Wyoming Breezes

source How I wish I could see this finished bronze sculpture in person; however seeing one of the horses in the beginning stages at the Eagle Bronze Foundry  was a real honor. I saw an article online about the finished sculpture last week on Cowboy State Daily . Now that the sculpture is finished, it will be shipped to Sicily.

innovative home renovation Lander, WY December 2017 I would love to see the inside of this unique home when the renovation is finished. Doesn't it remind you of the movie, Swiss Family Robinson ?

longhorn sculptures Eagle Bronze Foundry Lander, WY September 2017 Two large longhorn sculptures stood behind the Eagle Bronze Foundry building. I noticed a large "D" brand on their left side, and remembered that the longhorns on display in Lander do not have the brand. I asked our guide if these two will become part of the small herd in Lander, shown in  this earlier post . She said the two longhorns were originally made as part of herd on display in Pioneer Park in Dallas, Texas , but these two were never placed in the park. One their side is the large "D" brand, indicating they are part of the "Dallas" herd. I'd love to see the trail drive display in Dallas, where more than 49 longhorns and three horseback riders are on display in Pioneer Park. All of the bronze sculptures in the park were cast at Eagle Bronze Foundry.  More information on the Pioneer Park display can be found here . Note the small sheep sculpture in front of the longhorns. ...

Assembly shed at the Eagle Bronze Foundry Lander, WY One of the largest pieces that Sue and I saw in the assembly shed was a large horse (mare of the Fighting Horses sculpture) It's shown in the photo just left of the grizzly bear. The blue circle is the mare hoof.  a small version of the two horses Our guide told us this sculpture is going to Dubai in six months, and eventually an even larger version will be made - to house a museum INSIDE the horses with the walkway in the mare's raised hoof. source This photo from the foundry website shows the full sculpture to be assembled in Dubai in 2018 I offered to accompany the crew to Dubai, but our guide just laughed.

testing the temperature of the molten bronze August 2017 Eagle Bronze Foundry Lander, WY As Sue and I exited the plaster and drying room, we discovered two men preparing to pour molten bronze into molds. One of the men tested the temperature of the bronze with a long rod with a thermometer at the end. removing the molds from the kiln where the wax was melted, leaving a mold of plaster As the temperature increased, the molds were removed from a kiln. The kiln melts the wax inside the mold, leaving only a mold of plaster. Our guide told us the melted wax is captured and reused many times. The  molds were placed in a bed of sand. You can see the glowing crucible of molten bronze with a bar clamped on it. carefully, the molten bronze is poured into the waiting molds the amount of strength it takes to handle the crucible  filled with molten bronze was evident.  The man on the right without the protective gear came in and help with the pour beca...

hot pads and coaster Last week, Mary H. showed the sewing group her technique in making coasters and bowls using clothesline and fabric strips. I have several of Mary's coasters and have admired the bowls she's made and was thrilled when I heard the September program was learning the technique. I made the light blue table pad the day of the class, and the large hot pad (9 x 13") and a mug coaster (5") when I got home. I haven't tried making a bowl yet, but I will soon. Thank you Mary for a fun class. The coaster technique is explained here  and the bowl technique is explained here .

Plaster room The large drum mixes the plaster of paris that coats the wax molds. Once the mold is covered with the plaster, it is then covered with sand. Wax molds covered with plaster and sand. The birds in the photo clearly show the hollow legs and pan that were added to the wax mold in the earlier step. The mold has been covered with plaster and sand and are left to dry completely in an air-conditioned room with a lot of fans. Next: Preparing and pouring the bronze. . .

adding a fine layer of wax to the rubber mold The foundry uses the "lost wax" process. You can read about it here . After the clay model is shimmed and the pieces separated, a rubber mold is created. The gentleman in the photo is adding a layer of wax to a mold. The workers in this area of the foundry were working on a moose sculpture. (These photos are not necessarily in the order, but are the order that our guide explained them to me and Sue.) some molds are small and hollow, so wax is poured into the cavity. This woman is adding hollow "legs" to the mold of a moose antler. The legs allow the bronze to enter the mold. Unless the molds are three dimensional, most will have these legs attached. A wax mold with hollow legs and a pan attached. The waxed mold of one section of the moose head . Next . . . finishing the mold

full-size clay model being shimmed Eagle Bronze Foundry Lander, WY August 2017 Last week, my friend Sue and I toured the Eagle Bronze Foundry in Lander, WY and discovered one of our community's hidden gems. Sculptures from this foundry can be found on seven continents. On our tour, we saw part of a huge sculpture that will be placed in Dubai within the next year. I took a lot of photos and will be sharing them periodically. I did not take notes, so please forgive me if the terminology I use is not correct. Our guide explained that the first step is to "shim" the clay sculpture. The lines on the lion's face and body show where cards will be placed to shim the pieces that will eventually become molds. Coming soon - creating the molds.

Awesome! by Joan Dillon A diverse selection of eclipse art is currently on display at the Lander Art Center. If you're in the area, I urge you to see the complete exhibit, as I am only sharing a fraction of the items on display. The show closes August 26, 2017. "Silent Shadow" by J. C. Dye "Collaboration of Inspiration" by Willie Cunningham and Stacy Wells "Time Cycles" Karyne Dunbar "Freeform Dream" by Samantha Gale "Oh Wow!" by Joan Dillon Is there an eclipse themed art exhibit in your area?

vintage medical display Lander Medical Clinic Lander, WY 2017 I love viewing the display of old medical equipment and supplies while I wait for my appointments at the clinic. Some items are drastically different and others only slightly. vintage medical cabinet and exam table Lander Medical Clinic Lander, WY 2017 My current primary care doctor is a young physician who listens and makes me feel like I am a member of my own healthcare team. I hope she stays in the area a long time. Is your primary care doctor "vintage" or "modern"?

painted mural Lander Public Library 2016 Oregon Trail was released in 1936 - more information about the film can be found here . One of my favorite John Wayne films was the Cowboys , released in 1972. What's your favorite movie, starring the Duke?

Pronghorn (antelope) mural Lander Pubic Library December 2016 The murals on the library ceiling depict scenes from the local area. A very common wild animal on the Wyoming prairie is the antelope. In an earlier post, I shared warning signs spotted on Wyoming roads .