Texas Press Association will revive a newspaper tradition with the creation of a life-size bronze statue ‘Newsboy.’

The TPA executive board met in Austin Aug. 26 and chose Bridgette Mongeon of Houston as the sculptor for the Newsboy planned as part of the commemoration of the association’s 125 years of serving Texas newspapers.

Mongeon is a self-described “artist, sculptor, writer, educator, wife and mother.” Almost 20 years ago, she began experimenting with sculpture and a few years later she gave up her career in advertising and marketing to become a full-time sculptor.

TPA received several requests for proposals from well-known sculptors throughout Texas to create the Newsboy, but the board chose Mongeon based on her experience sculpting children.

“I was thrilled to be awarded the commission and have decided to document not only the artistic process but also the thought process of the entire work of art, an artist’s journal so to speak,” Mongeon wrote in her Web journal. “It is a way for the members of the Texas Press Association and others to witness the creative process and share in the personal thoughts of the artist.”

TPA members can log onto the Web site and follow the process at www.creativesculpture.com/texaspress.html. A limited edition 10-inch figure mounted on a wooden base also will be available soon to pre-order and purchase through the site.

Mongeon’s first step was researching newsboys and then finding a subject for the statue. She chose 11-year-old Houstonian Dustin Lee, the son of a friend, and dressed him in a traditional newsboy uniform she found at a costume store. Then she took various photographs of him posing as a newsboy.

“While speaking to Dusty’s mom I learn that Dusty’s grandfather is elated over the idea of the sculpture of the newsboy and Dusty’s participation. Dusty’s grandfather was a newsboy for many years,” Mongeon wrote. “These little elements add to the personal excitement of the sculpture, to the fermenting.”

TPA hopes to unveil the Newsboy in May in time for the association’s founding date of May 19, 1880. The permanent location of the statue is still being finalized.

The TPA Newsboy is the second newspaper-industry sculpture Mongeon has undertaken this year. She also was contracted to create the Houston Chronicle’s Jesse Award.