Justin Coulter, a sculptor, bartender and rock band frontman, was elated when Beachland Ballroom owner Cindy Barber suggested that he craft an original piece in tribute to Harvey Pekar.

When the offer was made, he was outside smoking a cigarette during a 2010 memorial for Pekar at the Beachland. Barber, who had only just learned that her employee is a talented sculptor whose work can be found all over Cleveland, was suddenly inspired by the idea of hiring Coulter.

"I said, are you kidding? That's the biggest honor in the world so far," says Coulter. "Let's do it! Two years later, we raised $38,000, and the biggest donation was about $500. It was all from people who just wanted to see this happen."

The bronze sculpture features a rendition of Pekar walking out of one of his own comic books -- from "2D" to "3D," as Coulter describes it. It also includes a desk where participants will be encouraged to pen their own masterpieces. The piece will be installed at the main branch of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights library, and a public unveiling is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 14th.

Coulter is creating the sculpture in his studio on East 36th Street. First, he made a model out of hard clay, incorporating suggestions from Harvey's widow, Joyce Brabner, along the way. Next, he will create a hollow mold, heat the bronze to more than 1000 degrees, pour it into the mold and then pack it in sand to keep the heat in. Finally, he will chip off the mold to reveal the long-awaited sculpture.

"The library is the perfect spot for him," says Coulter of the location. "So much better than being next to a politician like Elliott Ness at Lakeview cemetery."

Coulter, who is also working with other artists to create a website of Cleveland craftspeople that will help to highlight and connect customers to their work, never met Pekar. "I had to create that experience out of my imagination," he says.

With bronze lasting an average of 10,000 years, the sculpture creates near immortality for the famously cantankerous working-class writer, who has become a symbol of Rust Belt authenticity.

"When the library collapses and everything is covered in dirt, there will still be an awesome sculpture of Harvey."

Source: Justin Coulter
Writer: Lee Chilcote