Rainbow replica: 3D-printed homage brings iconic Minute Man to library
Created by more than 100 community members, the 5-foot-tall statue has been a project two years in the making.
A 5-foot-tall Minute Man stands in the Acton Free Public Library, but unlike the famous 7-foot bronze statue at the North Bridge, this one is made of hundreds of brightly colored 3D-printed pieces created by more than 100 community members.
The collaborative art project, called the Monumental (Re)Make, brought together children, teens, adults, library staff, local organizations, and neighboring libraries over the course of two years. It’s been on display outside the library’s Teen Room, where visitors can see a colorful new interpretation of one of Acton’s most recognizable landmarks.
The idea grew out of a conversation between local author Linda Booth Sweeney and Christiana Urbano, the library’s head of innovation and communication.
Sweeney had recently published two children’s books that inspired the project in different ways. “Apart, Together,” which explores how individual parts can come together to create something new, helped shape the project’s collaborative vision. “Monument Maker,” about Acton sculptor Daniel Chester French, inspired the connection to the Minute Man statue and extended her work of introducing young readers to French’s life and legacy.
“When we put it all together,” Sweeney said, referring to how the statue relates to her book, “we decided, ‘Let’s put a call out to the community.’”
Putting it together
The choice of the Minute Man carried special meaning. French would become one of America’s most celebrated sculptors, notably designing the central statue at the Lincoln Memorial. By re-creating the Minute Man with modern technology, the library hoped to connect Acton’s artistic history with its future.
Volunteers — from young children to experienced makers — printed individual pieces of the statue, prepared digital files, and helped assemble hundreds of colorful sections, starting from the top and bottom and using paper diagrams to track progress, Urbano said.
For Sweeney, the project represented much more than technology.
“There’s a lot of division in the country,” she said. “We were trying to have a message for kids about people coming together and working together to create something beautiful.”
That spirit of collaboration became a defining theme.
“I personally helped somebody who had never used a 3D printer,” Sweeney said. “She was so excited to be a part of the whole thing.”
Urbano said the library’s makerspace seeks to bring generations together. “We want little kids and their grandparents — or their neighbors in their 20s or 30s — to come together and learn alongside each other,” she said.
The sustainability factor
The project also reflected the library’s commitment to sustainability. The sculpture was printed using plant-based PLA plastic. Library staff developed a plan so every printed piece can eventually be recycled if the sculpture is ever dismantled.
For Urbano, the most rewarding part of the project wasn’t the technology; it was watching the community celebrate the finished work together.
“It was really lovely,” she said. “Getting to see the kids and families help us … and then getting people to finally see it after it had been so long in the making.”
Urbano said she expects the multicolored Minute Man to stay in his current spot for another month before potentially moving to a new location.
Meanwhile, she said collaborative projects will continue to be part of the workshop’s mission.
“I hope [visitors] think Acton has roots and Acton has wings,” Sweeney said. “We love our past, but we’re also looking toward the future.”
