Update 2/20/2025: If you are in the LA area, we hope you'll attend the dedication next week, February 26th at 10am.
"I wish to take this time to thank everyone who has made the Cerritos Tribute to Public Safety a success. We could not have created this memorial plaza without every member of our team. The professionalism, expertise, and dedication to quality that each individual brings are integral to every aspect of the project. From the subgrade work that will remain unseen, to the hand-painted engravings on the stone and the final wax application on the bronze, we rely on our team to bring our designs to life exactly as they were envisioned. We are incredibly proud to present this beautiful space, a testament to the combined efforts of all involved. It stands as a tribute to those who uphold safety within our communities—an exceptional group of individuals who are forever deserving of our admiration and gratitude.
Our gratitude is also extended to the City of Cerritos for the opportunity to create this tribute plaza for its community. Several city staff and council members have supported our efforts to bring this design to life. Having worked with the City of Cerritos for over 25 years, placing dozens of sculptures within the city’s impressive public art program, we consider this project one of our most significant. It is an honor to commemorate and highlight the LA County Sheriff and Fire Departments, as well as to memorialize the fallen detectives and K-9 Officer Jack. We are equally honored to create a space to remember those who lost their lives during the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States. The final elements of our design are set to be installed in the coming weeks. We hope that everyone in attendance will have the opportunity to return to this space once it is complete and find moments of respite and remembrance whenever they are needed. To bring this plaza to fruition, we have collaborated with a team spanning coast to coast. The stone elements were quarried and executed in Vermont; the design, artwork, and coordination were led from Colorado; and the landscape, hardscape, and installation were carried out by a skilled team from California. A collaborative process always leads to a grander statement, and this plaza is a testament to that." - Alyson Kinkade, Assistant Director, National Sculptors' Guild As the Guild's Director, John Kinkade, always says, 'Sculpture is a Team Sport.' We are especially proud of this team for their collaboration and dedication in bringing this project to life...
Update 2/18/2025: Last week's rain really helped to establish the new sod and our landscaping team AW Professional Gardening and Landscaping were able to give the sod a mow, install the lighting fixtures and plant the beds, including the Iceland Roses in the 9/11 Memorial. This greenery adds so much to the overall design for the upcoming dedication.
Update 2/14/2025: After two days rain finally stopped enough to remove the plastic and let the site dry off before our landscaping team AW Professional Gardening and Landscaping plants and installs the light fixtures next week. The bronze figures are veiled until the dedication. A bit austere for now.
Update 2/12/2025: We've just installed the granite memorials (in the rain). They look great and the structure of the design is really developing with this addition. Here are a few images from the installation. Each block weighs approximately 700lbs. Special thanks to our team of the day: Ricky and crew from Advanced Aquatics Technology, Anthony from Capital Crane Services, Raffaele and Antonio from The New Venetian, and Alyson from the National Sculptors' Guild.
Update 1/27/2025: Today the bronze sculptures by Gary Alsum are being installed. Our team includes Advanced Aquatics Technology, Capital Crane Services and John Kinkade from the National Sculptors' Guild.)
Update 1/20/24: Meanwhile, in Vermont, our second order of granite memorials and walls are being fabricated using the age-old process of pulling huge blocks from the quarry, rough cutting, followed by precision shaping to scale, a 7-step polishing series, engraving then hand painting the engraved lettering. Pictured is one of the memorials ready to crate and send to California. Thank you Rock of Ages and The New Venetian for putting together a beautiful product in record time.
Update 11/27/24: AW Professional Gardening and Landscaping uncovered many surprises when hand-digging out the tree wells. The selected trees are going to look great once planted, but we need more space for their roots before that can happen.
Update 10/31/2024: The structural footings for the artwork and concrete plaza/walkways are in. Tree grates have been placed as well. Thanks Advanced Concrete Specialists! Next our landscaping team from AW Professional Gardening and Landscaping will get some time on the site.
Update 9/4/24: Gary Alsum's sculptures have been finished with a deep golden patina at Bronze Services of Loveland, They look incredible and ready to ship to California once crated at Shipper's Supply Custom Pack.
Update 6/24/2024: The site is taking shape! Forms have been constructed by Advanced Concrete Specialists to prepare for concrete to go in. It's very exciting to see this progress on something we've been planning for so long!
Update 5/17/2024: We've hit a MAJOR roadblock - one the Guild has not experienced in over 30 years of creating public art placements, our stone order was never started despite ordering with money-down in June 2022. We've been in regular communications with this company, and they repetitively assured us of progression and timeline. It was set to ship this week, and we just learned from a new person taking over after a bankruptcy, the first we heard of anything. The new management reviewed the order number and it was never started and we're likely not getting our money back since they didn't even notify us of the bankruptcy. We feel bamboozled from a company we've had success with in the past on multiple other orders since 2008. The walls were to be shipped in the next week after in-person approval, and installed before the end of March. We've already broken ground, the walls were to go in next, before any other site work. Brainstorming to follow...
Update 3/20/2024: Our Landscape Construction Plans are being reviewed, once signed off we can break ground! Several requests from the city have been incorporated in a change order, the overall design remains true to our initial vision for the memorial plaza.
Update 2/28/2024: Bronze Services Foundry has done a phenomenal job finishing the bronze, Gary Alsum's sculptures are ready for patina and we're one step closer to seeing these placed at the City of Cerritos, California later this year.
Update 8/23/2023: 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 4/3/2023: We're continuing to work with the city to approve all the engravings.
This project has more language included than most of our projects, we are including the Sheriff's Department Motto, the Fire Department's Motto, A poem for reflection on the 9/11 memorial and the names of fallen detectives on the Sheriff's memorial. The title and insignia will also be included. That's a lot of letters to triple check before it's literally set in stone!
Update 2/1/2023: The recently approved enlargement of the Female Deputy Officer has begun the casting process. Images show wax has been pulled from the mold, ready to transform into bronze. She's already looking great!
 Back to the Drawing Board
Update 1/11/2023: It has been decided by the City that the K-9 unit should memorialize the community's beloved fallen officer, K-9 Jack, and additional tactical gear to be worn by the K-9 handler. New source reference images are being sent to help artist Gary Alsum rework the sculpture. This change adds a few more months to the schedule, but we are pleased to be able to honor such an important part of the Sheriff's department.
K-9 Jack was 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 
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. This sculpture just needs that helmet to be welded and metal chased and its ready for patina.. 
Update 12/11/2022: We've drawn up the landscape plans with help from Diaz Landscape Architecture so that site work can soon commence.
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 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.  NSG Director John Kinkade creating the model to be presented to the city
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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Update 8/30/2024: Site work for the Armed Forces Memorial commissioned by the City of Paramount has been underway by our team in California, Advanced Aquatics. They have done a superb job forming and pouring the 15-ft diameter foundation for the granite Seals to lay on. Meanwhile, Clark Memorials in Alabama has completed the bronze elements. This memorial has involved individuals and companies from across the nation; Colorado, Washington, Alabama, and California; how fitting for a space that honors those who serve and remembers those who have sacrificed all for our country. 
Update 7/10/2024: The Armed Forces Memorial is making big progress, the stone for the circular plaza has been cut, finished and etched with the Armed Forces Seals. Special thanks to Coverall Stone for making this portion happen.
You can see from our conceptual approach, this is a major part of the Armed Forces Memorial. This placement is next to the Veteran's Memorial Plaza by NSG charter member Mark Leichliter that we placed in 2007, and the soldier will be facing the American Flag that is set between the two memorials. Mark helped us again with this project providing the vector graphics for the seals that were etched into the stone.
Update 7/17/2024: We've installed Denny Haskew's "White Deer of Autumn" at Gurley Hall on the UNM-Gallup campus. 'White Deer of Autumn' looks at home at UNM-Gallup, Denny's trademark patina against the rich adobe walls and clear New Mexico blue sky is just dynamic. Our team truly enjoyed working with everyone throughout this NMarts acquisition for the State of New Mexico's permanent collection. We hope the students and staff are enjoying the new sculpture on their campus.
“I was experimenting with planes in the design of my sculptures when I created White Deer of Autumn. The layers of her headdress and clothing are abstract lines that complement the woman's quiet yet seeing spirituality. At the time, I was looking for the truth, and I remember a woman in an E.S. Curtis photograph who stood silently, hidden in the forest, listening." I chose the title from a book called 'Wisdom Keepers' by Steve Wall and Harvey Arden (1990 Beyond Words Publishing, Inc., Hillsboro, OR). The collection of stories and poems by Native American spiritual elders include the following quote by a person named White Deer of Autumn: ". . . that all things are interrelated and an equal part of the whole; that we are like drops of rain which will one day return to the ocean; that we are like candles lit by the fire of the sun, forever a part of it.' Another poem from the book that inspired me is Consciousness by Chief Oren Lyons, shown above..." -DH Special thanks to Corry with Better Built Construction Services in San Rafael, for pouring the footing and assisting with the installation, and to the UNM-Gallup Faculty and Staff for all their great input helping to make this a successful placement for everyone involved. White Deer of Autumn is a bronze sculpture finished in the artist's signature patina that Denny developed making the figure appear to have been carved from stone. A standing cloaked female figure appears to be facing into the wind as a portion of the cloth on her right side pulls away in a soft curve front to back. Strong planes make up the cloth that the figure is enrobed in. Her stance and expression provide the viewer with a sense of strength and resolve.
About the Artist: Denny Haskew currently resides in Loveland, Colorado where he's been actively engaged in the art industry as a sculptor for over 35 years, specializing in figurative monuments.
As a Charter Member of the artist-driven organization the National Sculptors’ Guild, Haskew has designed and placed more than 50 monumental public sculpture placements with the NSG design team since 1992. Major collections include the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian, DC; Gilcrease Museum, OK; Briscoe Western Art Museum, TX; the cities of Cerritos, CA; Little Rock, AR and Edmond, OK; plus, multiple placements for the Shakopee Mdewakanton Dakota Sioux Community, MN, and the Barona Band of Mission Indians, CA. "The strength of my work ascends from the spirit of the people portrayed- Native Americans, Mayans, friends, children, people of the Great Plains and West. This same spirit connects each of us with the harmony of nature and one's relationship to another." -DH  Inspiration Plaza by the National Sculptors' Guild, Denny Haskew, John Kinkade, Mark Leichliter
Update 6/3/2024: It took all of the month of May to install the 8+ tons of stone pavers for Inspiration Plaza. It looks terrific. Can you see the bow-tie?? Our inspiration came from a special human who has transformed the River Front Park, #IYKYK The columns will be engraved next, followed by the installation of the sculptures the end of June. We look forward to sharing those images!
Update 4/17/2024: The National Sculptors’ Guild is on-site to oversee the installation of several elements for “Inspiration Plaza” a multifaceted art placement and public space designed by John Kinkade for Riverfront Park in Little Rock, Arkansas. It’s exciting to see over a years’ worth of work come together. And that’s a wrap for now… 8.5 tons of basalt from Coverall Stone Inc. is in place. Next up will be 8 tons of pavers from Tribble Stone followed by engraving and another crane date to place the bronze and stainless steel sculptures by Denny Haskew and Mark Leichliter. We can’t wait! Deep thanks to Jackie Collins & the Little Rock Parks and Rec team! “Inspiration Plaza” Designed by John Kinkade, Art Elements by Denny Haskew and Mark Leichliter, Site Development by the Little Rock Parks & Recreation, commissioned through the Sculpture at the River Market, special thanks to Colorado Waterjet Company, Art Castings of Colorado, Shippers' Supply Custom Pack, Landstar, Coverall Stone, and Tribble Stone Company Update 3/28/24: It may not look like much yet, but this is where public art starts, the foundation is where art meets site and becomes a beacon to gather. You can already see the design coming together. The stainless-steel braces, electrical conduit and concrete footing/pad are in and things are starting to taking shape in Little Rock. We're planning our trip to install the columns after this has properly cured! #GettingCloser  Update 10/18/2023: We’ve loaded up this morning and have #SculptureOnTheMove to #LittleRock AR. This truck has 5 sculptures, 2 bases, and a bunch of stainless steel structures for installation and footings. But wait, there’s more; we’ll have another two truck loads lined up for one of these projects. Special thanks to Denny Haskew, Mark Leichliter, Art Castings of Colorado, and Shippers' Supply Custom Pack for help with creating, packing and loading; and Landstar Trucking for getting our artwork to its new home where Sculpture at the River Market will receive it and Little Rock Parks & Recreation will help us install. #SculptureIsATeamSport
 Spot on match to the agreed upon sample. Update 6/12/2024: Joe has been applying color to Monarch Girl the last few weeks. Since only part of the sculpture is painted to create a contrast with the stainless steel, a thorough masking of the leaping girl elements happens first, then undercoating, then a series of coats in various hues to create a rich finish on the butterfly parts. The variation of oranges, from bright yellow-oranges to darker red-oranges, will enhance the depth of elements, particularly in the natural site. Once this cures, a series of clear-coat layers are applied, and we're really close to getting Monarch Girl installed. Update 6/7/2024: We dropped off the template and checked out the stone this morning, and look how much nature is loving this sculpture - two butterfly visited us while we reviewed the installation checklist.
Update 5/27/2024: The sculpture is coming along! Assembly and welding is almost done. What a treat to get to see a sculpture unfold. We can't wait to share the color phase!
Update 5/8/2024: We're in the cocoon phase on this project, and getting excited to see what emerges. The components are cut and artist Joe Norman is preparing them for welding (grinding the edges smooth, cleaning the surfaces and giving them texture to help the paint adhere, etc) 1/17/2024: Joe Norman and the National Sculptors' Guild were selected by the City of Gladstone, Missouri to place a sculpture in their Oak Grove Park. We are excited to bring a bright sculpture to this vibrant spot where the city's Theatre in the Park is annually held. The sculpture will be placed just before the first show of the summer. The sculpture we proposed is Monarch Girl, which depicts a girl jumping from one direction and a Monarch Butterfly from the other. Combining the natural beauty of Oak Grove Park with the activities that the park provides makes the sculpture "Monarch Girl" ideal for this site. A child gleefully leaps into action from one point of view while a colorful monarch butterfly in flight appears from another angle. One's change in perspective makes the imagery more or less clear, abstract in-between. The interactive quality of this piece will make it of interest to those who see it regularly as much as it will for someone who encounters it once.
Fabricated from stainless-steel with two sides painted in a vibrant epoxy paint, a natural sandstone base will make the overall scale 8ft x 5.5ft x 5ft.
Last night the City of Cerritos' council members approved the art selection committee's recommendation to proceed with our proposal "Milking Time" by Jane DeDecker. The sculpture will be enlarged to 110% life-size be DeDecker, cast in bronze, and placed in Cerritos, California in Summer of 2025 at a site to be determined.
We wished to honor the dairy farmers of Dairy Valley in their fortitude and family values, they established a space for their community to grow and prosper for generations. The bronze sculpture depicts a farmer's family taking on the task of milking one of their cows. The figures are sculpted in a manner that allows the viewer to insert their history and narrative to the piece. The scene on one side of the cow shows a man, (could be a farm hand, or a father or grandfather) he is doing the actual milking but his attention is drawn to a young girl (daughter or granddaughter) who has come in with a bowl to see if she can get some fresh milk for the cat that is rubbing at her heels. On the other side of the cow, a young person, (could be a field hand, or son/grandson) is seen spreading grain or pelleted feed from a bag for the cow to eat while being milked to keep her calm and happy during the process. Together the chore gets accomplished until the next milking later in the day.  The Cat will be finished in black and white with pink nose.
The Cow will be finished in black and white with pink udders. The three figures, stool, bucket and feed bag will be finished in a traditional brown.
 Denny Haskew's Strength of the Maker being installed in Benson Sculpture Garden this morning 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 4/30/2024: “Forgiveness" is home. A universal figure representative of a tūtū with outstretched arm draped in colorful leis as an offering to her island in an expression of aloha, compassion, gratitude, and acceptance. The benevolent gesture of Forgiveness is symbolic of the traditional Hawaiian customs of aloha and ho’okipa, the Native Hawaiian values of hospitality and giving. Native Hawaiians have always believed in selflessly extending themselves to others, whether they had close ties with them or not. Housing this sentiment at the Women’s Community Correctional Center is fitting as a place where women can individually grow and contribute to the greater community. The more one cares for the world, the greater the world will sustain and provide. May this artwork provide a positive space for the women, workers, and visitors. A place one can sit and reflect, seek guidance, see themselves in her, or someone they love. -Jane DeDecker and the National Sculptors' Guild Special thanks to Ultimate Innovations for hardscape, landscape and installation services. Madd Castings and DeDecker Studio who cast and finished the bronze sculpture, Shipper's Supply for getting the artwork to Hawai'i safely. And to Kamakani and Alex from the Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and the WCCC committee for collaborating on the placement. We hope it makes all of Hawai'i proud. Update 4/17/2024: The footing has been formed and set by Ultimate Innovations in Hawaii, and the sculpture is custom crated and shipped by Shipper's Supply in Colorado. Our preparations are coming together for an end of the month install.
Update 3/27/2024: We're getting really excited about this sculpture progress. It has been cast in bronze at Madd Castings and the metal chasing has been finished this week at DeDecker Studio. Our team has grown to include a landscape group in Hawaii who are preparing the site for "Forgiveness" to be installed at the end of April. Next up is Patina - can't wait to see the vibrant color on the lei.
 Jane DeDecker, NSG Fellow, puts last touches on her sculpture "Forgiveness" slated for installation in Hawaii in Spring. 1/31/2024: Jane DeDecker has been hard at work on the sculpture "Forgiveness" for the Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Isn't she gorgeous with the armful of lei's extended to the island? The sculpture enlargement has been approved and DeDecker Studio have been creating the mold and pouring waxes to ready the artwork for the foundry - Madd Castings - to cast in bronze. Our team has been working with the committee to pick the right spot for "Forgiveness" at the WCCC's new facility.  After our initial site visit, Jane worked through some conceptual 'sketching' in the sand. All we can say is she #NailedIt! We can't wait to see what she does back in the studio for the monument. Sculptors are incredible!
 The Caruso’s and family were on site for the installation of Jane DeDecker’s ‘YMCA’ this morning, their special donation is a tribute to their late daughter. Julie’s smile will forever be present in the second portrait of the bronze sculpture. We are certain these will not be the only photos of families with the sculpture. What a fun greeting to the new Ottawa YMCA in Illinois, we can’t wait to see more, please tag us in your pics. The blue skies didn’t travel with the truck from Colorado, but we’re happy for the storms to have held off long enough to place the sculpture. Special thanks to POINTCORE Construction for installing the artwork #SculptureIsATeamSport Update 4/26/2024: It's a beautiful Colorado blue sky day to load Jane DeDecker’s YMCA which is heading to its new home at the entry of the new Ottawa YMCA in Ottawa, IL. Special thanks to August at DeDecker studio for making it look easy to move sculpture, Lucus from Landstar for driving the sculpture, and big Dave for making sure we got this right. #SculptureIsATeamSport The piece will be met on site by John who is on his way with a stop in Kansas for a site review on another project. We love being busy.
Update 4/15/24: The signage is finished for the plaza in Ottawa, and the sculpture is ready for loading. All will be transported soon for a late-April installation.  Update 4/1/2024: Jane and August have been busy finishing two large-scale pieces at DeDecker Studio. We love the warmth of the patina on YMCA. It really brings the piece to life and highlights the joyful faces. Update 3/20/2024: Metal chasing is complete and ready for patina. 
 #HappyNewYear Here is a look back at the public art placements we did in 2023. We are excited about installing many more next year, some already in progress. Click here to view the list of 550 significant sculpture statements we've placed to date. Thank you for appreciating art and supporting our team of artists. May 2024 bring you health, peace, and happiness.  John Kinkade and Denny Haskew pose with sculpture Committed. The National Sculptors' Guild installed Charter Member, Denny Haskew's bronze sculpture 'Committed' at the Josephine B. Jones Park and Open Space in Greeley, Colorado this morning. The sculpture was donated to the site by NSG Director, John Kinkade, in honor of his parents, Jack and Ditto Kinkade, long-time, beloved residents of Greeley who frequently donated their time and services to the community. Kinkade was instrumental in the creation of the park 30+years ago in the name of close family friend Josephine Jones, a true pioneer of the region who enriched the community in cultural events, historic preservation, and as an avid proponent of natural spaces; many of the trees in the open space were planted as saplings by Jones. The 11-ft tall bronze is enhanced with gold leaf on the sash. We've mounted the sculpture to a 1-ft tall sandstone base that is inscribed: "Given to the City of Greeley in honor of his parents, Dorothy (Ditto) Waldo Kinkade and John (Jack) Henry Kinkade, Jr. by John Waldo Kinkade - 2023" The site is ideal for this sculpture, a beautiful xeriscape expanse of land (~36 acres) stretching from Jones' former home (now used by the Greeley Forestry Department) to the edge of Highway 34. The family's deep connection to Jones and the natural space feels like the right placement to honor all involved and we appreciate the assistance from the city to make this happen. (Special thanks to DC Crane, Tribble Stone and Kim Snyder and Will Dillon from the City of Greeley for assisting on-site this morning). #SculptureIsATeamSport   Committed by Denny Haskew The artist developed a love for all things natural as well as a religious respect for all beings on earth from his relationship with his father and Potawatomi grandmother. Committed started as a traditional crucifix without Native American context. The crucifixion pose emphasized the importance to follow a spiritual path and be committed to it. We are all free to choose and once committed to a path with our Creator we begin to see inner truth. "I give to you all that I am. My faith in Spirit is unchanging. Eyes closed I can only see love." -DH Literally, the bronze is a depiction of a member of the Dog Soldier Society, sometimes called a "Sash Wearer." This man was known among his tribal members as a fierce warrior and courageous leader. When confronted by an enemy, the Dog Soldier would stake the end of the sash to the ground with his spear, thus telling the enemy he must fight to the death at this spot or leave. Other times the Dog Soldier may stake himself out as his tribal members advanced into battle so as to say "I am here, if you retreat past me, you will sacrifice me for I will fight to the death at this spot." His double eagle-tail bonnet blows out behind him creating a circle, the circle of life for all living beings. The city will be adding a QR code to the site that will lead visitors of the site to learn about the sculpture.  Haskew removing the last of the rigging during this morning's installation of Committed in Josephine B. Jones Park. ABOUT THE ARTIST: 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 in the area. Since 1987, Denny has created and placed dozens of monumental compositions; spanning the full spectrum of the figurative genre.
As a member of the Potawatomi Citizen Nation, it is only natural for his artwork to follow the Native American culture. His art has not been limited to Native American and southwestern subjects, however, as he frequently explores abstract forms placing emphasis on the qualities of the metal and stone used. As a Charter member of the National Sculptors' Guild and being close to other sculptors and the Loveland area foundries has helped him to master all the foundry processes involved in producing a desirable and lasting monumental bronze sculpture. Over 50 major public placements include the Smithsonian Institution, DC.; the Gilcrease Museum, OK; Cerritos, CA; Little Rock, AR; the Shakopee Mdewakanton Dakota Sioux collection, MN, and the Barona Band of Mission Indians, CA. His outlook on life and sculpture largely stems from his Irish/Potawatomi heritage. He states "....the strength of my artwork ascends from the spirit of the people portrayed - Native Americans, Mayans, friends, children, people of the Great Plains and West. This same spirit connects each of us with the harmony of nature and one's relationship to another." Concern with composition and fascination with the human form lead him to portray bodies in unusual, sometimes nearly contorted positions. Dramatically individualistic facial features combine with carefully composed body positions to reveal souls filled with emotion, scarred and given character by the circumstances of living, but never beaten by life. Haskew’s artwork conveys his innermost being. It is intensely personal and honest. His 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. 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. "Grandmother’s sunrise prayer, as solid of a soul as can be found. See your road better now closed eyes and all. Know that all your enemies were really only teachers for you. We walk together now on this path called Forgiveness. We each have a trail of forgiveness to follow and this sculpture reminds me of mine." -DH
Update 11/4/2023: Two of the pieces we recently shipped are in their new home in Little Rock, AR. Buck with Calves and Elephant Column by African artist Robert Kwechette. The stone carvings join other sculptures in the Vogel-Schwartz Sculpture Garden. (You can see our placement of Wayne Salge’s Cecil in the background) Special thanks to @littlerockparksandrec for installing. #SculptureIsATeamSport
Update 10/18/2023: We’ve loaded up this morning and have #SculptureOnTheMove to #LittleRock AR. This truck has 5 sculptures, 2 bases, and a bunch of stainless steel structures for installation and footings. The City of Little Rock will be graced with four more sculptures soon. The Sculpture at the River Market board of directors have selected the below artworks for their growing public art collection. We have loved working with Little Rock for the last 2 decades placing diverse work in style and subject, and look forward to seeing these in place.  Denny Haskew's Strength of the Maker has been installed in the City of Cerritos Sculpture Garden. Additional landscaping will enhance the bronze sculpture placement. But it already looks like a good home in our minds. Special thanks to Advanced Aquatics and Capital Crane for the wonderful installation work, and to Shipper's Supply for getting the artwork there safely. Click here to see a video of the installation. Winner of 5 Best of Show Awards; ”Strength of the Maker, right from its title…to the strength shown even in the toes, is a statement on how I view my very inner belief.” -DH Only one casting remains in the limited edition of 21. Click here to purchase. 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 major private collections throughout the US. 
 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.”  In November, the City of Little Rock installed National Sculptors' Guild Fellow Jane DeDecker's Portrait of Daisy Lee Gatson Bates in Little Rock, AR. The bronze bust of the civil rights activist, Arkansas NAACP president, and pioneering black journalist (1914-1999), is situated in Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Park in her former hometown. The portrait is just one acknowledgment of Bates’ legacy in the river town which also boasts a Daisy Bates Museum, several named streets, and a “Daisy Bates Day” celebrated the third Monday of February every year. The bust also includes a plaque with a quote by the human rights advocate: “When hate won’t die, use it for good.” The outdoor sculpture walk winds along the Arkansas River and includes over 90 works of art in its collection. The Bates sculpture is near the Main Street overpass on the Eastern side of the art garden.
update 5/20/22: The bust and plaques have been cast in bronze and shipped to Little Rock. We will update with photos once the city has installed the memorial.   Jane DeDecker's composition of Daisy Bates 10/15/21: National Sculptors' Guild Fellow Jane DeDecker has been selected to sculpt Daisy Bates for placement in the City of Little Rock, Arkansas. The honor to portray such an important figure is a true highlight. The life-sized bronze bust will be accompanied by a wall of bronze plaques featuring quotations by the great Civil Rights Activist. The public display of her image and words will serve well to inspire next generations to take her lead to end racial injustice. "I have been truly inspired and deeply moved by the strength and dedication of Daisy Lee Gatson Bates. She turned tragedy into her life's work in fighting against prejudice, segregation, and inequality. Daisy Lee Gatson Bates was a formidable woman who would not stand down." - Jane DeDecker, NSG The commemorative placement will be completed in 2022. Updates will be posted here. Daisy Lee Gatson Bates Mentor to the Little Rock Nine Advocate for Equality About Daisy Lee Gatson Bates... Daisy Bates was an elegant woman, physically small, though grand in stature when her determination to end racial injustice was involved. She confronted racism and adversity from an early age. Personal confrontations led to speaking out and heading large organizations; providing great change for the state of Arkansas, and beyond. No one prepares to be the face of change for a nation, Daisy Bates took on her role with grace and fortitude. Unwaveringly, she rose to all of the challenges, her diminutive body seemingly too small for the power she exuded. Small but mighty, Mrs. Bates informed and organized Arkansas' Civil Rights movement. Her resilience to the fear tactics used gave her a reputation of calm in the face of adversity. Jail time, fires on lawns and bricks thrown through windows seemed only to make the fight more just and purposeful. Though Mrs. Bates is most known for her involvement in the Little Rock Desegregation Crisis of 1957, her contributions etch far deeper. The weekly newspaper that she and her husband published helped inform and activate civil rights movements across the state, and beyond, before and after the integration of Central High School. From 1941 to 1959 the Arkansas State Press was one of the only newspapers solely dedicated to the Civil Rights Movement. She was known to publish controversial articles that others shied away from. Daisy Bates worked with local Civil Rights organizations including joining the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1952. For many years, she served as the President of the Arkansas chapter of the NAACP, providing support to many opportunities for the black community, assuring her role in the 1957 desegregation efforts. She was well respected in the community, even her opponents had to admit she was a force to reckon with. Her repose during crisis after crisis kept the forward motion of the Civil Rights Movement going; and her tenacious charge afforded generations of students access to their constitutional rights.  Joe Norman and John Kinkade with the sculpture "Protect" Public Art Installed at Fire Station 33 Public art for the new Fire Station 33, 4109 S. 134th East Ave., has been installed this week, and this commissioned work, titled “Protect,” is available for the public to enjoy. The 6-foot-tall, stainless steel sculpture is near the flag pole and public parking lot on the west side of Station 33. The Arts Commission of the City of Tulsa chose the design team of Joe Norman and the National Sculptors’ Guild for this project. According to the National Sculptors’ Guild, this sculpture, fabricated at Joe Norman’s studio in Loveland, Colo., is intended to “activate the site and signify the exemplary service of firefighters in a single, free-standing sculpture.” “The Arts Commission is very impressed with this artist,” Commission Chair Pam Deatherage said. “It’s an interactive piece that changes as you walk around it. Tulsa is very fortunate to have initiated, in 1964, a program where art is provided as part of the project budget - the 1% funded public arts ordinance - to include creative pieces on display at our public buildings.” Standing on a 1,650-pound sandstone base, the sculpture has red letters spelling the word “Protect,” visible from one direction. Two other perspectives show the gray silhouette of a firefighter. Also according to the National Sculptors’ Guild, the final side, opposite “Protect,” is “an abstraction, symbolic of the unknowns that firefighters face.” “To have the word “Protect” in fire-engine red strengthens what this word means to those in service and the community it serves,” said John Kinkade, director of the National Sculptors’ Guild. Norman describes his work as “creating public sculptures that show different images or words depending on the viewpoint of the observer.” Norman said, “I believe that having multiple ideas coexist in a single piece is a useful metaphor for the ecosystem of ideas that public art empowers and protects.” Joe Norman and the National Sculptors’ Guild installed the art with help from Tulsa subcontractors. “Sculpture is a team sport,” Kinkade said. “Thank you, City of Tulsa, the Arts Commission, Tribble Stone, Voy Construction, Barnhart Excavating, American Pipe Bending, Landstar System, and the community of Tulsa. We are so proud to be part of honoring firefighters through this art placement.” A public hose uncoupling ceremony for Fire Station 33 was held in September. Hose uncoupling is a fire service tradition similar to a ribbon cutting ceremony. Funding for this new fire station has come from the 2001 Third Penny Sales Tax and the 2013 Improve Our Tulsa sales tax. The Public Safety Sales Tax, which was approved in 2016 with the Vision Tulsa sales tax, has provided funding to hire more firefighters to fully staff this new station. - City of Tulsa, Nov. 16, 2022  Update 11/9/2022: Fire Engine red paint has been added and the sculpture has been set in its cradle, the stone has been drilled (thanks Tribble Stone) and everything is ready for transport to Tulsa.
  Update 10/14/2022: Our project with the City of Tulsa, Oklahoma is all but ready to install. Some Fire Engine Red will complete the look. Just a few more weeks and Joe Norman’s firefighter sculpture “Protect will be in its new home at Fire Station 33. Stay tuned for pics of the install.  Update 9/23/2022: Barnhart Excavating poured the footing for "Protect" at Fire Station 33 on a blue-sky day in Tulsa. Update 9/15/2022: Things are really growing. we're about half way through the fabrication phase.  Update 9/1/2022: The monument isn't ready yet, but "Protect" was at the dedication of Fire Station 33 in a small way. The maquette was present during the celebration, and even made it into the hands of the Chief. We couldn't be happier with the initial response and are also feeling great about our red matching the engine. #NailedIt Congratulations on your new Fire Station, Tulsa! Update 7/6/2022: Our project with the @cityoftulsa for their Fire Station 33 is taking shape. We are very excited to see Joe Norman’s firefighter sculpture “Protect” develop. Engineering is complete and Joe has created the final maquette. Full-size enlargement is next.
 Update 2/9/2022: Our project with the @cityoftulsa is finally underway. We are very excited to see Joe Norman’s firefighter sculpture “Protect” develop from the concept design to the study you see here. We will keep you posted as it grows. "I’ve been chasing down public art projects to honor service workers. Specifically those who put themselves at risk so that we may have a more healthy society: physically, mentally, and socially." -Joe Norman  6/9/2021: Joe Norman's "Protect" is earmarked for placement in front of the City of Tulsa's Fire Department 33. The 6-ft tall stainless steel sculpture depicts the silhouette of a firefighter from one angle, and the word protect from another. The National Sculptors' Guild's proposal of Norman's work was selected from an open call to artists to place "Protect".  Our initial approach for this site is to place a free-standing sculpture from Norman's word play series activating as much of the site as possible. The iconic sculpture will be fabricated from stainless steel,
with one side painted in durable epoxy paint to tie into the building's aesthetic. The first thing that comes to mind for us when thinking about a fire-fighter is the word "Protect" so that word is viewed from one direction. The other perspective shows the silhouette of a fire-fighter approaching their call to action. Opposite the word is an abstraction, symbolic of the unknowns that fire-fighter's face.  Jane DeDecker's "YMCA" is at its new home at Bloomington-Normal YMCA's new building. We're so happy to see it being enjoyed by everyone who enters this amazing community facility. Special thanks to the Dobski family, who made this placement possible.  Update 6/16/22: Jane DeDecker's "YMCA" is finished in metal, awaiting patina, before it heads to its new home in Bloomington, Illinois. The YMCA there has a new building opening in August! @bnymca Bloomington-Normal YMCA Always fun to see this cheerful sculpture come to life. #PublicArt #Commission #JaneDeDecker #YMCA #Bronze #Sculpture #DeDeckerStudio #MaddCastings #BNYMC #bettertogether #BloomingtonNormalYMCA #BloomingtonIL #SculptureIsATeamSport #NSG #ArtistDriven #ClientMinded #NationalSculptorsGuild #workinprogresswednesday   The National Sculptors' Guild is shipping off another of Affiliate Jack Hill's "On a Roll", this time the a'peeling sculpture is headed to Little Rock, Arkansas for their extensive public art collection along the Riverfront Park. We're always happy to work with Little Rock.
We'll update this post with more photos once the city gets it installed. NSG Public Art Placement #541 |
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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. click here for a list of our over 500 large-scale placements. Archives
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