The City of San Antonio's Department of Arts & Culture has unveiled a new public art piece titled "Afterglow of Honor" at Fire Station 24. The sculpture, created by Autumn Saleh of Wanderlust Ironworks in collaboration with the San Antonio Fire Department, is located at 2265 Austin Highway, between Council Districts 2 and 10, according to the City of San Antonio.
Saleh created a 38-foot-long, 12-foot-tall sculpture for the San Antonio Fire Department, featuring a steel-forged ladder and axe and a copper paramedic star of life with a snake and staff symbol. Saleh said, "It’s such an honor to be chosen for this project. It feels great to give something back to the women and men who give so much of themselves to our community." The sculpture also includes "Mr. B," a former station dog known for assisting fire trucks during departures. San Antonio Fire Chief Valerie Frausto said, "This art piece shows the time, dedication and passion that the artist puts into her work, which appropriately reflects those same virtues our men and women of the SAFD embody serving the people of San Antonio," as stated by the City of San Antonio.
The Department of Arts & Culture's new public art project at Fire Station 24 features Wanderlust Ironworks as the lead artist for their first City of San Antonio public art project. Krystal Jones, the department's director, said, "Through our research, we found that the community wanted this artwork to honor all types of personnel who serve San Antonio during times of crisis and to incorporate themes of heroinism." The installation is the first outdoor artwork at Fire Station 24. More information is available at SA.gov/Arts or by following @getcreativesa on social media.
