Published: October 20, 2009 09:03 am      

Trains go on display Oct. 31

By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor

Fifteen locally-painted train sculptures will go on display downtown this month. The poly-resin trains, part of a project deemed “Monuments of Art, Spirit and Heritage,” pay homage to Corbin’s railroad history and represent the creative talents of local artists and children.

They each have a special story, and here is just one of them.

Main Street Manager Sharae Myers said David Bunce contacted her early on about getting involved in the train project.

“He was telling me... that his wife had cancer, and that he’s really kind of home confined with her,” Myers said. “So I went out and visited with him, and his artwork is incredible. He really wanted this to do as a therapy project during his wife’s illness.”

Mr. Bunce’s train celebrates local heroes — members of the Corbin police and fire departments, as well as West Knox Volunteer Fire Department. On Oct. 5, shortly after he completed the project, his wife Della Bunce died at her home at age 71.

“The last time he got her out of the bed was to take her out on the carport to look at the train, and she died three hours later,” Myers said.

Myers added, “She was really excited about how her husband got to work on this.”

It’s been a long time coming, but all 15 art trains will finally go up for display on Oct. 31 at the corner of Main and Monroe streets. Myers said an unveiling ceremony is one of several downtown events planned for Halloween day, with a full schedule of events to be announced soon.

Other artists whose train projects will be on display include Valerie Zacharias and Victoria Petry, Bridgette Smith, Dave Nevel, Debra Kersey, Michelle Harp, Fran Monhollon, and air-brush artist Dave Conner. Greg Razmus, co-owner of Tri-County Cineplex, painted his train, “Sweet Memories” to look like a chocolate bar with the names of Corbin’s past movie theaters. Duane Baysinger with Studio B Jewelry is creating a train with a glass mosaic, the owners of S&J Designs are making one incased in sheet metal.

Corbin Housing Authority youth, residents of Heritage Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, children at Comprehensive Care, and students at Corbin School District’s Redhound Enrichment Program also created trains.

All the trains will be displayed in a temporary sculpture garden located at the lot at the corner of Main and Monroe streets. Corbin city crews have built six display boards that will showcase a brief history of Corbin’s ties to the railroad, as well as artist biographies. Other display boards will feature upcoming community events and an area map for tourists. CSX Railroad has also donated actual railroad ties to be used in the sculpture garden.

Myers said the trains will be displayed for about a year, and then auctioned off in the community. Proceeds will go back into the Main Street Program — possibly, Myers said, into a fund to erect a statue of Col. Harlan Sanders.

Planning for a public art project involving train sculptures began in 2007. After an initially larger, $26,000 project was scrubbed, in January, Discover Corbin Main Street was able to secure $15,000 for a project with fewer and smaller trains — with $5,000 from CSX, $5,000 from the city of Corbin and $5,000 fundraised from local businesses. These trains are about three feet long, but are about six feet high when placed on their painted pedestals.