Earlier this year, the High Plains Arts Council selected sculptures to donate to the City of Loveland's Public Art program.  HPAC hosts the annual "Sculpture in the Park" show, using proceeds help fund sculpture additions, landscaping and other improvements for the Benson Sculpture Garden. They will be celebrating the 40th Sculpture in the Park Show and Sale this August. Among this year's contribution is NSG Fellow, Denny Haskew's 'Strength of the Maker'.

“'Strength of the Maker' right from its title to the strength shown even in the toes is a statement of how I view my very inner belief. Nature and all things natural have always been of the utmost importance to me all my life. Believing in a God, the Great Spirit, Buddha, Mohammed, the Mysterious One, and other beings of greatness is important. I feel they all exude the same message: a life of oneness, love, honesty, and a source of emotional strength. 'Strength of the Maker' is my visual version of how I see my Maker.” -Denny Haskew
 
Denny Haskew, a member of the Potawatomi Citizen Nation, is known for creating art that reflects Native American and Southwestern culture. His work has been described as intensely personal and honest, reflecting recurring themes of spirit, love, forgiveness, healing, endurance, and strength.

Recalling visiting the inaugural Sculpture in the Park Show and Sale in 1984, Denny shares, “My mom knew that I was messing around with wood carving and stuff, and so I came, and I saw sculpture for the first time with that show,” he said. “It was a lightbulb going off in your head. This is what I should do, and I stayed. I never went back.”  Undeterred by his lack of formal training, Haskew dedicated a year to apprenticeship. His determination paid off when he entered five pieces in the next Sculpture in the Park Show and Sale, using the earnings to expand his portfolio further. 

As a charter member of the National Sculptors' Guild, an artist driven organization and specialists in public art placements, Denny has successfully installed 50 monumental sculptures facilitated by the Guild since 1992.

Denny has gone on to win numerous awards for his sculptures, 'Strength of the Maker' is among his most successful compositions, winner of 5 'Best of Show' Awards; other prominent placements of the edition include: National Museum of the American Indian - Smithsonian Institution in DC; the Gilcrease Museum, OK; the Barona Band of Mission Indians, CA; and the Wolf Creek Indian Village & Museum, Bastian, VA; Briscoe Western Art Museum, San Antonio, TX; District Courthouse, Flagstaff, AZ; City of Grand Junction, CO; Canyon City, CO; and private collections throughout the US. 

The installation of his final casting of “Strength of the Maker” in Benson Sculpture Garden honors the roots of a successful art career, and a life of oneness, love, honesty, and emotional strength.

Update 9/22/2023: The City of Loveland has accepted the Guild's proposed donation from the Council of Catholic Women and a site has been selected. 'Trail of Forgiveness' by Denny Haskew will be placed in Spring 2024. 

The site is at the city's Police & Courts Building at 810 E. 10th Street. The Visual Arts Commission has expressed their gratitude for this generous donation to Loveland’s public art collection. The sculpture is meant to be open to interpretation by the viewer with the hope that it will convey a loving and spiritual message meaningful to all.

So pleased that three NSG members have had sculptures selected to add to the City of Loveland Art in Public Places' collection at Benson Sculpture Garden this year. One of the best sculpture gardens in the nation is in our backyard and is filled with lots of our artists’ work. And soon, there'll be more! If you haven’t seen it, come visit!

Congratulations to Craig Campbell, Jack Hill and Joe Norman!

#CraigCampbell #JoeNorman #JackHill #NSG #PublicArt #BensonPark #LovelandCO #NationalSculptorsGuild #Sculpture

Via @lovelandpublicart: In early February 2022, the Loveland Visual Arts Commission approved the gracious donation of the six new sculptures for the Benson Sculpture Gardens by the Loveland High Plains Arts Council (LHPAC). This year’s selection of artworks continues the legacy of sculpture contributions to the Loveland community. These sculptures will be installed in early summer, with a formal dedication during the second weekend in July.  
This year's selected pieces:
1. Abracadabra; Craig Campbell; Bronze – 84” x 60” x 48”
2. On a Roll; Jack Hill; Bronze – 84” x 48” x 28”
3. Hangin’ Around; Mark Hopkins; Bronze – 66” x 52” x 36”
4. Open Window; Ted Schaal; Bronze, Stainless Steel, 24K Gold –108” x 48” x 24”
5. Monarch Girl; Joe Norman; Stainless Steel – 72”
6. Power of Thought; Victor Issa; Bronze – 120” x 88” x 41”

Update 12/6/2018: The Legacy Project is our 500th Public Art Placement!
More elements and finish work has been going in since placing the sculpture. We anticipate a great celebration once the plaza of The Foundry opens to the public.

Update 11/20/2018: We were downtown completing the installation this afternoon.

​The bronze is in! "Reaching Our Goal" by Denny Haskew and the National Sculptors' Guild is the final element to go in of The Rotary Club of Thompson Valley's Legacy Project at The Foundry 
​​
The Legacy Project is the National Sculptors’ Guild’s 500th Public Art Placement!

We are so excited to be celebrating this moment in Loveland, Colorado where we've been headquartered since 1992.

​We have donated our portion of the project back to the placement to give back to the community that has supported us through the years.

 #FullCircle #ReachingOurGoal

Update 11/16/2018: Today was a huge step in the installation of The Legacy Project. Over 68,000 lbs of Dakota sandstone was craned into the site and set by Denny Haskew and the National Sculptors' Guild. Next week the final stone and bronze element will be placed.

The Rotary Club of Thompson Valley's "Legacy Project" will activate the plaza of The Foundry, a new development that is transforming Loveland's historic downtown. The installation includes "Reaching Our Goal" bronze sculpture by National Sculptors' Guild Charter Member Denny Haskew

Update 11/14/2018: Our 500th Public Art Placement is going in this week! Stay tuned to our social media posts for updates. We're so excited that we're celebrating this moment in Loveland, CO where we've been headquartered since 1992. #FullCircle

Pictured to the left is the top stone being drilled at Art Castings of Colorado where the bronze was cast. The bronze is cast and ready for patina. 

The other stone monoliths are being loaded to deliver to the site. The installation will take a couple of days of craning in 34 tons of stone. The bronze is scheduled to go in next Tuesday to finish it off.  ​​#ReachingOurGoal

Update 10/15/2018: The metal has been poured, time to put the pieces back together. 

Pictured is artist Denny Haskew at Art Castings of Colorado where the bronze is being cast.

​#ReachingOurGoal

Update 8/23/18: Appropriately so, the National Sculptors' Guild anticipates this placement, which we are contributing our share to, to be our 500th public art monumental placement. What better place for such a milestone than in our backyard.

We are happy to share this pivotal moment with Lovelanders:
Denny Haskew - NSG Charter Member
The Rotary Club of Thompson Valley
​The Foundry - downtown Loveland's newest development
Art Castings of Colorado - Foundry, since 1972
And all the other talented artists and subcontractors who make our creations come to life for the public to enjoy.
​#ReachingOurGoal

Update 6/5/18: It may not look like much yet, but we have over 60,000 pounds of stone going into this art placement. Many of the sandstone monoliths will be etched with information about the successes of the Rotary Club of Thompson Valley.

This image shows laying out templates in preparation of sandblasting the narrative into one of the stones. 

5/15/2018: Columbine Gallery and the National Sculptors' Guild are pleased to team up with the Rotary Club of Thompson Valley on their "Legacy Project" in Loveland, Colorado. 

The Legacy Project celebrates the 30th Anniversary (2019) of the Rotary Club of Thompson Valley. The larger-than-life bronze sculpture depicts a woman helping a teenage boy surmount a stone precipice tying into the Rotary motto, "Service Above Self". Part of this service has been the club's support of Polio Plus, a major contributor to the eradication of Polio world-wide.

"Reaching Our Goal" by NSG Fellow Denny Haskew will be placed in the plaza of The Foundry, a new development that is transforming Loveland's historic downtown, set to open Fall 2018. The art placement will coincide with the opening.

The National Sculptors' Guild designed additional stone elements to activate the plaza and provide area's of recognition to donors and the club's efforts. 

We have contributed $50,000 plus design work to the project, our way of giving back to community for all the support we've received over the past 26 years. 

Haskew is a renowned figurative artist and a Charter Member of the National Sculptors' Guild. His work is in numerous prestigious collections including the Smithsonian Institution, DC; the Gilcrease Museum, OK; and the Boulder and Colorado Springs campuses of the University of Colorado.

​Denny Haskew currently resides in Loveland, Colorado where he is actively engaged in the art industry as a sculptor. He received his degree from the University of Utah, then served two years in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. 

Having spent numerous years as a guide and ski instructor, Denny has learned to love the rivers and mountains of the western states of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, and Utah.  After moving to Loveland, a hub of successful working sculptors, he wasted no time in getting monumental sculpture experience through working with renowned sculptors including Fritz White and Kent Ullberg.  Since 1987, Denny has created and placed dozens of monumental compositions; spanning the spectrum of the figurative genre.

Introducing Colorado to its Artistic Talent" - April 24 - May 29, 2016 at the Loveland Museum/Gallery. 
Opening Night Gala: April 23.

Over the past 6 months JK Designs' Principal, John Kinkade, has been pouring much of his knowledge, time and energy into the upcoming 25th Annual Governor's Art Show Happily we are seeing great acknowledgements as the events are beginning to unfold including the opening of Re-Fine-d Gallery this Friday. We believe the art community (artists and collectors alike) will love the show and all the extras that the Board Members have planned.... Beyond the Calendar of Events there will also be artists demonstrations at varied locations each weekend for the duration of the show. Columbine's Alyson Kinkade will be painting April 30th at Studio Vino, and Guest demonstrators Sabrina Stiles and Rodgers Naylor will be at Columbine Gallery May 14th.

“This event is not only an opportunity for Colorado artists to show their work,” says board member John Kinkade, “but also to introduce Coloradans to the amazing portfolios of many artistic talents we have in our state.” Indeed, this year’s show features works in a variety of media by 55 artists exploring myriad themes. More than 300 artists submitted work to the juried show, and while there are many returning and established exhibitors, nearly 25 percent of the participants are new to the event. 
--- To mark the silver anniversary, the show includes an exhibit honoring its “legacy” artists. “This show has been instrumental in introducing new Colorado talent early in their careers,” Kinkade says. “We’re bringing these artists back to the show through the legacy program.” Works owned by the City of Loveland from each of this year’s legacy artists—Fritz White, Kim English, and Quang Ho—are on display in the museum’s Green Room. English and Ho also bring new works available for purchase. 
---Proceeds from the show benefit a number of causes and groups supported by two local Rotary clubs. They also have helped to establish art scholarships for area students.
click below to read the full Southwest Art article,

Columbine Artists in this years exhibit:
Gary Alsum
Carolyn Barlock
Amelia Caruso
Jane DeDecker
Clay Enoch
Dan Glanz
Alyson Kinkade
Amy Laugesen
Jon Paul Price
Stephen Shachtman

Enjoy seeing their work in the show as well as the gallery this Spring.