Moses Lake businessman relays Biblical message through sculpture
Moses Lake businessman relays Biblical message through sculpture
MOSES LAKE — Billy McBee never dreamed it would take him this long to be near completion of a sculpture he began roughly six years ago.
Tucked away in a front yard of a rental home McBee owns, right next door to McBee Signs, the shop McBee has run for 46 years, a wood sculpture made from an Elm tree depicts the archangel Michael and Jesus.
A dove rests above Jesus and an eagle flies perpendicular to him.
It is a representation McBee first got the idea for in 2000.
"People became interested in the end time," McBee said as the world prepared to enter into the 21st century.
McBee recalls the pews at his church being filled to capacity and more people interested in questions of faith as they awaited a new millennia.
While walking next door from his home to work at the sign shop one day, McBee noticed two limbs of a tree protruding in the shape of what appeared to be wings.
It was then he began to consider carving an angel into one of the tree limbs.
"The main thing is that we be prepared (for the end times) and the only main requirement is to accept Jesus as your savior," McBee said of the message he hopes the sculpture portrays to people.
At first McBee worked on the unnamed sculpture during the week between working at his sign shop.
Work on the sculpture started with a drawing of what McBee theoretically wanted the finished product to look like. Then he took chalk to the Elm tree and outlined dimensions of the sculpture and began sculpting with a chain saw. Using a small saw and other tools, McBee carved out the more detailed parts of the sculpture such as the eyes of Jesus.
Now he mainly reserves Saturdays and Sundays when not at church or bible study to continue the sculpture, and plans on finally completing it this summer.
The addition of a head and tail for the eagle will make the work of art complete.
McBee is frequently questioned about the sculpture by curious passersby
He enjoys the opportunity to share his work with others and, most of all, to spark conversations regarding faith and Christianity.
"The Bible is so important … it's really the foundation of America," he said. "It's so simple to be a Christian, but it takes faith."
Inside McBee's office at his shop and in an adjoining room used for bible study, are more examples of his art work.
As a young child, McBee recalls showing an interest in some of his father's art. Encouragement from teachers through high school prompted McBee to further pursue his love of painting and sculpture.
He would go on to attend college at Oklahoma Baptist University and come home in the summers to Washington to work as a Hanford oiler..
It was the type of summer job that paid well, but didn't always provide enough work to keep him busy while working the graveyard shift.
When work got slow McBee looked for small pieces of wood to make carvings. The first carving he recalls having done was of a buffalo.
Looking at sketches of his sculpture inside the sign shop today, McBee describes himself as an artist who pays close attention to detail.
"I never was one much for the impressionist or modern art at all, I've always been realistic," he said.
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