johnson Beary worked in collaboration with Clifford, Larson and Myron via e-mails to make sure she got Dewey right in the bronze sculpture.

"I never met the cat, but they described him very well," she said. "I was really, really excited to get this job because I'm a cat lover. But, when I saw the expression on his face, he looked like a really unique, intelligent animal. Then I read the book, and it brought me to tears."

Once Johnson Beary, who began sculpting the bronze likeness in late October, received the initial clay approval of the sculpture, she began a "lost wax process," where she made a silicon mold, poured wax into it, melted the wax out and then poured the bronze in.

Of the piece, which is on display today in the library, she said, "It's Dewey laying down in his Buddha pose. A lot of the photos I got had him crossing his arms sticking way out. So, he's laying down on three books, two closed and one open book. I chose several books so it sort of alluded to how he came to the library years ago; how he was in the book drop and surrounded by books. He's also with his red ball of yarn and his Marty Mouse tucked away on the side of the books."

The sculpture's bottom book, titled "Dewey Readmore Books," is positioned under his front paws and reveals the number 636 on its spine, the Dewey Decimal number for cat and animal stories. The open book he's lying on tells his life story.

Johnson Beary, who finished the bronze piece a few weeks ago, quoted Clifford a $3,000 value for it.

"It's probably worth a little bit more, but I gave him a really good price because I really wanted to do the project," she admitted.

Myron, meanwhile, has given Johnson Beary the rights to fashion a smaller version of the bronze creation. The Arizona sculptor plans to include it in her collection, which will be for sale at galleries.

"I'm really hoping that I did his memory justice, because he sounds like he touched lots of people. He definitely touched me," Johnson Beary said. "I hope people feel good when they see him and maybe get a little bit of what they felt when he was around. As to the Dewey book, I think it has really touched the whole nation, especially literary circles."

"It's a real boom for Spencer to have had him," Clifford added. " ... And, it's neat that Spencer's getting the recognition for it now. And, along with the upcoming movie coming out, I think that will really help put Spencer on the map. I just hope the people of Spencer enjoy the sculpture."

* As Spencer Public Library board members viewed the sculpture for the first time Thursday night, Larson informed them an interested party is being sought to create a pedestal for it to perch. Plans are to display it in the library's reading area or around the front desk area.

The sculptor

(Photo by Tim Clifford) Prescott, Ariz., sculptor Heather Johnson Beary poses for a picture with her latest bronze creation, a life-sized replica of Dewey Readmore Books, Spencer Public Library's late resident feline.

Heather Johnson Beary was raised in the cypress swamps and palmetto forests of central Florida, where she developed her awareness and love for nature's wild places and creatures. She attended the University of Toledo in Ohio, where she specialized in bronze sculpture and anatomical drawing.

She enrolled concurrently in premedical classes and studied human dissections at the Medical College of Ohio to increase her understanding of the human form. During her college career, she was awarded several studio scholarships as well as the prestigious Athena award for women artists.

After graduating in 1993, Johnson Beary moved to Prescott, Ariz., where she worked for five years at a local bronze foundry. Her foundry experience provided her the opportunity of intimately knowing all aspects of the bronze art field.

Johnson Beary, who was raised by a scientist, strives for accuracy in her sculptures, using both subtle and dramatic textures to recreate the forms she sees. She has worked as a professional sculptor in galleries for around 10 years.

Her artwork has been finding its way into homes around the world, delighting collectors such as Jimmy Buffett, Sir Richard Branson and Matt Lauer. She has recently branched out into monumental work, creating an eight-foot collared lizard for the Escalante' Grand Staircase National Monument visitor center in Utah and a monument for the Highlands Center for Natural History in Prescott that incorporates many of the key aspects of the center's mission to excite and educate people about the natural world.

Prior to completing her Dewey Readmore Books bronze sculpture, which is displayed in the Spencer Public Library, Johnson Beary sculpted six pieces for the Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix and completed a four-foot-tall horned lizard for the Prescott Public Library, which will grace its main entrance.

* To view more about Johnson Beary's biography and gallery sculptures, visit www.hjohnsonbeary.com.