 Nothing to lose your head about, it’s just moving day to the mold-maker. The high temps made us wait a few extra days to transport the clay. Gary Alsum's Special Enforcement Bureau sculpture for our Tribute to Public Safety Plaza has entered the next stage of creating the master mold, then will continue on with the lost-wax process of cast bronze.  Update 8/4/2023: Gary Alsum's Special Enforcement Bureau sculpture for our Tribute to Public Safety Plaza has been completed in clay and approved by the city. It's on it's next stage of creating the master mold, then will continue on with the lost-wax process of cast bronze. The commissioners were particularly pleased by the amount of detail Gary has captured in the uniforms and characteristics of the officers. The K9 depicted is "Jack" a revered Belgian Malinois that was lost in the line of duty in 2022. "K9 Jack saved numerous lives and courageously protected members of the Bureau during countless tactical operations." -LA Sheriff Robert Luna Three of Gary's bronze monuments are part of a larger composition that our design team developed. The Tribute to First Responders plaza includes a Department Memorial and 9/11 Memorial and components that honor today's officers. We are always honored to be part of honoring first responders, and are really looking forward to seeing this project realized for the dedicated department members. Update 2/1/2023: The Female Officer sculpture has been poured into wax, ready to transform into bronze. She's already looking great!  Update: 1/5/2023 Things are progressing on the Tribute to Public Safety project for the City of Cerritos. Gary Alsum's fire fighter casting is nearing completion at Bronze Services Foundry. Not to worry, he'll get that helmet on. Certain elements on the sculpture have been customized to match LA County badges and gear. Next comes patina on this one.  Update 12/11/2022: We've completed the landscape plans with help from Diaz Landscape Architecture and site work will commence soon. As we designed, the overall 51-ft x 54-ft site will include: Three Bronze Monuments; 9/11 Memorial; Department Memorial. 7-ft x 16-ft Tribute Wall with engraving of Plaza Title, City Insignia, Department Badges and quotation; 4-ft x 12-ft East Wall with two engraved quotations; Concrete Plaza; Lights; Flag Pole, White Roses. Decompressed Granite area with Bosque of Trees.
Update 11/7/2022: Gary Alsum has finished sculpting the Female Deputy Sheriff in clay. She's off to the foundry to begin the bronze casting process.
 Update 5/26/2022: The Hardscape Design Elements have been refined and the stone is ordered. Lettering will be etched into several tons of granite for this placement.  2/18/2022: You may not realize, but monumental placements start small. On this one, we went REAL SMALL. John created a model of the site with our proposed layouts for the city to choose from. We've just been approved on our design for the City of Cerritos' First Responders Plaza which will be located in front of the Sheriff's Department. Our design team is transforming the 2500 sq ft lawn into an artful gathering space that honors first responders. Three monumental bronze sculptures by NSG's Gary Alsum will be the focal point of our Tribute to Public Safety. Granite walls will be adorned by quotes and insignia. A memorial will be placed to pay tribute to the city's fallen officers. And a Bosque of Trees forms a nurturing space to house the new 9/11 memorial. The entire site becomes a piece of art. We are really pleased with the design and how this will enhance the community. We are looking forward to sharing the process here, stay tuned.
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 National Sculptors' Guild Fellow Gary Alsum is in Poplar Bluff, Missouri to install and dedicate the the Gene Bess portrait at Three Rivers College. Special thanks to the school for lending a hand, and creating a beautiful inscribed base for the bronze. You can find the sculpture on the entry plaza of the Libla Family Sports Center. The bronze depicts the coach with basketball in hand wearing his familiar suit and tie. We are very proud to be part of honoring Coach Bess and hope the presence of the sculpture at Three Rivers College brings continued good fortune to the basketball team's success. Coach Bess won a record 1,300 wins in 50 seasons as Three Rivers head coach while teaching two classes a semester, and serving as the Three Rivers Athletic Director throughout his career. At least 42 former players for Bess have gone on to coach all over the country. He became college basketball’s all-time wins leader in 2001 when he surpassed North Carolina’s Dean Smith and Richard Baldwin of Broome Community College. He was the first college basketball coach to reach 1,000 wins in 2006, the first with 1,100 wins four seasons later, and 1,200 in 2015. His 1,300th win came in what ended up being his final home game on a court named in his honor. Coach Bess finished with a career record of 1,300-416, won national championships in 1979 and 1992, coached in four national title games, appeared in 17 national tournaments, won 23 region championships, and is a member of four halls of fame. NSG Public Art Placement #544
Thank you TRC's Rob, Guy, Adam and Shawn. You made installation in freezing temps a breeze.  Update 5/1/2022: Sculptor, Gary Alsum next to the freshly sculpted Gene Bess clay enlargement. Now that it is complete. its way to mold and the casting process. Update 4/15/22: The portrait has been refined in clay and approved by the client. Update 4/5/22: The stone base with engraving layout is complete, and ordered.  Update 11/15/21: Gary has created a maquette for the monument, getting an idea of what is to be expected.
 Gene Bess to be sculpted by Gary Alsum for Three Rivers College 10/1/21: National Sculptors' Guild Fellow Gary Alsum has been selected to sculpt Gene Bess for placement at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. The school has been hard at work raising funds for this commemorative sculpture.
The bronze will be a life-sized standing figure depicting the coach with basketball in hand wearing his familiar suit and tie. The sculpture will be located on the entry plaza of the Libla Family Sports Center in 2022. The former coach of the men's basketball team at Three Rivers Community College was hired in 1971. Coach Bess won a record 1,300 wins in 50 seasons as Three Rivers head coach while teaching two classes a semester, and serving as the Three Rivers Athletic Director throughout his career. At least 42 former players for Bess have gone on to coach all over the country. He became college basketball’s all-time wins leader in 2001 when he surpassed North Carolina’s Dean Smith and Richard Baldwin of Broome Community College. He was the first college basketball coach to reach 1,000 wins in 2006, the first with 1,100 wins four seasons later, and 1,200 in 2015. His 1,300th win came in what ended up being his final home game on a court named in his honor. Coach Bess finished with a career record of 1,300-416, won national championships in 1979 and 1992, coached in four national title games, appeared in 17 national tournaments, won 23 region championships, and is a member of four halls of fame. “He brought notoriety, he brought fame, he brought championships, but that’s not the important thing that he brought to our school,” Three Rivers President Dr. Wesley Payne said. “He brought honor. He brought a dedication that was an example to everyone that works there or walked through the doors as a student. He brought courage, he brought direction, he brought an example that was worthy to follow.”  Artist, Gary Alsum with “Colorado Governor, Ralph Carr,” commission for Carr Judicial Center, Denver, Colorado. Bronze, 54” tall, 2012 One of the National Sculptors' Guild's Charter Members, Gary Alsum, was just featured in Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine. The article highlights Gary's take on the commission process and some of the benefits of working as a team. As John Kinkade, NSG Director has always said "Sculpture is a Team Sport" and we love all the projects we've been able to place with Gary over the past 30 years. From the Artist Spotlight... "What is the most interesting thing you have sculpted and why? Most of my work in the past couple of decades has been in collaboration with individual collectors or municipal entities along with the National Sculptors’ Guild (NSG). Most of those works honor people from our past but some are intended to preserve favorite memories or activities. My favorite subjects are the figure in motion, but capturing likenesses is just as satisfying. All the commissions I am awarded are a special honor. I take the responsibility seriously with the goal of giving clients more than they expect. Working with the NSG allows me to do what I do best — create meaningful sculpture — while they handle the logistics of scheduling, engineering, transportation, landscaping that enhances the sculpture, installation etc. Not all my sculptures are large enough to require trucks and cranes and such, but when they do, the NSG is an invaluable asset. How do you describe success? I feel most successful when a client is moved to tears when they first see a finished sculpture. But occasionally I create more humorous depictions – dogs driving classic cars with reckless abandon. (How else would dogs drive?) Success then is when viewers burst out in laughter. It makes for a fun mix." Click here to see the full feature
 Gary Alsum’s “Tried and True” was dedicated at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond during their Veteran's Memorial Service. The two soldiers are sculpted back to back. One in full combat uniform, the other dressed for class. Minimizing space between the figures creates a single form. Symbolically, this depiction shows how the soldiers rely on one another as they literally have each other’s back – in service, or in civilian life; they stand together in a life-long connection. This camaraderie extends to the family of Veterans which can be felt through this composition as well. It can connect with relatives, friends, and fellow service people, creating a space for reflection from any path of life. The National Sculptors' Guild has had the honor of placing a number of monuments commemorating Veteran’s across the nation. We extend our gratitude and respect to all Veteran’s. Thank you for your services. NSG Public Placement #530  Update 12/17/2020: Gary Alsum's Tried and True has been completed in bronze and is on it's way to the University of Central Oklahoma. The sculpture will be stored there until the site is completed and can be placed. Thanks to Bronze Services of Colorado for another job well done.  Tried and True by Gary Alsum and the National Sculptors' Guild 5/24/2020:: Gary Alsum and the National Sculptors' Guild were selected by the University of Central Oklahoma to create a Veteran's Memorial for their Edmond, Oklahoma campus. The composition is titled "Tried and True" The desire of the committee was to honor two individuals as a memorial - one depicted as a soldier and one as a student - who were close to the UCO family and by extension represent all others who have served to defend our liberties. Gary chose to depict the two soldiers, back to back. One in full combat uniform, the other dressed for class. Minimizing space between the figures creates a single form. Symbolically, this depiction shows how the soldiers rely on one another as they literally have each other’s back – in service, or in civilian life; they stand together in a life-long connection. This camaraderie extends to the family of Veterans which can be felt through this composition as well. It can connect with relatives, friends, and fellow service people, creating a space for reflection from any path of life. The clay enlargement is shown below...        We just completed our installation of Gary Alsum's bronze "Mother Cabrini" at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church vehicular entry located on Cabrini Drive in Lafayette, Colorado. Thanks everyone who helped make this placement a success!  UPDATE 8/15/21: Looking pretty finished in bronze with a fresh patina at Bronze Services of Colorado  Conceptual rendering of proposed Mother Cabrini sculpture, UPDATE 2/18/21: Gary Alsum and the National Sculptors' Guild were selected to sculpt Mother Cabrini for the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church vehicular entry located on Cabrini Drive in Lafayette, Colorado. Gary elected to depict Mother Cabrini, (also known as Saint Frances Cabrini), with children to show the nun's lifelong dedication to helping the poor, the sick, immigrants and those less fortune; forming schools and orphanages around the world in the late 1800's. The bronze sculpture will be 8-ft tall, mounted on a trio of off-set hexagonal sandstone for an overall height of 11-12-feet. A natural pathway will be laid to allow visitors to experience the sculpture's details. We anticipate installation in late-Spring 2021. About Cabrini... The youngest of thirteen children, Frances Cabrini was born on July 15, 1850 in a small village called S’ant Angelo Lodigiano near the city of Milan, Italy. She grew up enthralled by the stories of missionaries and made up her mind to join a religious order. Because of her frail health, she was not permitted to join the Daughters of the Sacred Heart who had been her teachers and under whose guidance she obtained her teaching certificate. However, in 1880, with seven young women, Frances founded the Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She was as resourceful as she was prayerful, finding people who would donate what she needed in money, time, labor and support. She and her sisters wanted to be missionaries in China; she visited Rome to obtain an audience with Pope Leo XIII. The Pope told Frances to go “not to the East, but to the West” to New York rather than to China as she had expected. She was to help the thousands of Italian immigrants already in the United States. In 1889, New York seemed to be filled with chaos and poverty, and into this new world stepped Mother Frances Cabrini and her sister companions. Cabrini organized catechism and education classes for the Italian immigrants and provided for the needs of the many orphans. She established schools and orphanages despite tremendous odds. Soon, requests for her to open schools came to Frances Cabrini from all over the world. She traveled to Europe, Central and South America and throughout the United States. She made 23 trans-Atlantic crossings and established 67 institutions: schools, hospitals and orphanages. Her activity was relentless until her death. On December 22, 1917, in Chicago, she died. In 1946, she was canonized a saint by Pope Pius XII in recognition of her holiness and service to mankind and was named Patroness of Immigrants in 1950. Process, from maquette to cast bronze enlargement                  The National Sculptors’ Guild installed 18 public art placements in 2020, truly a triumph for the challenges we all faced in the year. We are excited to have several new projects set to install in 2021 that we will be sharing in the near future.
Our 2020 public art placements are... (click titles to learn more) My Heart is in Your Hands, Jane DeDecker, Downey, CA Homeward/Monarch, Joe Norman, Downey, CA Mock Orange, Michael Warrick, Whittier, CA Time, Carol Gold, Bend, OR Between the Lines, Jane DeDecker, Loveland, CO Leaps and Bounds, Daniel Glanz, Brighton, CO Sweet Dreams & Grassland Trio, Daniel Glanz, Brighton, CO Mockingbird Tree, Michael Warrick, Southlake, TX On a Roll, Jack Hill, Downey, CA From a Different Perspective, Jane DeDecker, Downey, CA Infinite Dance, Carol Gold, Downey, CA Tree of Life, Clay Enoch, Downey, CA Burro Trio, Jane DeDecker, Southlake, TX Bamboo, Tim Cotterill (The Frogman), Joplin, MO Keeping the Ball Rolling, Jane DeDecker, Edmond, OK On a Roll, Jack Hill, Edmond, OK Rev. Pond, Denny Haskew, Shakopee, MN Tried and True, Gary Alsum, Edmond, OK We've now placed 530 public art monuments since 1992! Special thanks to all the people that helped make these placements happen, from fabrication to transport and installation, everyone pulled together in a time we had to stay apart.
#SculptureIsATeamSport #PublicArt #California #Texas #Missouri #Oklahoma #Minnesota #Oregon #Colorado #InstaArt #InstaGood #InstaLove #NSG #NationalSculptorsGuild #ArtistDriven #ClientMinded
 NSG Fellow, Gary Alsum's bronze dancer "Celebration" has been a part of an Art on Loan project in Owensboro, KY for the past two years. We just learned that the sculpture was so loved by the community that they are purchasing it for their permanent collection. Congrats to artist and Public Art appreciators! Donor Evelyn Traut studies the latest NSG installation, Gary Alsum's Wolverine custom designed for the entrance of TRAUT CORE Knowledge School in Fort Collins, Colorado.   We happily announce another successful public art placement as National Sculptors' Guild Fellow Gary Alsum's "Jazz" was installed this week in front of the Community Arts Center in Fairfield, Ohio. Thanks to the city for a great winter installation. see more of Gary's work. #Installation #PublicArt #Jazz #Fairfield #Ohio #Alsum #NSG
 "Honor" by Gary Alsum, National Sculptors' Guild 346 One of the first sights you will see when you turn onto Main Street from Highway 49 is the Veterans Memorial Park of Rector. A life-size bronze sculpture of a World War II soldier stands at-rest atop a native Arkansas boulder in the center. Created by Artist/Sculptor Gary Alum, the soldier is a stunning tribute to every man and woman who has served or is serving in any branch of the United States Armed Service. Presiding over the park flies the flag of the United States of America; stretching outward in an arc flies the Arkansas flag, the Rector flag and the flags of each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. You will also see the POW/MIA flag included in the array. Wide walkways and beautifully maintained landscaping present a welcoming invitation to stroll through the grounds and visit the memorial granite pavers that line the walkways honoring local men and women who have served. The visitor center and park headquarters, formerly the old jail/water office sets at the north end of the park. A founders’ wall stands on either side of the statue to recognize those individuals and organizations who made substantial contributions to the development of the Veterans Memorial Park. Dedicated in 2011 the park is the product of a collaborative effort of the Veterans Memorial Park Association and the City of Rector Downtown Central, Inc. The land for the park was given to the City of Rector Downtown Central by Mrs. Pauline Crockett, Sherland and Barbara Hamilton, George Jernigan and Robert Jernigan. Ongoing support for the park is provided by the Veterans Memorial Park Association in partnership with the City of Rector Downtown Central, a Main Street Arkansas program of the Department of Arkansas Heritage. July 3rd we finished installing NSG Fellow Gary Alsum’s stainless steel and dakota sandstone composition “Rangeview Herons” at Centerra's Rangeview Three offices in Loveland, Colorado. Shown here are snapshots of the installation of the multifaceted sandstone and fabricated metal sculpture.  A Prospersous Past, A Bright Future by Gary Alsum and the National Sculptors' Guild, placed at Bridge and Cabbage Brighton, CO “A Prosperous Past, a Bright Future” by Fellow Gary Alsum and the National Sculptors' Guild was placed in Brighton, at Bridge St and Cabbage Ave, commissioned through the city of Brighton, Colorado. The public artwork features two sculptural elements. The first element speaks to Brighton’s rich history and sense of family. The piece depicts a father, mother and young daughter. The father’s occupation is vague so that the viewer could see him as a farmer, a miner or any profession that made Brighton what it is today. On the ground next to the mother’s foot is a basket of vegetables, a nod to Brighton’s agricultural past and future. The second element connects to the city’s current boom and its continued success in the future. This sculpture depicts a young boy, playing with a train and a toy airplane. The train is symbolic of Brighton’s past. The airplane is symbolic of Brighton’s steady economic growth as a result of its proximity to DIA. Gary states that “The challenge of sculpture is depicting the movement and energy of a single moment.” Placing a great deal of focus on movement and grace, Gary’s sculptures pass on the freedom, joy and curiosity that children display on a daily basis. NSG Public Art Placement #287 
NSG Public Art Placement #167
The sculpture is dedicated to Jeff Graham. Jeff Graham was born in Great Bend, Kansas on October 22, 1960. He grew up in Hudson, Colorado. Jeff graduated from Weld Central High School and earned his business degree from the University of Northern Colorado. After college, he went to work for Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company in California. In the 1990’s, he returned to Colorado and to the mountains that he loved. Jeff died in a car accident on May 29, 2001 in Montrose, Colorado. Jeff was a loving son, brother, uncle and friend. He was fun loving, sweet and had a generous spirit. His death left a huge void in the lives of all that knew and loved him. We know that he would love this beautiful piece of art dedicated to his memory. This sculpture was selected by Nancy and Diana Graham not only because of its appropriate subject matter to the park but also because Jeff Graham loved dogs and the outdoors. The sculpture provides a focal point for the square. It adds a pulse to the square that draws people in towards the center. Without the sculpture, the courtyard would feel empty and without meaning. All of this was created because two very caring and loving people wished to convey their love of their son and brother by sharing it with others. This act of kindness celebrates that which is best about the human spirit and our bonds with each other. The creation of this small open room in this massive park has made it hallowed ground. It is an ongoing reminder of how important we are to each other, to our families, our neighborhoods, and our community. It is what makes Brighton a very special place.
The City of Glendale, Arizona added a couple more sculptures from the National Sculptors' Guild. Charter member, Gary Alsum's "Frog Legs" and "Picture Books were both added to the city's growing public art collection in 1997. "Frog Legs" is a bronze sculpture depicting a couple of kids playing the school yard game of Leap Frog, It is full of motion captured in a single moment. "Picture Books" is appropriately located at the Glendale Public Library (59th Ave and Brown St) as it depicts two young children reading books with their dog. The pages feature illustrations as line drawings. One can sit next to the kids and be part of the artwork in this bronze bench artwork. NSG Public Art Placements 42 and 43, 1997 #Throwback #NationalSculptorsGuild #PublicArt #NSG #GaryAlsum #Figurative #Bronze #GlendaleAZ #SculptureIsATeamSport #ArtistDriven #ClientMinded
 Gary Alsum's "Grandpa's Workbench" was placed at the entry of Deines Lumber in Loveland, Colorado in 1996. The sculpture depicts the generational tie of a grandfather creating stilts with, and for, his grandkids. One child is already at play on their new toy, while the other watches attentively as the grandparent pieces the wood together. Plains, buckets of nails and other tools are scattered on and below the workbench. NSG Public Art Placement 37 #NationalSculptorsGuild #PublicArt #NSG #Generational #GaryAlsum #Colorado #Loveland #SculptureIsATeamSport #ArtistDriven #ClientMinded  National Sculptors' Guild Fellow Gary Alsum's bronze sculpture "Giant Steps" was placed in Denver in 1995.
A child makes strides on a pair of stilts in this timeless sculpture. NSG public art placement 31  National Sculptors' Guild Fellow Gary Alsum's bronze "And They're Off!" was placed in Denver in 1995.
A fun depiction of two kids on a tricycle - the speed and excitement of hitting the sidewalk is shown in their faces. NSG public art placement 30 |
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JK Design/NSGJK Designs’ Principal, John Kinkade, founded the National Sculptors’ Guild in 1992 with a handful of sculptors who wished to find thoughtful public applications for their work. Representation has since grown to over 20 contracted sculptors and painters; plus an extended network of 200+ artists that our design team works with on a regular basis to meet each project's unique needs. Archives
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