“Devoted” is a part of the Capitol Avenue Bronze public art collection . . donated to the City of Cheyenne by private individuals, organizations or companies. For more information about the Capitol Avenue Bronze Project, visit Deselms Fine Art at https://deselmsfineart.com
Chuck was born in Cheyenne. After time in the U.S. Navy, he worked in the missile industry for a few years, then completed an apprenticeship to become a journeyman pipe fitter before deciding that his real ambition was in the field of art. He enrolled at Colorado State University, and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1974, with a concentration in Metal smithing/Jewelry Design. For several years thereafter, he fabricated silver and gold into his original designs, but his sculptural tendencies prevailed, and his "jewelry" became architectural; he hammered, welded, and fused metal images into doors, windows, and wall hangings. From these efforts, a custom woodworking business emerged, and with it, an affinity for sculptural wood carving.
In 1989, his interest shifted to bronze sculpting. He obtained employment in an art foundry in Loveland, Colorado, and with noted wildlife sculptor, Dan Ostermiller, where he learned the technical aspects of bronze casting while being inspired by the work of innumerable artists.
Chuck died before “Devoted” was dedicated. The following is a transcription of his hand-written notes, graciously provided by his widow, of what he planned to say at the dedication.
“I’m happy this sculpture is being placed on 18th Street. I grew up on 18th Street, from first grade thru high school and beyond. Living just a few blocks from town, I remember spending a great deal of time downtown, at the movies, playing pinball at the bowling alley, checking out all the toys at the two ‘5 and Dime’ stores, drinking sodas at Roedel’s, and generally just hanging out.
“I can’t pinpoint when I became interested in art. I once entered a ‘DrawMe’ solicitation on a match book cover which turned into a by-mail art course. It didn’t hold my interest very long. During high school, I had a very keen interest in hot rods, and custom cars. I remember being intrigues with the beautiful pinstriping on these cars. While trying to learn how to do this, I practiced on my friend’s cars. (I hope they don’t hold that against me).
“Several years passed before my art interests surfaced again. My family and I were living in Denver when I enrolled in a weekend art class in oil painting. It was a very fulfilling and inspiring experience - I wanted more. About that time I learned I was eligible for GI educational assistance. Though I was a journeyman pipe fitter, we decided to leave that and relocate to Fort Collins where I enrolled at CSU to study art. Exposure to various 3-dimensional media (sculpting, metalsmithing, jewelry making, etc.) changed my interest from painting to more hands-on forms of expression.
“Upon graduation, I became the ‘starving artist,’ creating art in many forms; carved wood, welded and hammered steel, copper, and brass; hand forged wrought iron; and many combinations of the above. One day I participated in a tour of some sculpture studios in Loveland, CO. I was excited to learn what I could about the process, so I got a job working in a bronze foundry for a local sculptor. As the saying goes, ‘the rest is history.’
“About the time I did this sculpture (Devoted) there was a lot of discussion regarding the re-introduction of wolves, about their being an endangered or not, their impact on the area, etc. Reading about the species, I learned they are considered monogamous, dedicated to one mate. I chose to depict this pair expressing that bond. Perhaps its placement here also references my bond to 18th Street.”
To learn more about the Capitol Avenue Bronze Project, visit this link . For more information about each artist, sponsoring a bronze, or becoming a donor/supporter at any level, please contact Harvey Deselms at Deselms Fine Art, located at 303 E. 17th Street Cheyenne. Email is deslemsart@aol.com or call at 307 432 0606
