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December 9, 1999
An artist for HermannGood Thundermetal artistcreates versionof Hermann for White House'HolidayTreasures' displayBy GUY PRIEL Journal Staff Writer GOOD THUNDER -- Although 40 miles from New Ulm to this rural Blue Earth community, New Ulm's most visible landmark graces everything from garden trellises to weather vanes at the home of one resident who recently developed an interest in Hermann the German. Arnie Lillo, owner of Timeless Images in Metal, received an additional honor on Monday, when a special one-of-a-kind version of Hermann went on display in the East Wing of the White House. Hermann joins more than 100 other replicas for the 1999 "Holiday Treasures at the White House," representing landmarks, events and people that tell the story of America to future generations. In addition, Lillo and his son Greg, who helped design the one-of-a-kind version of Hermann, will attend a reception at the White House on Friday, Dec. 17. It will be Lillo's first visit to Washington and to the East Coast. "The replica on display at the White House is unique," Lillo said. "I broke the mold after I made it. I cannot display the same model anywhere and connect it with the White House." New Ulm Assistant City Manager Tom MacAulay received a letter from the White House earlier this year indicating that Hermann had been designated as an official project of the White House Millennium Council's Save America's Treasures Program. "I was shown the letter at a meeting I had with the city, and they asked if I would be interested in creating a model for the Christmas display," Lillo said. "I made several models and one was selected by city officials and that was the one sent." The idea for the other Hermann replicas began in July, when city officials contacted Lillo to see if he would be interested in the restoration efforts. "I had seen Hermann before, because I have been to New Ulm. But I didn't know the story about him and really did not have much interest in him before," he said. "Then I started to learn the history. I then started to make up things that could be sold to help raise money for the restoration." He has made 2,500 hand-signed, numbered editions of the plaque and certificates of authenticity that he will sell to the city. These plaques will be given to donors who contribute $1,000 toward the restoration project. He hopes to sell some of the smaller items on his own eventually. The city received the 10 first plaques. Lillo's goal is to purchase the No. One plaque from the city and donate it to the Brown County Historical Society Museum, where he feels it belongs. To make the plaques, he first draws a pattern in black ink on white paper. The pattern is then transferred to a machine that uses an electric eye to follow the pattern. Using a plasma cutter, he then traces the pattern onto iron, where the design is cut. He makes most of the sturdy models out of iron and paints them to give them a copper look. "The city wants copper used as much as possible, because Hermann is made out of copper," he said. "Copper is very flimsy once it has been formed." Lillo has looked at Hermann and studied pictures to get an idea of how the statue was designed to get an idea of how to proceed with restoration. He estimates the restoration cost at $600,000. "It is a big job," he said, and the work could involve unknowns. Lillo has worked with metal since 1964. He believes he is qualified to undertake the restoration project of the 32-foot tall, 5,000-pound statue, but he does not have experience on such a project.
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