Bust of Frank O'Bannon facts for kids

The Frank O'Bannon bust is a special piece of art. It was created by an American artist named Kenneth G. Ryden. You can find it in the main rotunda of the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

This large bronze bust weighs about 700 pounds. It was made to honor Frank O'Bannon, who was the 47th governor of Indiana. The bust was cast (or shaped) at the Anderson University Art Foundry in 2005. It was officially given to the state in February 2006.

About the Frank O'Bannon Bust

This artwork is a bust made completely of bronze. It weighs around 700 pounds. The sculpture stands 36 inches tall, which is about 3 feet.

The bottom of the bust is 14.5 inches long and 9.5 inches wide. At its widest point, across the governor's shoulders, it measures 17 inches. The artwork shows Governor O'Bannon from his chest up. He is wearing a dress shirt and a tie.

Governor O'Bannon's wife, Judy O'Bannon, asked the artist to include some special details. She wanted his real-life crooked nose and his big smile to be part of the sculpture.

How the Bust Was Created

After Governor O'Bannon passed away in 2003, the Indiana State Legislature (the group that makes laws) wanted to honor him. They formed a special group called the Frank O'Bannon Memorial Commission. This group's job was to create a bust in his memory.

Senator James Merritt and Representative Paul Robertson led this committee. They looked at six different artists to choose from. Kenneth G. Ryden was picked based on advice from the Indiana Arts Commission and the Indiana Historical Society.

The artist was paid $20,000 for his work. This money came from private donations, not from the state. The bronze bust was shaped at the Anderson University Art Foundry in December 2005. The finished artwork was shown to the public at the Statehouse on February 13, 2006.

In 2009, a TV show called Cast in Bronze featured how this bust was made. It also showed a memorial statue in O'Bannon's hometown. This show was on WFYI, the local PBS station in Indianapolis.

Where to Find the Bust

You can find the Frank O'Bannon bust on the third floor of the Indiana Statehouse. It is placed right across from the entrance to the Senate chambers. This is a special spot because Frank O'Bannon served there. He was both a state senator and the Lieutenant Governor in those chambers.

This bust took the place of another sculpture, the Calvin Fletcher bust. The Calvin Fletcher bust was moved to the fourth floor of the Indiana Statehouse.

Meet the Artist: Kenneth G. Ryden

Kenneth G. Ryden was born in Chicago. Today, he lives in Yorktown, Indiana. He mostly works with bronze, making both abstract (non-realistic) and figural (realistic human shapes) sculptures. He uses a method called lost-wax casting to create his art.

When he sculpts people, Ryden says he uses the human form to share a message. He has made many memorial statues and busts. These include artworks honoring baseball pitcher Carl Erskine and civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr..

In Anderson, Indiana, some of his works are Crucible of Peace, The Beloved, and The Graces. Ryden has also created outdoor sculptures in Springfield, Illinois, and other cities across the Midwest.

The Artist's Connection to the Memorial

When he was chosen for the project, Ryden was an artist-in-residence at Anderson University. He said he was very impressed by Governor O'Bannon's down-to-earth personality. Ryden hoped his memorial would make visitors want to learn more about O'Bannon.

He said, "I felt he made the high office of governor seem accessible." Ryden's main goal was to show this feeling in his artwork. To do this, he looked at many photographs. He also worked closely with O'Bannon's wife and daughter. At the official unveiling ceremony, Ryden dedicated the bust to the O'Bannon family and to the state of Indiana.