Noel Neill "Lois Lane" Statue - An Interview with Sculptor Gary Ernest Smith

By Steve Younis

Gary Ernest Smith is the artist responsible for designing and sculpting the Noel Neill "Lois Lane" statue to be installed as a feature attraction on the town square in Metropolis, Illinois.

The Superman Homepage would like to thank Gary for agreeing to do this interview, and for fitting it into his busy schedule.

A: I grew up on a farm/ranch in North East Oregon, close to the town of Baker City. I was the oldest of three boys. From the beginning I had artistic aspirations, even though farm life was very demanding and work intensive, I found time to pursue art which was my passion. I loved the comics and looked fore ward to the Sunday paper coming each week. In those early years, comics were my greatest artistic influence. At an early age I entertained the idea of becoming a cartoonist. I was also painting in my spare time. I knew I'd pursue one of these disciplines.
After receiving a bachelors and masters degree in fine art, (painting), I taught college for three years then moved into the professional field of painting and sculpting which I have made a living at for the last 40 years.
My rural background began coming out in my art through symbolic interpretations of the people I grew up with and the open space of an all encompassing large field landscape. My chance at becoming a cartoonist came in the early 80s when I was hired by Red Ryder Enterprises, out of Tampa, Florida, to resurrect the old cowboy, adventure, cartoon strip, "Red Ryder and Little Beaver". I spent about 6 months developing a story and art to submit to King Features. Unfortunately, adventure strips were on their way out as well as the western theme. They loved the strip but, felt it would be a hard sell.
I then concentrated solely on painting and sculpting. The people that hired me to do the strip gave me some original Red Ryder art as well as memorabilia as a guide to follow. It was at that point I realized there was a lot of original strip art out there and could be purchased. I began, what is today, a wonderful collection of great historic and contemporary American comic strip art. Along the way of delving into the comic field, I have made many friends and acquaintances, to include artists like the great Will Eisner, who actually mentored me through a "Spirit" story, unpublished, and Patrick McDonnell of 'Mutts' fame. In the early 90s I did two comic sculptures, one of "Krazy Kat" and one of "Alley Oop" to commemorate 100 years of the american comic strip.
Today, I spend the majority of my time doing Gallery, (I just did my 25th One Man Show at my agent gallery Overland Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona), and Museum shows.

Q: You're not only sculpting the Noel Neill statue for Metropolis, Illinois, but you're also the man responsible for the 15ft Superman statue in the middle of the town square. How did you come to be involved in the Superman statue project?

A: I suppose because of my ability to do monumental images, my comic background as well as my familiarity with the Superman character, I was hired by a company called Barron/Walton who had secured the contract to do the Superman project for Metropolis. I was asked to do the Superman statue starting from a 20 inch model that was approved by the city.

Q: Did your previous involvement with Metropolis ensure you the job of creating the Noel Neill statue? How did that come about?

A: I suppose it helped. They were familiar with my work and the foundry, "Metal Arts" that did "Superman". I suppose they knew they could count on us to do a quality product that would be in budget and delivered on time. I saw on the Metropolis website the information about the competition and did submit a Lois Lane 15" model. From my model, which the committee chose, they raised the money for and promoted the project. I wasn't in the loop to how this all came about, but I know in the end they wanted the foundry to produce it and me to sculpt it.

Q: Can you please take us through the initial design phase of creating the Noel Neill statue? Were you given photographs of Noel as Lois Lane to work from? Do you sketch out a design on paper first? How does the process work?

A: I collected as many visual images of Noel in costume as I could get my hands on. I even watched multiple shows from the [Adventures of Superman] series. I filled my head with her countenance and spirit. I also familiarized myself again, with the DC Comic interpretation so I would have a historic context to the character. Most of all, I concentrated on Miss Neill's personality and presence while in character. I felt like the statue should represent a dignified, self assured, image of her in her classic pose as a reporter. From all of this information I did pencil sketches and, in the end, a final model.

Q: Who was involved in the approval of the design? Did Noel get to see the designs herself? Have you had any contact with her personally?

A: The committee and particularly Miss Neill will have the final say. I'm sure she will scrutinize her likeness. We sent her multiple images of the clay model from about every conceivable position. I am awaiting the final word right now, but don't expect much more than maybe some minor tweaking if that. I have not met her in person and look forward to meeting her. I'm sure L'll stare, deciding if I got her right.

Q: Once a final model is approved, I believe you create the actual full-sized model in clay? Is that all hand carved?

A: The final model is approved in general outside of what I previously stated and is the model on the internet. Sculpture placed out doors is generally done larger than life as the actual size seems dwarfed in its environment. The Lois Lane statue will be slightly over 6' tall. The structure is a steel rod frame in which expandable foam is carved to shape and about two to three inches of clay is applied on the surface. The 6' image is "pointed up" from the original model with the use of calipers or measurements taken from the small model and projected to larger scale. If it were all clay it would be hundreds of pounds.

Q: A mold is taken from the clay model and then cast in bronze. What is involved in that process and when will the final statue be ready?

A: Molding will start the end of this week or the first of next week, April 4. From the mold of the clay a wax cast will be poured in the mold and a ceramic shell will go over that wax cast. The cast is heated draining the wax and leaving the mold impression. Molten bronze is poured into the ceramic mold, cooled, and chipped off revealing the bronze form. For something this size, it is usually done in pieces and bronze welded back together, cleaned up and patined. The process is around two to two and one half months. All in all, this project is about five months with research, sketches, modeling time and production of the final bronze. The statue is scheduled to be in Metropolis around the end of May/beginning of June, 2010.

Q: From start to finish, how long as the whole process from design to complete take?

A: As stated before, normally five to six months.

Q: Will you personally be on hand at the unveiling of the Noel Neill statue in Metropolis, Illinois?

A: I will be there.

Q: You're primarily a painter, with some beautiful artwork on display at OverlandGallery.com, how did you get into sculpting, and is it something you enjoy?

A: I am primarily a painter but enjoy the diversion of sculpting. I have done a few monumental bronzes: "Man lifting a grain sack" 8' tall, Springville Museum of Art; Maynard Dixon statue 9', Scottsdale, Arizona; Owen Bradley, Owen Bradley Park, Nashville, Tennessee. Many table top Bronze sculptures.

Q: Were you a fan of Noel Neill and the "Adventures of Superman" TV series?

A: You bet!

Q: You've made two great contributions to the world of Superman, with the 15ft Superman statue and the Noel Neill "Lois Lane" statue. Have you created any other Superman related artwork?

A: Nothing of major note, but some Superman collectables.

Thank you!

A: Thank you. I hope you all enjoy the Superman and Lois Lane [Noel Neill] bronzes as much as I did creating them.

You can see more of Gary's work at the Overland Gallery website.