What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1082544
FEBRUARY 17-23, 2019 WHAT'S UP! 9 This diorama was created by former park interpreter David Shepherd of Fayetteville, but Shepherd says it is not the first one that was at the park. The original diorama had been completely disassembled when former park Superintendent Ed Smith asked Shepherd if he was interested in making a new one. Shepherd says he was given the go-ahead to create the project however he wanted to do it. "This one was completely from scratch," Shepherd says by phone. "It had all new figures and new landscaping." Shepherd says he worked for the park from 1989 to 1994 and was a part-time employee working on the weekends. He had a full-time job during the week. He worked on the diorama as he had time on the weekends and if he had a chance during the week. He says it took him more than three years to complete all four panels. Shepherd ordered the figures — soldiers, horses, artillery and wagons — and these were made of soft metal. He sprayed primer on the figures and then painted each by hand using "very, very" small paintbrushes and a circular lamp with a magnifying glass. Shepherd's work shows such meticulous details as the buttons on the uniforms. He guesses there were more than 300 figures on the diorama, and the majority of his time was spent painting the figures. The foundation of the diorama is foam, covered with a thick type of modeling paint. Shepherd then used anything he could find to make the soil for the ground cover, including pencil shavings, dirt and sawdust. For trees, he used weeds and flowers scavenged from the park and from his home. The buildings, such as the Borden House, were made from balsa wood. The scale for Shepherd's four-panel diorama was 10 to one for soldiers and horses. "The scale was a compromise," he says. "I couldn't do a total number of soldiers in each unit. There wouldn't have been room for anything else." Shepherd says the project was a "labor of love" for him, and he was happy to hear the Battlefield State Park was restoring the diorama for the public. He's been to the park to see some of the work. "I would hate for it to be stored forever, so I'm glad they are doing it," he says. "It's really nice to see these guys directing this, and it will be nice to see it finished." Taylor says he hopes the project will be ready to unveil by spring break in March. The original diorama was enclosed. The restored panel will have Plexiglas around the edges but will be open on the top. Lynn Kutter can be reached by email at lkutter@nwadg.com. FAQ Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park WHAT — More than 900 acres commemorating the Civil War Battle of Prairie Grove on Dec. 7, 1862, the last major engagement in Northwest Arkansas, and the Hindman Hall Museum. WHEN — 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's WHERE — 506 E. Douglas St. in Prairie Grove COST — Free INFO — 846-2990 or arkansasstateparks.com/parks/ prairie-grove-battlefield-state-park NWA Democrat-Gazette / LYNN KUTTER Jim Spillars, a Civil War re-enactor and also band director for Farmington High School Band, is volunteering his time, along with that of his son Jacob, to work on the Battle of Prairie Grove diorama. NWA Democrat-Gazette / LYNN KUTTER Bart Taylor, park interpreter with Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park, is leading a project to restore a diorama of the Battle of Prairie Grove. NWA Democrat-Gazette / LYNN KUTTER The details of the Borden House that is part of a diorama of the Battle of Prairie Grove even show that the windows have been broken during the Civil War battle. The house is made from balsa wood.