Artistic details of Jacob’s HOPE Bas-Relief Sculpture

Given as the highest honor for those who help build safer communities for children and teens, Jacob’s HOPE Sculpture is meant to inspire the help of others.   Jacob Wetterling Resource Center proudly gives this sculpture to individuals and organizations who go above and beyond the call of duty to protect kids. Made possible through collective agency funding from the Office of Justice Programs, the Department of Public Safety and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, this beautiful sculpture will be an everlasting sign of HOPE for the well being of all children.

This bas-relief sculpture incorporates pictorial images in a unique way, often presenting more of a technical challenge to the artist than that of a fully-round sculpture. The image of a child reaching for a star in a pastoral setting communicates innocence, purity, love, hope, and joy and represents a precious time and place in Jacob’s life.  The artist, Glenn Terry, received an inspirational picture from Jacob’s mother, Patty, who felt it captured some of Jacob’s essence. Unique aspects of the sculpture include: 

• Bronze which was used to represent “forever and everlasting”
• HOPE torepresent Jacob’s hope for a fair, safe world for kids…and how our nurturing, positive actions canprotect all children
• The bluish hues of the bronze’s oxidization represent the color of Jacob’s eyes and his favorite color as well
• Oak trees and oak leaves at Jacob’s feet represent the oak leaf art from Jacob’s grandmother, Eunice that she often made with the family. The second oak tree is for his grandmother, Lillian, who also loved him dearly.
• The star in the Heavenly body recalls a favorite song that became a kind of prayer that was sung by Jacob’s friends and family …”no matter  how far apart we are, it helps to think we’re wishing on the same, bright star….”
• Number 11 on the sleeve of Jacob’s jersey indicates his age when he was taken away and the jersey reminds us of hockey which he lovedso much
• The curved, self-standing shape of the sculpture as well as the arc of the star’s transit through space forms a “C” and represents the need for safer communities for our children

Jacob's Hope for Safer Communities Award has been Presented to:
Jerry and Patty Wetterling, 2008
Bob Ulrich, 2008