About a month ago famous sculpture Rob Fisher passed away suddenly. I had the opportunity to speak to Rob about one of his projects, 'The Silver Chief'. He was planning on coming to Altoona to inspect the sculpture and possibly restore this beautiful piece of artwork found along 11th avenue between 13th and 14th street. Rob had also recently completed two Sculptures called the 'Semaphores'. They sit at the entrance to the Seventh street bridge. The Semaphores and the Silver Chief represent two of a series of work Rob had proposed 25 years ago.

The 'Silver Chief' was created by sculptor Rob Fisher of Bellefonte, PA in 1978 and was given to the City of Altoona by the Downtown Altoona Progress Association. the figure is made of stainless steel and fiberglass and is attached t an antique railroad wheel supported by a section of railroad track.

The sculpture features a single futuristic Native American runner. The runner has sparks flying from his body and is propelled forward by the speed of the railroad wheel. Rob Fisher loved comic book heroes and the figure is based on Rob's imagination and is meant to signify Altoona's focus on the future while being rooted in its own railroading heritage.

Rob had envisioned a Native American because as he dreamed about the expansion of the railroad he saw that it spread into the territory of the Native Americans, the great plains. Rob imagined these athletic figures running alongside the trains.

Fisher used his own body to cast the face and body of the figure. These molds of his body  were done by his studio assistants and from these molds came the fiberglass parts.The rest of the figure is modeled after the models sculptors use in their studios, a sort of movable stick figure. 

The railroad wheel came from a salvage yard in Cresson and the section of track came directly from Bethlehem Steel. The curved track was actual rolled at the mill for this work. Fisher wanted the curved track to represent the Horseshoe Curve which is located just outside of Altoona. All of this sits on a tall pole about 30 feet in the air. He had hoped the 'Silver Chief' could be seen at night and from anywhere in Downtown.

Rob Fisher is well known for other sculptures too such as the sculpture at Philadephia's Airport, in the International Arrivals Hall. Rob's dream was to see Altoona have a sculpture park featuring several his work, A Horshoe Curve sculpture at the entrance to the Seventeenth Street Bridge, a Train on 12th Avenue across from the Mishler, and more. John Kazmaier has several drawings prepared by Rob. 

Stop by and visit the 'Silver Chief'. This beautiful sculpture is also in need of restoration, please contact John Kazmaier at America's Stories Inc., 814-569-1570 for more information.