'Freedom Tree' a fire casualty
Photos by LOREN BENOIT/Press Nina and Austin Brynjulvson pray for fellow artist Jeff May, right, Tuesday afternoon in Athol. May lost his wood-carving shop to a fire on Monday. Among the pieces lost was the Freedom Tree honoring veteran Fred McMurray that was at McEuen Park and his work that he had taken in to repair and maintain for the city. “His ability to stay strong through this is amazing,” Austin said.
Jeff May brushes snow from one of his art pieces that was saved from the fire at his wood shop in Athol.
Among the art lost in the fire was the “Freedom Tree” wood sculpture that was dedicated at McEuen Park in Coeur d’Alene in honor of Fred McMurray, who was a prisoner of war. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
ATHOL — From Jeff May's small pile of art salvaged from Monday's fire that destroyed the carver's shop and studio, a one-word metal piece stood out.
“Grateful,” it says.
That’s a fitting description of the artist's feelings as he cleaned up and sorted through the rubble that included about 20 pieces of wood and bronze wildlife art, tools, camera equipment and other valuables at his Athol-area home on Tuesday.
"My wife (Kindra) said I could have easily been on the second floor with my headset on listening to music as I often do," said May, taking a break from the cleanup.
"The only access up there is by the wood stove (near where the fire started)."
The cause of the fire hasn't been determined, but May said it appears to be electrical despite his starting a fire to warm up the shop earlier in the morning.
"It doesn't appear that the fire I built was the source of the (larger) fire," he said.
Among the art lost in the fire was the "Freedom Tree" wood sculpture that was dedicated at McEuen Park in Coeur d'Alene in honor of Fred McMurray, who was a prisoner of war.
The 8-foot piece included an American flag, a pair of eagles and the words "Freedom" and "Return with Honor."
May, who has been a full-time sculptor and carver for 19 years, had pulled his art from the park to repair it at his shop after it had been vandalized. He estimates the retail value of the piece is about $11,000.
May said he personally called McMurray about the devastating news.
"He was disappointed, but sympathetic," May said. "I wanted him to hear it from me first."
May said there will be discussions about how the art can be replaced.
Bill Greenwood, the city's parks director, said Tuesday he hadn't spoken to May.
“I’m giving him a little time to deal with his disaster,” Greenwood said. “We will then sort out what to do or how we are going to replace it.”
In 1972 a tree dedicated as a Freedom Tree was planted in the city parking lot as a deterrent to the development of Tubbs Hill.
It was dedicated to McMurray and all POWs and MIAs.
The tree was cut down with the development of McEuen Park, but the city, with McMurray's input, replaced it with May's sculpture in the Veterans Plaza.
May estimates the total value of all the lost art pieces around $50,000.
A prized $15,000 eagle was destroyed.
"I have five clays that were ready to go to the foundry for casting and bronze," he said.
May said he has insurance, but when it comes to replacing art, there are a lot of gray areas, he said.
"In the insurance world, art is very difficult to insure," he said.
He said his insurance limit on the structure itself is $50,000. He believes he’ll have a difficult time replacing it for that cost.
"All my primary tools should be replaced without a problem," he said.
May said he built a fire in his studio and shop on Monday morning to warm it up, then returned to his nearby home on Turk Lane off Old U.S. 95 south of Silverwood Theme Park.
"When I was heading back out to work, flames were coming out of the front of the building," he said.
Kindra called 911 while Jeff and sons Dylan and Riley scrambled to save what they could from the 24-by-30 pole barn structure with lean-to features on both sides.
"I was barely able to get my truck started," he said, adding that it sustained some damage.
A few pieces of art such as a wolf, bear and fish along with his show trailer were retrieved without damage. Other work, such as small bronze "Cubbies" valued at $500, were burned but May believes they can be repaired and resold.
Among the rubble, May grasped at the positives that could emerge.
"I may be able to make some cool stuff out of this charred wood," he said, adding that he's saving some of the destroyed pieces in the interim at least for memory.
May said he's grateful that no one was hurt. He has been amazed at the overwhelming support from friends, clients, neighbors and fellow artists wanting to help.
"It makes me want to fight hard to come back," he said.
May posted videos of the fire and damage on social media, thanking people for their support.
An online GoFundMe page fundraiser set up by a neighbor had reached $2,550 of its $20,000 goal as of Tuesday afternoon.
May said his faith is also helping him pull through the devastation.
"It would be easy to spin out of control, but Jesus has had my back too many times in my life," he said.
In true artistic form, May said the fire could be incorporated into his future efforts that include storytelling behind the art on YouTube.
"I'm drawn into taking stories and turning them into sculptures," he said. "Maybe this was a sign that I shouldn't worry about everything being perfect. This was a bit of a setback, but it's going to be an awesome year."