In Pardubice, a discussion about the statue of Jan Kašpar will take place

Pardubice - Residents of Pardubice can join the discussion about the creation of a statue of aviation pioneer Jan Kašpar. At a meeting, the date of which the city hall will determine by the beginning of the summer holidays, the public, artists, representatives of the pilots' association, and city officials will gather. CTK was informed of this by Mayor Jaroslav Deml (ODS).
    "On this platform, it will be possible to discuss not only the location of Engineer Kašpar's statue but also the way it will be financed, and possibly other aspects," said Deml.
    Three years ago, the city negotiated with academic sculptor Jaroslav Bocker, who offered to create a statue with a one-meter pedestal approximately 2.8 meters high for Pardubice. According to the sculptor's opinion, it was supposed to stand in front of the administrative and commercial center Magnum. The price was estimated at two million crowns. The city hall had no other offers.
    "First, the city must find money in its budget for the implementation of the entire statue project. Subsequently, city officials must locate a suitable place for the statue. Only after identifying the space can we deal with the statue itself. The statue is to be created according to the place where it will be installed, not the other way around," said the mayor.
    Bocker's proposal in so-called sculptural realism, according to experts, does not fit the modernist architecture of the Magnum building. The appearance of the statue must stem from a public competition, added Deml.
    Aviator Kašpar already has three memorials in Pardubice. First, a monument with a small airplane was created in the Dukelských hrdinů Square. A plaque in the underpass between the train station platforms commemorates the 125th anniversary of the aviator's birth and the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Pardubice station. A hangar and flying school once stood on that site, from where Kašpar made his famous flight to Prague. This year, another commemorative plaque was added on the Bratranců Veverkových street at house number 645, where Kašpar lived out his days with his sister.