Valley Artist Carves Out History With First Documented Jimothy Statue

Internet legends come and go, but if Valley artist David Garcia has anything to say about it, newly-famous animal Jimothy is going to last a little longer. Garcia recently completed what is believed to be the first documented true statue of Jimothy, the Seattle-area raccoon whose unusual appearance and online following have made him something of a regional sensation.

For Garcia, immortalizing Jimothy in wood seemed like the natural thing to do. “Why I think Jimothy should be immortalized in statue form is because he’s a fascinating and amazing animal that deserves to be known,” Garcia said. The project was made largely from materials Garcia already had on hand. “Materials I used to build Jimothy were scrap pieces of wood from previous statues I made,” he said.

While there have been some chainsaw carvings and other smaller Jimothy re-creations, nothing has quite reached the size or statue-quality effort that Garcia has put in. Garcia said the statue took roughly a week to complete, with much of that time devoted to researching his subject and figuring out how to translate Jimothy’s distinctive appearance into three dimensions. “I worked from pictures and videos but used imagination mostly to capture angles I couldn’t see,” Garcia said.

“The most difficult part to capture was the unique shape of his body.” When the final piece came together, Garcia said he was impressed by what had emerged from the collection of scrap wood. The sculpture has also generated a warm response from those who have seen it. “So far everyone loves wooden Jimothy and I’m getting lots of positive feedback,” Garcia said. Garcia lives in Valley and describes himself primarily as a self-employed artist. His work is not limited to wood; he said he also creates pieces from metal and plastic, and generally completes around four projects each month, including custom orders.

His interest in creating things by hand can be traced back to his childhood and, specifically, his father, who shares his name. “My dad, also named David Garcia, was my biggest inspiration,” Garcia said. “Growing up, I watched him create with his hands and turn simple material into something meaningful. As I got older, that passion naturally led me into my artwork. I honestly don’t think I would be on this path without my dad.” That background helped Garcia take an online movement, turn it into something tangible, and establish a small piece of Jimothy history in the process. “What it means to me is that I get to create something that has never officially existed before,” Garcia said.

“Being the first statue is equal parts exciting, hilarious, and oddly historic. It’s fun knowing that if anyone ever asks where the legend of Jimothy statues began, there will actually be a documented first and I get to say I made it.