Liberation

Liberation bronze H-11'' I created this bronze sculpture for Reach 4 a Star Riding Academy a therapeutic riding center in Casper Wyoming. I can think of no better cause then using horses to enrich the lives of physically challenged children and adults. The natural motion and height of the horse helps simulates the feeling of walking, while stimulating the rider’s muscles. The rider learns balance, coordination and gains an increased sense of confidence and accomplishments. In my sculpture the bronze bases is shaped as an abstract diamond symbolizing that freedom is the jewel of life. The young girl has abandoned the confinement of her wheelchair, she sits on the back of young mare. She's riding free and easy without saddle or bridle, liberated and moving forward as one with the horse.
I believe and I know that the more good things you do in this life you will find coming back in your own. chrisnavarro.com

'' FREEDOM''

'' FREEDOM'' bronze H- 18.5'' I was commissioned by the Fox River Wisconsin heritage Parkway to create a sculpture that would celebrate and bring awareness to their handicap assessable kayaking and canoe ramps. In my sculpture I show a young man who has left his wheelchair behind and is running whitewater rapids in his kayak. Using a slashing diagonal design I sculpted the water loosely and with movement in it. I also incorporated a wheelchair smaller in scale and as a bar relief in the base. Even though he does not have the use of his legs, he has left the confinement and restrictions of the wheelchair behind. Now he is in control of his own destiny, living in the moment and feeling the freedom and rush of being on the water.

It is hard to believe it has been 22 years since the dedication.

I was in Cheyenne yesterday and stopped by my monument to World Champion Bull Rider Lane Frost. It is hard to believe it has been 22 years since the dedication. Lane Frost at the young age of 25 lost his life competing at the 1989 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. I was never commissioned to create this sculpture. Having been a former bull rider myself I wanted to honor a great young man and bull rider who lost his life doing something he had a great passion and love for. So I commissioned myself. It was a long road to get it done. I had to raise all the funds for the monument by selling smaller bronze maquettes of the sculpture. Everyone who donated $1000. received an 18’’ bronze of the monument I then placed their name on a bronze plaque at the base of the sculpture to acknowledge their contribution. Without their donations I never would have been able to finish the project. Yesterday when I saw the donor plaque it made me want to acknowledge them for their help and support and let them know I will always be grateful thank you.

''CIRCLE OF LIFE''

''CIRCLE OF LIFE'' 

 In this bronze I have two small bear cubs trying to catch the salmon swimming around them for a meal, while the salmon are trying to eat the small herring and the small herring are feeding on the plankton it is the circle of life. Also the base of the sculpture opens up to reveal a small storage box.  I love doing bronze bear sculptures they lend themselves to so many great ideas for creating art.

Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp

On Wednesday I traveled to Newcastle WY and gave a slide show and inspirational talk to 90 inmates at the Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp & Boot Camp about my life and career as an artist. I shared the challenges, struggles and rewards I have faced chasing my dream of becoming a professional artist. There were many inmates who create art in there and they asked me to critique their work. I told them
  I know what it is like to have a dream, and you're the only one who can see it. There are times when you have to believe in yourself even if no one else does. The secret to being an artist or successful at anything else is, you have to do the work. I think to be great at anything you have to love what you do. You need to put the time in the studio with the materials in your hands. There are no short cuts it is about commitment, hour by hour day by day and year after year. Look everyone faces rejection and difficulties in life everyone gets knocked down. The thing you have to do is keep getting up and do the very best that is within you and that’s all you can do. Because in the end it is not about how many years you lived in this world that is important. It is about the good you can do and what you leave behind that truly matters.

Sculpture in the Park in Loveland CO Aug 8-9

I will be showing at the largest sculpture show in the country with over 160 artists at Sculpture in the Park in Loveland CO Aug 8-9. I have been showing my work in Loveland since 1987. There will be over 2000 sculptures on display. It really is something to see If you would like to go let me know I have some extra tickets for free admission

Two person show with Chris Navarro & Carol Swinney at Art 321 Gallery l

I will be having a two person show with Carol Swinney at Art 321 Gallery located at 321 Midwest Casper WY. The reception will be on Thursday Aug 6 4-8pm I plan on displaying a lot of new work It will be a good time so stop by and visit. Hope to see you there. 

Congratulations to Trevor Knowles for winning the Calgary Stampede steer wrestling he won my bronze ''ALL OUT'' and $100,000.

Congratulations to Trevor Knowles for winning the Calgary Stampede steer wrestling he won my bronze ''ALL OUT'' and $100,000. This is his 4th time winning it all in Calgary way to go Trevor!

Let'er Buck!

The Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Art Show starts today and runs through July 26. I have my sculpture WYOMING COWBOY of the great bucking horse Steamboat featured at CFD.This famous bucker bred in Wyoming was voted worst bucking horse of the year at the Cheyenne Frontier Days celebration 1906 and 1907. The horse was jet black with three white socks and had a powerful build. When he was a colt he sustained a broken bone in his nose that caused him to make a whistling sound when he bucked and that is why the cowboys gave him the name Steamboat. The old-time cowboys said the horse would buck his heart out and wouldn't quit. This horse has become the iconic symbol for the great state of Wyoming. Let'er Buck!

Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Art Show

It is Rodeo time in Wyoming going to the Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Art Show it will be great to be there. Looking forward to seeing old friends and lots of great new art work. The opening reception is Thursday at 3:30 They will be auctioning my ''WYOMING COWBOY'' bronze that evening. Have a lot of great memories there hope to see you!chrisnavarro.com

''BOLT FROM THE BLUE''

''BOLT FROM THE BLUE'' my monumental Peregrine Falcon will be installed at the Air Force Academy.It is an honor to have my work there. My dad was a 30 year military air force officer a veteran of WWII Korea and Vietnam. I grew up on airbases in the US and Europe.I have 3 older brother who were all military aviators. I started flying when I was 19. I come from a family of aviators.

Columbian Mammoth.

I was commissioned to create a life size bronze and stainless steel sculpture (20 feet high x 25 feet long x 16’ wide) of the Columbian Mammoth. The Columbian Mammoth has been chosen as the iconic symbol for the Washakie Museum and Cultural Center in Worland Wyoming. The Colby Mammoth Kill Site near Worland, Wyoming, provided evidence of Paleo-Indian hunters using Clovis projectile points to harvest the large mammoths. Can you imagine early Wyoming man was taking these animals down with a sharp rock on the end of a stick? Man they had to be tough!
Doing large monumental bronze sculptures is like climbing a ladder just keep taking small steps up and you make it to the top. No job is too big or small if you have the desire to finish it.

In Cheyenne at Deselms Fine Art on July 16

I will be doing a book signing and showing new bronze sculptures in Cheyenne at Deselms Fine Art on July 16 from 11-2 pm with my long time friend and Gallery owner Harvey Deselms if you are in the area stop by and visit. Look forward to seeing you there.

Never doubt the power of a good thought

William R. Landen posted this yesterday. Remember Chris, that it was the Lane Frost piece which led us to a conversation about what we might do for Casper College. Spirit of the Thunderbird came out of that visit...at a hockey game if I remember correctly! Congrats.

Chris Navarro- Bill thats right never doubt the power of a good thought because it can become a reality!

‘’ HEART AND SOUL’’

‘’ HEART AND SOUL’’ Bronze H-30’’ L-22’’
Bull riding has always been a big passion in my life. I rode bulls for 5 years and my son JC rode bulls professionally in the PBR. The thing about bull riding is it is not if you are going to get hurt but when and how bad. Bull riders are gamblers and adrenalin junkies. The big problem is if you want to play you have to use your health for chips. People who have never rode bulls ask. What is the reason for competing in such a dangerous sport? I tell them anytime you mix adrenalin with joy it becomes an addictive cocktail and you always want to come back for another taste.
My very first bronze sculpture I made in 1980 was a bull rider’ ’SPINNING AND WINNING’’. Champion Lane Frost a 15’ bull rider was my first public monument. Riding bulls and creating art are similar in nature. To give your very best you have to put your heart and soul into it.

22 years since the dedication of ''Champion Lane Frost'

It is an honor to be showing my art the Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Art Show & Sale this year July 15-26. It is hard to believe it has been 22 years since the dedication of ''Champion Lane Frost''at Cheyenne. I found this family photo taken back then. Time sure goes by fast.

''FOR HONOR AND GLORY'

''FOR HONOR AND GLORY''a bronze sculpture celebrating our independence day. So proud to be an American! Everyone have a great weekend.

Broken Just about Everything but My Word

Broken Just about Everything but My Word by Chris Navarro bronze H-27'' L-15''

In this sculpture I have a cowboy leaning on a crutch with a broken leg his arm is broken and in a sling. Looking at his face you will notice a broken nose a black eye and a big scar running down the left side of his face. Stamped on the back of his belt is his name Lucky! This cowboy might be all broken up but the one thing he will never break is his word. That is the cowboy code where a man's word is his bond. It is a personal code that I live by and believe in.

20% Chance of Flurries

20% Chance of Flurries is a sculpture that won a national competition and was commissioned as a 15 ' tall monument by the Colorado Department of Agriculture and placed at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. The sculpture honors the dedication and hardships of the people who make their living ranching and farming. I had rancher friends Guy and Vern Robinett from Casper Wyoming model for the sculpture. We were riding out in his pasture to catch a young calf to put across a saddle when he told me about a time a few years back when the weather forecast for that day was a 20% chance of flurries. The storm turned out to be a severe spring blizzard and killed over half of his heard of livestock. As I depict him here, the rancher has his head down against the wind, calf across the saddle his horse pulling through deep snow in the middle of a blizzard. This image of a cowboy on a horse saving a young calf embodies for me the test of endurance that brings out the best qualities in the men who live in the West. They face hard conditions, and take life as it comes. Note more photos of model shoot