Original Paterno Statue Sculptors Start Kickstarter to Create New Statue

Yesid Gomez and Wilfer Buitrago created the statue of a running Joe Paterno that was dedicated outside Beaver Stadium in 2005 and subsequently taken down after the Jerry Sandusky scandal in 2012. The removal of the statue—like most everything else associated with Paterno in the time since the Freeh Report claimed that Paterno was aware of allegations of sexual abuse against Sandusky—has been a source of frustration for the Paterno Truthers of the world, which apparently include the two artists who made the statue. Now they’ve recreated the statue and hope to bring it to the stadium for Penn State’s home opener on September 3rd. If they can raise $50,000, that is.

According to their Kickstarter page, the duo have been working on the statue for the past three months and have a fully realized clay Paterno that needs to be cast in bronze. The plan is to crowdfund enough cash to take it to Colombia to a “trusted foundry and to get it cast as swiftly and with as much cost efficiency as possible.”

The statue is essentially the same as the original, but with a few alterations to account for Paterno’s humble nature and graceful movement.

It is important not only that we recreate the statue, but also that the sculpture is even better than before. Joe Paterno was a humble man and the pose with his finger up is one he rarely took, instead preferring an upright fist of solidarity. We also wished to show him closer to his age, and with more grace in his clothing and movement.

Once the statue is cast—if it gets cast—they plan to take it to Beaver Stadium and then tour the country with it, stopping at “places that were meaningful to Paterno.” The more money you donate, the more places these two can take a giant statue with them as they travel the country for free. For a donation of $20 dollars, you will get a postcard signed by Gomez and Buitrago. For $409—a reference to Paterno’s total win count—you get included on all internal memos regarding the making of the statue, and also postcards. If you pledge $1,000, you can get a miniature bronze sculpture. And a card.

As of now, donations total $2,805, with 26 days to go in the campaign.

[Kickstarter]