But for Isaiah Rashad II, sculpting with hammer, chisel and cement is a way of life.

The Post-Journal first interviewed Rashad when he restored the Dascum Allen plot to its former glory in August 2018 when he sculpted and attached a replacement right hand to the statue located in Lake View Cemetery in Jamestown. Since then, he’s continued to transform what was initially a hobby into a full-blown passion for traditional sculpture with hammer and chisel, something he said in August only 22 artists in the country still actively pursue.

While Lake View Cemetery officials have kept in contact with Rashad for future projects, including the future refurbishment of a stone sign, Rashad has begun to juggle a myriad of sculpture projects, the most prominent of which being a concrete bust of American historical figure and black history icon: Harriet Tubman.

The plan is for Rashad to finish his Tubman sculpture, made from mostly cement and water encased around a wire skeleton, by the end of May. It will then be delivered to the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn for placement in Tubman’s former residence. Rashad hopes this ambitious, out-of-pocket project of his will show the historical park officials of what he is capable.

Pictured next to his work-in-progress concrete bust of Harriet Tubman, sculptor Isaiah Rashad II stands amidst his artistic inspirations in his Bemus Point studio. By the time it is finished, the Tubman bust will have taken a year to complete.

“I had to show them what I can do,” Rashad explained. “This is a lot of work. (Cement) is a very difficult medium to use.”

Particularly, cement takes a long period of time to work with, especially since Rashad aims at nailing down the exact likeness of Tubman by the time the project is finished. While it currently looks only somewhat representative of the historical figure, Rashad said that the last several weeks of work will finally reveal her bust to be the face of the woman who conducted the Underground Railroad, helping to free hundreds of American slaves in the mid-1800s.

As a black man, Rashad said he has felt humbled and honored to have the chance to be the one to sculpt a bust for her former home in Auburn. He’s aware of the symbolic legacy he is furthering by crafting her likeness for people to see, and he’s excited about the possibilities to which this bust may lead.

“Knowing that (Tubman) was someone who was enslaved and didn’t accept her condition so much that she freed herself both mentally and physically so that she could help others, symbolically, that is where I come from in my work to give that type of message,” Rashad said.

The historical park in Auburn is searching for artists to create more crafted works, some of which are planned to be full-body sculptures, for the museum-esque former residence, Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged and Thompson AME Zion Church.

“It never ends,” Rashad said about his sculpture process, which parallels his ambitions that seem as endless.

Beyond local projects and art dedicated to the memory of Harriet Tubman and everything she stood for, Rashad wants to eventually show his admiration for another American history icon: John Adams, founding father and second president of the United States.

“He’s the epitome of what I’d say a great leader is,” explained Rashad, who intends on putting in a bid to create sculpture for a potential John Adams Memorial in Washington, D.C. “Without John Adams, there is no (President) George Washington, the revolution (or) the Declaration of Independence.”

Last year, House members passed a bill to establish a commission to plan, fundraise and build a memorial to Adams, a project that could move forward in the coming years with the right coordination of resources.

Not one to just care about the prominence of famous historical figures, Rashad is also spearheading an initiative to memorialize fallen police officers in his art form. He’s planning to work on a bust of a fallen officer from a New York state department and wants to hopefully encourage other artists to remember fallen public servants in similar ways. As a former Colorado state trooper, sheriff and member of the U.S. Army, remembering these heroes is important to Rashad.

His best friend, Ryan Hoeft, whom he met during his days at the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Academy in Minnesota, became a police officer at St. Louis Park, Minn. On Nov. 6, 2001, Hoeft was killed during a traffic stop, and Rashad now keeps a picture of his fallen friend in his studio to inspire him and to remind him that each life is short but also capable of making a difference.

“I keep him in (my studio) to remind me not to quit,” Rashad said.

Among these emotionally investing projects, Rashad also finds the time to do commission work for those who want address markers, grave stones and other projects made for their homes and families.

Rashad also plans on making a large, concrete sculpture of a 1975 (Rashad’s birth year) penny, which he said will double as a self-portrait. He said that once when he was homeless and was walking on the road after his car had broken down, he found a fractured penny on the street. Many years later, he remembered that image and decided to plan a project through which he can share the deeply personal symbolism with the world.

“It’s a fractured penny, but it’s still worth something,” Rashad said of both himself, the penny and the world around him.

To support himself financially, Rashad teaches various leadership courses and used to teach at Erie Community College. His careers and interests have taken him through the harsh reality of police work through socioeconomic struggle toward emotional, spiritual catharsis and self-actualization with his art.

“I went from a life of complete sadness all the time to doing something beautiful,” Rashad said last summer. “I’m an advocate for ‘do what you love.’ People listen to what matters.”

Despite his busy schedule and long list of projects for his future, this local sculptor is looking for commission work to help make sculpting his full-time profession. Those interested in commissioning a project from Rashad can call or text 989-0267. Examples of Rashad’s work can be found at isaiahrashadartist.blogspot.com.

“I would love to have more commission work,” Rashad said. “I want to find out intimately what you want.”

Through the art of sculpting, Rashad seems to have found what he has wanted deep down as well, and he hopes to share future successes with the community in the months and years to come.