In my extensive career as a metal sculptor, it has been my honor to celebrate numerous historic occasions with a commemorative public sculpture. Notable among those; I created a thirtieth anniversary cross country ski race tribute titled American Birkebeiner; Courage, Endurance and Perseverance depicting the Birkebeiners rescuing the baby prince Haakon Haakonson (2003), a fiftieth…
When deciding on a theme and title for this sculpture commission commemorating the Hayward Hospital Auxiliary’s seventy years of community advocacy, Compassion seemed most appropriate. As I learned about the Auxiliary’s history, I was inspired by the diversity of the financial, emotional and physical contributions supporting the Hospital and impacting the healing of a community.…
In 2022, I was honored to receive a commission to create the entryway sculpture for the soon to be open Essentia Vision Northland Hospital in Duluth. The sculpture opportunity for the being-built hospital was open to regional sculptors. My conceptual design was one of three chosen for further review. After an online video presentation to…
Boozhoo, “Would you be interested in discussing a sculpture to memorialize the story of life along the Red Cedar River before the 1600’s?” asked Dr. Rod Olson…. And the artistic journey to create Manoomin-Food that Grows in Water began. Manoomin-Food that Grows in Water conceptual design In May, 2019, Dr. Rod Olson, representing the City…
A key element in my lifelong artistic journey is the gracious support of my patrons. Their encouragement fuels my creative endeavors, allowing not only my artistic development but also benefiting the greater community who is impacted by my expressions of public art. Many thanks to Hayward’s Linda Graham of Beehive Botanicals, who commissioned additions to…
One of the greatest honors bestowed upon me as an artist is the trust placed in my creative abilities to design a fitting memorial for some one who has passed on from this world. Over the past year, I have been working with Del Jerome and his family to create the June Jerome Memorial Sculpture,…
In the fall of 2017, I was honored by Jan and Tom Cogbill by their commission request to design and fabricate an original sculpture for the then building in progress American Birkebeiner Timber Trail rest cabin. The Cogbill’s had generously supported the building of the cabin and wanted to add a unique sculptural touch of…
The Healing Tree sculpture was designed to support the mission, vision, and integrity of the Marshfield Clinic, to serve patients. The Rice Lake Oncology Department’s “Healing Garden” supports those men, women, and children who participate in this healing opportunity. I am honored to also serve in this mission with my design that incorporates the wisdom…
A sculpture tribute to one whose spirit soars with the dragonflies Lena as a young girl in her Ojibwe regalia. Creating a sculpture for a special person who has walked on is a great artistic honor. Recently my friend Joe Russo asked if I would design a tribute to his neighbor, student and friend Lena…
This past winter it was my pleasure to revisit “Three Stages of Woman”, a sculpture among the earliest of my public creations. A commission by Drs. Howard Sandin and Edward Vernier, the piece coincided with the birth of my son Eric in 1982. The good doctors commissioned the piece for their office at the Memorial…
It was my great honor to receive a commission to create two original steel sculptures for the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Veterans Memorial being established on the corner of Highway E and Highway K at Lac Courte Oreilles. The Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Veteran’s Memorial is a comprehensive development that includes a beautiful black and…
Commissioned by the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, my most recent creation, Eagle in Flight, was unveiled to the public during a moving Memorial Day tribute to veterans on May 27, 2013. Eagle in Flight is one component of the work in progress LCO Ojibwe Veterans Memorial being constructed on the corner…
One of my favorite historical sculptural subjects is the flight of the Birkebeiners, the story after which the Norwegian and American Birkebeiner cross country ski races are patterned. The story recalls the 1206 Norwegian civil war transport to safety of the baby Prince Hakon Hakonsson by the birch bark legging clad Birkebeiners Torstein Skeivla and…
On Saturday February 16, my latest area public sculpture, The Diary was unveiled at DJ’s Dock on County Highway B east of Hayward, Wisconsin. The poignantly themed sculpture is dedicated to the loving memory of Catherine Arnold who during her life was touched by Alzheimer’s disease. Catherine’s son Jamie and daughter-in-law Deanne, who own and…
On June 22, my most recent public sculpture commission, Wisdom Heralding Peace was unveiled at The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth,MN. The installation is within the three story tall Benedictine Commons atrium of the new Science Center recently completed as part of the campus’s 2012 Centennial Celebration. There was a bit of serendipity in…
Through the trust of supportive patrons, Sara has been fortunate to create and install many public sculptures and private commissions. Public art provides a gathering place for reflection and discussion. The creation of Sara’s larger pieces is assisted by the great team of family, friends and professional assistants with whom she works. Together under Sara’s…