ROAD TO RESTORATION

Summer Sculpture Update – June & July 2025

St. Paul • St. John the Baptist • St. Andrew • St. Mary Magdalene

We’re excited to share the latest progress from sculptors Tracy and Robert Sugg as they continue their beautiful work on the four statues commissioned for St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.

St. Paul & St. John the Baptist

Work on both St. Paul and St. John is nearly complete! Tracy refined their faces, garments, and details to ensure a unified and harmonious appearance. The sword of St. Paul has been finalized, along with enhancements to his facial features, hair, and robe. Meanwhile, St. John has undergone final smoothing and polishing.

Each figure now features a combination of finishes—highly polished bases, satin-polished heads, hair, and hands, and matte-finished garments and attributes. This three-texture approach brings greater depth and realism to the sculptures. The two statues are now inside Tracy’s studio and serve as daily inspiration as the work continues.

St. Andrew

Since St. Andrew is the namesake of the church, Tracy is aiming for an especially “epic” feel. The statue is now well underway with the Saltire Cross and hand structure blocked out. With the help of a new cantilevered rig Robert built, Tracy is able to work vertically on the statue with better control and stability—essential for such a large and detailed piece. The beard, hair, and facial structure are now taking shape, with refinement happening daily in the long summer light.

St. Mary Magdalene

The fourth and final statue, St. Mary Magdalene, has just begun! Robert has started blocking out the stone, while Tracy is carving in short intervals between work on St. Andrew. As with all her sculptures, she begins by “finding the face,” allowing the figure’s personality to guide the rest of the form. Though still in early stages, the emerging shape is already beautiful and full of promise.

This monumental project continues to be a labor of love and a spiritual journey for the artists. With three statues actively in progress and two nearly complete, the vision for this sacred art is becoming more tangible every day.

We’re grateful for your continued prayers and support. Stay tuned—more beauty is on the way in the next few weeks!