Update 9/22/2023: All Summer, into Fall, we've been at work on this multifaceted placement, craning out the bronze sculpture from the NSG Sculpture Garden to the foundry, picking out the stone pavers at Tribble Stone, checking on the basalt columns in Seattle, making templates for the sculpture and the columns, reworking the structural stainless steel undercarriage of the sculpture to fit the new engineering requirements, creating structures for the stone. Strategizing on the logistics of material gathering, packing, loading, shipping and installation timing. It's complex, but we know this plaza will be striking in the end and cannot wait to see the lights that first evening by the river in Little Rock.

6/20/23: The National Sculptors' Guild were contracted by Sculpture at the River Market to create "Inspiration Plaza" designed by John Kinkade for Little Rock, Arkansas.

A 16-foot circle of dark stone pavers, at the center of the plaza will be the bronze sculpture "I Am You", by Denny Haskew. At 14-feet tall, this is the largest self supported cast bronze canopy to date. It is an uplifting piece about human connection. The inside portion of the drapery is covered in 22-kt gold leaf. The sculpture will be based on 3.5-foot basalt columns uplit by embedded light fixtures. 

A buff colored paver pathway will curve away from the center circle. These pavers will match the Dakota sandstone used near the site. On each end of the curved walkway will be four 7-foot tall basalt columns capped with stainless steel light diffusers that are patinaed gold designed and fabricated by Mark Leichliter. The caps will range in height from 24” to 32”. Each cap will be customized to fit the irregular basalt columns. The columns will be natural on all sides except for the side facing the center of the walkway which will be polished. The polished sides will be engraved with inspirational verse. One column will have two polished sides to have the name of the plaza, the date, the donor’s names and the artists/designer’s names engraved on. Each of the polished surfaces will be uplit by a light fixture that is embedded into the stone pavement.

The rest of the plaza will include 24” x 12” pavers that are natural on top and bottom, and sawn sides. Six trees will be planted in the two ellipse landscape areas. Six approx. 2-foot cube donor benches can optionally be added in a semi-circle lining the grass areas of the center plaza to allow a space to sit and contemplate the sculpture.

We believe this placement, central to the River Front Park, will draw and unite the community together and are proud to be part of it.

The University of Central Oklahoma in conjunction with the City of Edmond have commissioned Jane DeDecker and the National Sculptors' Guild to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Edmond's first female police officer. Dr. Elaine Bartgis started as a student at Central State University in 1970 majoring in nursing, then switched to criminal justice. She started as a dispatcher at the Edmond Police Department while still studying at CSU. Her connections to the University and City of Edmond make Dr. Bartgis an important figure for the community to honor.

Her accolades and influences are vast, Dr. Bartgis worked for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) in the 1980's, completed her PhD in 1994, and was hired as a faculty member for criminal justice at UCO in 2004. She was instrumental in forming the School of Criminal Justice (SCJ) serving as the first Assistant Director of the SCJ and Assistant Dean in the College of Liberal Arts.  Additionally, she was the creator of the Crime and Intelligence Analysis Master's Program at UCO. Dr. Bartis retired from UCO in 2013, although she remained as an adjunct post retirement. Clearly a driven person who endlessly contributed to the community.

Jane will capture this accomplished individual during her time with the Edmond police, circa 1970's. Her pose will provide a sense of determination and forward thinking, always looking to improve the criminal justice system. The sculpture will be cast in bronze and placed at the University in 2025. Initial clay sketch shown below.

1/4/2017: The Council of Catholic Women in Denver have selected, "Trail of Forgiveness" by Denny Haskew to contribute on their behalf in a community to be determined. The organization’s mission is to support, empower, and educate all women around the globe. 

The monumental sculpture (over 10ft tall) depicts a woman in prayer, the woman is a portrait of the artist's Potawatomi grandmother. "My grandmother's path was one like many others, full of life, love and sorrows. In learning my path I have asked what it is I need to learn and the answer was very clear. Forgiveness." -DH

The cast bronze figure is mounted to a sandstone monolith that has a unique L-shape created from the removal of slabs by the quarry. This L feature in the stone provides a sense of protection for the woman, placing her in a sheltered space while she connects with Creator.

Trail of Forgiveness was originally commissioned by the Barona Band of Mission Indians, Lakeside, CA in 1997. Our design team won an AIA award for the site-design that included 5 monumental sculptures. The maquette was previously created by Denny in honor of his grandmother, “Trail of Prayers” won the first-place prize at the Casa Grande O’Dhamtash Show.

​Each casting in the limited edition is patinaed by Denny using a special technique he developed to match the bronze to its unique stone, providing a sense of the figure emerging from this natural element.

"My themes are recurring: Spirit, Love, Forgiveness, Healing, Relationship, Endurance, the Sacredness of the Human Spirit, and the Strength in each of us, the Power of all that is Natural. "Moulding Our Future" embodies all of these messages." 
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"Moulding Our Future" has been warmly received around the world and the recipient of many awards. The bronze sculpture is 86" tall and finished in a multicolored patina.

Update 6/10/22: We've figured the footprint and and picked out a stone from the quarry.

​The site has changed from what was originally planned, but we think for the better as the silhouette of the fire-fighter will be highly visible from the street. The word "Protect" will be viewed as you approach the building from the parking lot.

It saddens us to share that Carol Gold passed away August 18, 2022. Her daughter's words embody the loss we all feel, "The hole she has left is huge." This is true for us on a personal level, as much as it is, a loss to the  art community at large.

Over the past thirty years, Fairfax, California artist, Carol Gold's work has been widely exhibited in the U.S. and Canada. Her sculpture has received numerous accolades at national exhibitions including the John Cavanaugh Memorial Award from the National Sculpture Society and multiple feature articles in renowned publications.

Carol has been a fellow with the National Sculptors' Guild since 1996. With our design team, the prolific sculptor placed hundreds of smaller works and dozens of public art commissions. Each monumental placement promote a sense of pride and community cohesion where they are installed 

Early on we placed a jovial depiction of two figures in a sort of kite-like dance called "Wind" in Coos-Bay, Oregon.

​Another vibrant sculpture "Fiesta" was first placed at the pedestrian entry to the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library. This sculpture has since also been added to the permanent collections of the city's of Cerritos, California and Loveland, Colorado. 

Her monumental "Story Teller" has greeted visitors to the Whittwood Branch Library in Whittier, CA since 2007. This exuberant figure brings their narrative to life; stone benches provide a spot for visitors to sit and read, or listen to library orators. 

"Conversation" has been placed in Paramount, California and Boulder, Colorado where two figures face each other, connecting through thoughtful discussion. And the bronze figures in "Communion" take in the view and create a quiet area in a natural space of a Northern Colorado residential park for visitors to take a rest from the trail.

In 2010, her 13-foot tall bronze and stainless steel sculpture, "Time" was installed at North Central Michigan College in Petoskey, MI. This quickly became a favorite “photo op” destination for students and visitors to the campus. Additional castings were later added to the City's of Bend, Oregon and Loveland, Colorado.

Perhaps the least expected monument is "Belle", a larger-than-life sized Holstein cow commissioned by the City of Bellflower, CA as a nod to their start as a dairy-producing town. Since Gold grew up on a dairy farm in western Massachusetts, this subject was actually not a far stretch for her; she annually included an animal sculpture or two in her portfolio of small works. 

Her 14-foot tall sculpture "Infinite Dance" was added to the Town of Pittsfield, MA in the town’s central common, the heart of the community; followed by placements in Little Rock, Arkansas and her final installation in Downey, California. This is perhaps the closest to a self-portrait of the monuments - depicting a figure dancing joyfully on the top of a stainless steel ring. Carol was both a serious and studious person, she stayed current with politics and social issues, but that glint in her eye as she looks up at you (for most of us) showed her wisdom about the balance of life; to sometimes set all that aside and move to the music.

We are so grateful for the time we have known and worked with Carol Gold to share her creative energy and vision; her artistic legacy will contribute for generations to come.  - Alyson and John Kinkade, National Sculptors' Guild

​In 1919, the National Woman's Party led by Alice Paul began sewing stars on a giant purple, white, and gold flag. Each time a state ratified the Nineteenth Amendment, a new star would be sewn on the flag. 

Inspired by the Suffrage Movement flag of the early 1900's, we propose the flag be placed singularly as a monolithic form sculpted in bronze. This sculpture honors the 100 year commemoration of the ratification of the 19th Amendment: Women's right to vote. It also represents the present day progress, and serves as a reminder of the continued efforts being made toward equality. 
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This commemorative placement honoring women's rights is particularly fitting for the City of Paramount as they celebrate its 2020 election of an all-female City Council. ​