‘Frog Man’ recognized for making Positively Jax difference for local museum

3 years ago 332

One antheral helping assemblage 1 painted frog astatine a time

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Affectionately known arsenic the “Frog Man,” Donald Bowden is successful the Positively Jax spotlight -- nominated for his enactment and going supra and beyond for the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society.

You whitethorn beryllium wondering however helium got that “Frog Man” nickname. Well, successful 2015 this talented creator offered to donate a fewer hand-made painted factual frogs to merchantability astatine a gait sale. That merchantability was meant to assistance rise funds to reconstruct the 1898 St. Joseph’s Mission Schoolhouse.

Those elemental greenish and achromatic frogs were a deed and sold precise quickly. Turns retired much of those ceramic pieces of creation started popping up astir the Mandarin area. And they were known to marque radical smile.

Bowden asked the radical who tally the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society if they’d similar much frogs to merchantability to rise wealth for ngo operations and a projected enlargement project. After getting a hearty “yes,” Bowden started making much frogs and added to the menagerie.

Donald Bowden is successful the Positively Jax spotlight

Not lone were determination factual frogs, but present oversea turtles and squirrels that each took astir 30 days to beryllium molded, cured and painted.

Like with those archetypal fewer frogs, these works of creation sold rapidly and this overnight people creator sensation helped the depository with its cause. Though helium accepts nary outgo for the supplies oregon his time, helium generates a fantastic assemblage tone done his work.

“Mr. Bowden’s philanthropy and time, endowment and emotion for the assemblage successful which his household settled successful the precocious 1700s is immeasurable ,” said Sandy Arpen, president of the depository committee directors. “His philanthropy besides generated a acquisition to the depository and the superior projects of the past six years to the tune of implicit $100,000!”

Bowden makes a Positively Jax quality due to the fact that helium says helium wants to springiness backmost from his full household to the assemblage helium has ever loved.