GRANITE PATRON OF SCHOOL
Unveiling of a granite monument of Stefan Żeromski, the patron of the General High School in Strzegom, was celebrated in a special way. This event inaugurated the 6th school reunion.
This statue appears to be the largest monument in Poland which is standing in front of a Żeromski school (there are many Żeromski schools in Poland). The granite figure weighs almost 4 tons and is 3 meters high. The idea of erecting that monument was born at one of the meetings of stone industry entrepreneurs. Strzegom authorities also took part in this meeting.
The headteacher of the school, Mr Tomasz Marczak, asked Jerzy Zysk, a sculptor, if he would like to get engaged in that project and make a granite bust. Tomasz Groniec, the owner of a stone company from Rogoźnica, who was also present at the meeting, said that he would like to offer granite for that project. At the same time a toast to that project was proposed. The sculptor started his work from making a model from polystyrene. He followed the model of a bust which can be found in the school. That bust was made by students of Academy of Fine Arts from Wrocław. As soon as the model had been made and accepted, the time came for delivering stone to the artist's workshop. A 3.7 meter high granite was supplied by the stone company owned by Tomasz Gromiec.
- Stone layers were being removed piece by piece. Being a stonemason is not easy – Jerzy Zysk recalls his work on the monument.
- I had to speed up my work because the Strzegom Granite Days were coming. By that time I wanted that monument to be transported into the Strzegom market square. Even though it was not finished, the monument was three days there and attracted people's attention. Next it was transported to Tomasz Gromiec company and cut to 3 meters high. Then it came back to my „open-air” workshop. Why „open-air”? Such a large sculpture had to be made outside. After two weeks of smoothing and polishing the figure's face, it was finally ready.
After finishing the sculpture, the letters making up the name Stefan Żeromski were installed on the front of the bust. The letters were made by Mariusz Trybuszek. The granite statue of Stefan Żeromski went on its last trip to its destination place: to the green square in front of the school. Now it draws attention of students, teachers and passers-by.
Photo: M. Wilk-Lechniak