Who made the frog statue at the library?
Answer
The City of Smyrna commissioned its frog statues from artist Beau Smith. The statues were installed in 2007 at Smyrna Public Library, Smyrna Market Village, and Smyrna Pond. The statue at Smyrna Library is reading a book, and the library staff named her Myrna shortly after installation. The frog at Smyrna Pond rests on a large rock and happily looks out over the fish, frogs, turtles, and waterfowl residing at the pond. The frog statue at Market Village depicts a parent and child sitting on a bench, enjoying ice cream. Each sculpture perfectly depicts the area highlighted.
Beau Smith’s sculptures are made of sheet copper, brass and stainless steel. He adds the green patina using acid. Smith had a studio in Smyrna for many years, but now works in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Besides Smyrna, his designs can be found at Atlanta Botanical Garden as well as museums, libraries, parks, and gardens around the world.
Beau Smith graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design where he studied illustration and filmmaking. He learned sculpture from his father and grandmother. Beau apprenticed with his father, Charles, who developed the business of making the human-sized frog character statues. Beau’s brother, Alexander, is also a “frogsmith,” and the statutes made by Charles, Beau, and Alexander are all referred to as “Smith Frogs.”
Beau Smith website: https://beautifulfrog.com/index.html.