From Alumni Vision to Bronze Legacy
The Story Behind the Faribault High School Bronze Falcon
The completed custom bronze falcon mascot statue commissioned by the Faribault Booster Club as a lasting gift to Faribault High School.
Every great monument begins with a vision.
The Faribault High School Bronze Falcon project began when Bob Fielitz, a member of the Faribault Booster Club, and Chad Wolf, President of the Faribault Booster Club, both proud alumni of Faribault High School, decided they wanted to give something meaningful back to the school that helped shape their lives.
Their vision was to create a permanent bronze falcon that would become a symbol of school pride, tradition, and excellence for generations of students, alumni, faculty, and visitors.
Rather than purchasing a mass-produced mascot, Bob and Chad wanted a museum-quality bronze sculpture that would serve as a lasting landmark on campus and reflect the spirit of the Falcon.
Choosing the Right Bronze Sculpture Company
Selecting the right company to create the sculpture was one of the most important decisions of the entire project.
Bob and Chad researched bronze sculpture companies throughout the United States and overseas, comparing craftsmanship, reputation, communication, and value. After speaking with several American and Chinese manufacturers, they selected Bronze Depot to design and fabricate Faribault High School’s custom bronze falcon.
Bob Fielitz Shares His Experience
From Concept to Bronze
Creating a permanent bronze mascot involves hundreds of hours of artistic craftsmanship. Every sculpture is individually designed, sculpted, molded, cast, welded, finished, and patinated by experienced artisans using the traditional lost-wax bronze casting process.
Building the Internal Armature
Before sculpting could begin, a heavy-duty welded steel armature was fabricated to support the sculpture throughout production. This hidden framework establishes the falcon’s proportions, balance, and long-term structural integrity while supporting the weight of the clay during sculpting.
The welded steel armature establishes the falcon’s pose, proportions, and structural support before sculpting begins.
Creating the Foam Foundation
Large blocks of sculpting foam were shaped to establish the falcon’s body and significantly reduce the amount of clay required. This allows the sculptor to concentrate on refining the anatomy and intricate feather details rather than building unnecessary solid clay mass.
Sculpting the Falcon in Clay
The project began with extensive research into the anatomy and posture of a falcon. Using photographs and reference material supplied by the school and booster club, our sculptors carefully created a full-size clay model. Every feather, muscle, and facial feature was sculpted by hand to capture the power, intelligence, and elegance of the falcon.
Museum-Quality Detail
One of the defining characteristics of a Bronze Depot sculpture is the level of detail achieved before the sculpture is ever cast in bronze. Each feather was individually sculpted by hand, while the beak, eyes, wings, and powerful talons were refined until every detail accurately reflected the appearance of a living falcon. These close-up photographs illustrate the craftsmanship that transforms a school mascot into a work of art.
Creating the Rubber Molds
After the clay sculpture was approved, flexible rubber molds were carefully applied over every section of the sculpture. These molds capture every feather texture and sculpted detail with remarkable precision, ensuring nothing is lost during the bronze casting process. Because of the falcon’s size and complexity, the sculpture was molded in multiple sections before casting.
