\n\t\t\t\t\t\tScott Eickman had never pictured himself as an artist. But this changed after the former U.S. Marine began losing friends to mental health illnesses.”I started realizing that maybe I\u2019m not as good as I thought I was. So I started turning to art for healing,” said Eickman. With a grant from the Iowa Arts Council, his artwork became a healing gift for his hometown, too. Eickman spent over 200 hours on the metal sculptures during the first six months of 2026. His work features two teenagers, both from Manning, Iowa, both the eldest of four siblings, and both who died too young in car crashes.Fifteen-year-old Max Sanford is described as goofy, but also serious by his parents. They say he was always willing to lend a hand.”He persevered through everything, through faith, sports, and just being a good human being,” said Brett Sanford, Max’s father. Max\u2019s parents noticed the statue\u2019s details right away, including his dimples and neatly styled hair. It includes a bat Max used in high school baseball with his signature engraved on it, his football number (#75), and his favorite bible verse.His family keeps Max\u2019s memory alive by talking about him often and encouraging random acts of kindness.”Even if mom or dad or somebody sheds a tear, it might not be a tear of sadness: it might be a tear of happiness, to remember a memory,” said Sanford. “Our community has just shown us time and time again that he meant as much to other people as he did to us,” said Kasie Sanford, Max’s mother.In 1997, Scott lost his big sister, Jessie. Her parents describe her as headstrong, intelligent, and caring. “I think with family, she was an excellent caregiver of the younger kids,” said Glen Eickman, Jessie’s father. Details on her statue, from the red hue in her hair to the microphone cord to her favorite kind of flower, aimed to capture Jessie’s spirit. “She was out there and out in front of the camera in the audience. And she loved to perform,” said Glen Eickman. She had just graduated from high school when she died, a pain her parents say doesn\u2019t even come close to any other kind.”You know, you can see her personality in the rest of your kids and how they deal with things,” said Glen Eickman. “And I know right after she passed, our kids were naturally in mourning. But they had that resilience about them.”The Manning community showed support in the darkest time and helped bring these works of art to life.”Our community is the type of community that, even if you don\u2019t like or particularly care for somebody, they\u2019d still give you the shirt off your back and support you no matter what,” said Sanford. “This is family, really I consider both of them family,” said Scott. “When you got a personal point with it, you kinda just \u2026 you have to. There\u2019s no not getting it right.\u201dAs for Scott, he plans to continue honoring life through art. His next commissioned project is a tribute to firefighters. The statues of Max and Jessie are going to a location on Sixth Street in Manning, serving as a permanent reminder of the town’s unity in hard times.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tMANNING, Iowa \u2014<\/strong> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Scott Eickman had never pictured himself as an artist. But this changed after the former U.S. Marine began losing friends to mental health illnesses.<\/p>\n “I started realizing that maybe I\u2019m not as good as I thought I was. So I started turning to art for healing,” said Eickman. <\/p>\n With a grant from the Iowa Arts Council, his artwork became a healing gift for his hometown, too. Eickman spent over 200 hours on the metal sculptures during the first six months of 2026. <\/p>\n His work features two teenagers, both from Manning, Iowa, both the eldest of four siblings, and both who died too young in car crashes.<\/p>\n Fifteen-year-old Max Sanford is described as goofy, but also serious by his parents. They say he was always willing to lend a hand.<\/p>\n “He persevered through everything, through faith, sports, and just being a good human being,” said Brett Sanford, Max’s father. <\/p>\n Max\u2019s parents noticed the statue\u2019s details right away, including his dimples and neatly styled hair. It includes a bat Max used in high school baseball with his signature engraved on it, his football number (#75), and his favorite bible verse.<\/p>\n His family keeps Max\u2019s memory alive by talking about him often and encouraging random acts of kindness.<\/p>\n “Even if mom or dad or somebody sheds a tear, it might not be a tear of sadness: it might be a tear of happiness, to remember a memory,” said Sanford. <\/p>\n “Our community has just shown us time and time again that he meant as much to other people as he did to us,” said Kasie Sanford, Max’s mother.<\/p>\n In 1997, Scott lost his big sister, Jessie. Her parents describe her as headstrong, intelligent, and caring. <\/p>\n “I think with family, she was an excellent caregiver of the younger kids,” said Glen Eickman, Jessie’s father. <\/p>\n Details on her statue, from the red hue in her hair to the microphone cord to her favorite kind of flower, aimed to capture Jessie’s spirit. <\/p>\n “She was out there and out in front of the camera in the audience. And she loved to perform,” said Glen Eickman. <\/p>\n She had just graduated from high school when she died, a pain her parents say doesn\u2019t even come close to any other kind.<\/p>\n “You know, you can see her personality in the rest of your kids and how they deal with things,” said Glen Eickman. “And I know right after she passed, our kids were naturally in mourning. But they had that resilience about them.”<\/p>\n The Manning community showed support in the darkest time and helped bring these works of art to life.<\/p>\n “Our community is the type of community that, even if you don\u2019t like or particularly care for somebody, they\u2019d still give you the shirt off your back and support you no matter what,” said Sanford. <\/p>\n “This is family, really I consider both of them family,” said Scott. “When you got a personal point with it, you kinda just \u2026 you have to. There\u2019s no not getting it right.\u201d<\/p>\n As for Scott, he plans to continue honoring life through art. His next commissioned project is a tribute to firefighters. <\/p>\n The statues of Max and Jessie are going to a location on Sixth Street in Manning, serving as a permanent reminder of the town’s unity in hard times. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Scott Eickman had never pictured himself as an artist. 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