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SCULPTURE​​​
THE VOLCANOES OF LEWIS AND CLARK
The Volcanoes of Lewis and Clark was commissioned to demonstrate in bronze the terrain that the expedition encountered in the part of the journey from the Cascades to the Pacific Ocean. The volcanoes, streams and other main features are located on the sculpture by longitude and latitude. The elevations are in relationship but are altered somewhat for artistic presentation. Three informational plaques surround the sculpture to give historical accounts as well as the geologic history of the volcanoes.
The sculpture was done as an edition of seven with the first placed on the trail in Long Beach that recreates the route Clark took as he explored up the Long Beach Peninsula. The bronze is located on Bolstead Avenue at the entrance to the boardwalk. The location is handicapped accessible with parking immediately adjacent to the sculpture. The second piece is placed in the lobby of the new Kelso City Hall. The remaining pieces in the edition are available for sale.
More information concerning the history and sites to visit in the area as well as events surrounding the Lewis and Clark bicentennial can be found in the web sites for Kelso, Long Beach and the Cowlitz County Museum.
NAVIGATOR RAMS
Three bighorn sheep jumping from boulder to boulder in front of the Navigators office building in Colorado Springs, CO. The rams are approximately one half life size. The Rams represent the herd of bighorn sheep that are resident at Glen Eyrie castle which is a retreat of the Navigators. Another sculpture I did is of a life size bald eagle titled Proud Heritage that is in the great hall of the castle. It was featured in A&E’s Americas Castles and was also in the background of a scene in a Perry Mason episode.
Columbia Basin Fisherman
Columbia Basin Fisherman is a life size bronze sculpture that was commissioned for the Western Art Association. The sculpture is an edition of three and the number one of the edition is currently on display in the Yakima Nation Cultural Center and Museum in Toppenish, WA.
The basis for the commission was to portray the physical characteristics, attire and fishing spear that were historically accurate. The figure is stocky in build consistent with the lifestyle of squatting around campfires and rowing canoes. The forehead is flattened in the manner of that period of time to indicate tribal status. During his travels along the Columbia Basin area Paul Kane did paintings showing the method of flattening the forehead of infants by the use of a cradleboard.
The clothing is cedar bark and the typical cone shaped hat is also shown. The fishing spear demonstrates the design that was commonly used. Pieces of wood of the appropriate shape were hardened by placing next to a fire thus giving them a spring like nature. Pieces of sharp material such as antler tips were lashed to the wood pieces. When the spear was thrust to snag a fish the two spring like sides would spread apart and upon pulling back on the spear the sharp points would impale the sides of the fish. The method was very effective in catching fish.
Columbia Basin Fisherman edition # 2 is in the collection of the Port of Kalama and is available for viewing at the Port of Kalama Interpretative Center in Kalama, WA. The last piece in the edition of three is currently available for purchase.
PISHKUN or BUFFALO JUMP
Pishkun is the Indian name for a buffalo jump where Indians would run buffalo, or more properly bison, over a cliff. The cliff on this jump is modeled after a frequently used one in Montana. The Indian on the bluff is the decoy called the hugger who would cover himself with a buffalo robe and stay on the fringe of the herd. His part would be to lead or decoy the herd toward the cliff while others in the tribe would prepare to stampede the herd over the cliff. The decoy would rush to the cliff and duck to safety while the press of the stampeding herd would force the lead bison over the cliff. The Indian women would be waiting at the bottom to dispatch wounded bison and start dressing them into food, clothing, shelter materials, sinew for sewing, and the other things the bison provided.
One of the edition is at the Yakima Nation Tribal Center and Museum in Toppenish, WA
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EDITION 11
68 X23
$39,000
Shown in an oak stand. Available on order in oak, cherry, alder or walnut.
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY COLLECTION
FALCO PEREGRINUS
One of One
Following information is from the Smithsonian Institution web site for Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture.
Founder: McCown Foundry ( Triangular Foundry Mark)
Dates: : Dedicated Nov. 1987
Dimensions: Approx. 11 ft. 2 in. x 50 in. x 45 in.
Description: A Peregrine Falcon, three times life size
flight with wings outstretched. One wing
stretches towards the ground, the other
towards the sky.
Owner: United States Air Force Academy, 2304 Cadet
Drive, Suite 351, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Outdoor site: USAFA, Visitor Center Nature Trail, Trail head.
Falco Peregrinus was commissioned and designed for a site along the trail from the Barry Goldwater visitors to the Academy Chapel. The placement of the piece and ownership was done through the Falcon Foundation which is a support organization for the Academy.
The bronze is done in a stylized manner while retaining the identifying characteristics of a Peregrine Falcon.
PETER W CRAWFORD
PETER WAS BORN IN KELSO, SCOTLAND IN 1818. HE WAS UNIVERSITY EDUCATED AS A SURVEYOR. PETER IMMIGRATED IN 1843, THEN CAME WEST IN 1847 BY WAGON TRAIN AND FILED A LAND CLAIM ALONG THE LOWER COWLITZ RIVER. PETER WAS ACTIVE IN VARIOUS ACTIVITIES INCLUDING JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND BUSINESS VENTURES. HE WAS SURVEYOR FOR THE CITY OF VANCOUVER AS WELL AS CLARK AND COWLITZ COUNTIES. PETER PLATTED THE CITY OF KELSO IN 1881 AND DIED IN 1889.
Two portrait busts were done and are located in the
KELSO CITY HALL
and in the
COWLITZ COUNTY MUSEUM
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