SPIRIT OF THE THUNDERBIRD

I try to tell a story with my art and I want to share some of the stories behind the sculptures I have   created. chrisnavarro.com SPIRIT OF THE THUNDERBIRD Bronze, 41’’ x 24’’x 11’’ Monumental Bronze, 15’ x 11‘ x 4’ Spirit of the Thunderbird depicts the Native American warrior medicine man in his ritual dance. Reverence for the half-man, half-eagle mythological figure was prevalent among all tribes. They believed the Thunderbird’s shadow was a storm cloud. The flapping of his wings made the sound of thunder, and the rapid opening and closing of his flashing eyes sent forth lightning. These mystical powers brought the rain that replenished Mother Earth, and they tested man's belief in the power of the Great Mystery in the sky above the earth. This bronze monumental sculpture is located at Casper College in Casper, Wyoming, where I attended school.

ST. ANTHONY'S JOY

I try to tell a story with my art and I want to share some of the stories behind the sculptures I have created. chrisnavarro.com ST. ANTHONY'S JOYBronze, 96’’ x 44’’ x 38.5’’
I created this sculpture for Saint Anthony's School and Parish in Casper, Wyoming. When I researched the artists that had depicted St. Anthony in the past, they always portrayed him holding baby Jesus, the bible, and white lilies in his arms. I wanted my interpretation of St. Anthony with the Christ-child to reflect one of the simple pleasures in life that I have shared with my children. Nothing is more heartwarming than watching a smile grow into an expression of pure joy as a child is tossed into the air. St. Anthony, the patron saint for lost articles, is credited with many miracles involving lost people, lost things, and even lost spiritual goods.

'’TASTES LIKE CHICKEN ‘’

I try to tell a story with my art and I want to share some of the stories behind the sculptures I have created. chrisnavarro.com ‘’TASTES LIKE CHICKEN ‘’Bronze, 16.5’’ x 12’’ x 6.5’’ Road runners like to eat rattle snakes. So, I decided to do a little artistic research and visited Maria's Restaurant & Cantina in Sedona, Arizona, where they have rattlesnake on the menu. After ordering a plate of rattlesnake, my wife said she didn't want any. That meant I got to eat the whole thing by myself, and you know something? It does tastes like chicken! It tasted pretty good, but of course, most things do if you bread it and deep fry it.

‘’LAND OF THE FREE’’ by Chris Navarro

    ‘’LAND OF THE FREE’’  by Chris Navarro

The Land of the Free means the United States of America. The opportunities and freedom to follow our beliefs and dreams are endless in America, only limited by our efforts and desire to pursue them.

 New clay original of a Bald Eagle flying over a map of the USA to be cast in bronze and offered as a wall hanging or free-standing sculpture. H-15.5'' L-23'' W- 5’’ Precast price 2300. Shipping 40. Limited edition 100   50% Deposit to order & 50 % on delivery this precast offer is good until February 19, 2018  

  National award-winning artist Chris Navarro has been sculpting professionally since 1986. Well known for his large monumental sculptures. With over 34 monumental bronze sculptures placed throughout the country his work is included in 11 museum collections. Please contact: Navarro Gallery Tlaquepaque Suite D 103 336 SR 179 Sedona AZ 86336    (928)-204-1144  www.chrisnavarro.com   navarrogallerygmail.com

The watercolors of Sarah Rogers.

This week I wanted to share some of the great work from the artists we show at Navarro Gallery in Sedona, AZ. If you are coming through Arizona, you need to stop by or go visit our website chrisnavarro.com The watercolors of Sarah Rogers. She sometimes describes her art as 'tropical western wildlife' Sarah's medium is watercolor, usually combined with graphite, and she frequently applies several layers of heavy color to create the bright tones and often opaque quality of the paint. She prefers smooth surfaces and uses hot press paper, plate smooth illustration board and masonite with various surfaces.

The oil paintings of Stephen Day.

I want to start sharing images of the artists and work we show at Navarro Gallery. The oil paintings of Stephen Day. He paints a variety of subjects in oils but the landscape remains his first love. “I paint almost exclusively from life trying to capture the feeling and the mood of the subject before me. Painting outdoors is the place where all the information a painting needs can be found. “Painting is learning to see and the only place you can truly do this is on location; out in nature.”

Asking my friends who have seen my art or visited Navarro Gallery in Sedona, AZ It would be greatly appreciated if you could write a review on TripAdvisor or Google maps.

Asking my friends who have seen my art or visited Navarro Gallery in Sedona, AZ It would be greatly appreciated if you could write a review on TripAdvisor or Google maps.  Your feedback will help us share our art with many others. Thank you, Chris Navarro.

On your computer, open Google Maps and make sure you're signed in. Search for a place Navarro Gallery Sedona, AZ. On the left, scroll down and click Write a review. In the window that appears, click the stars to score the place. You can also write a review.

To write a review on TripAdvisor, first find the property, Navarro Gallery Sedona, AZ. Then narrow your search to attractions things to do in Sedona. Search for and select the place you want to review and write your review.

THE GOSSIPS

I try to tell a story with my art and I want to share some of the stories behind the sculptures I have created. chrisnavarro.com
THE GOSSIPS Bronze, 19.5’’ x 21’’ x 13’’ The Gossips sculpture was inspired by watching magpies walking up and down my horses' backs as they stood in the pasture. To tell a good story, you need interaction and conflict. I decided to create the bronze using a large bull moose, and he’s looking back over his shoulder, eyeing two squawking magpies sitting on his rump. It's bad enough when others gossip about you behind your back⎯but on your back?

THE GREAT CHIEFS

I try to tell a story with my art and I want to share some of the stories behind the sculptures I have created. chrisnavarro.com

THE GREAT CHIEFS Bronze, 17’’ x 36’’ x 7’’ This is a collection of five Native American busts, including: Crazy Horse, the great war chief of the Oglala Sioux; Geronimo, the fierce warrior and Apache chief; Chief Joseph, the leader of the Nez Perce Nation who was known as a warrior for peace; Four Bears, the great fighter and leader of the Mandan Tribe (artists Charles Bodner and George Catlin painted a portrait of Four Bears in the 1830s); and Sitting Bull, the Sioux Lakota chief who was known as a great warrior and holy man.

Close to finishing my new monumental sculpture of ‘’DARE TO DREAM BIG’’

I am close to finishing my new monumental sculpture of ‘’DARE TO DREAM BIG’’ This will be my 34th monumental sculpture. It has been a long time since I have created a monument that was not commissioned. ‘’Champion Lane Frost ‘’ was another monument that was not commissioned. Sometimes you put in the time, effort and finances because you believe in that inner voice that tells you it needs to be done

AMERICAS PRIDE

I try to tell a story with my art and I want to share some of the stories behind the sculptures I have created. chrisnavarro.com

AMERICAS PRIDE Bronze, 18’’ x 25’’ x 11’’ After the 9-11 terrorist attacks on the United States, I wanted to express my pride and feelings about being an American. Like every country, we have our share of problems and conflicts. However, after extensive travel and even living abroad, I have not found a better place in which to live and raise my family. The opportunities and freedom to follow our beliefs and dreams are endless in America, only limited by our efforts and desire to pursue them.

VISION QUEST OF THE SUNDANCE

VISION QUEST OF THE SUNDANCE Bronze, 32’’ x 15’’ x 15’’
Because hardship and the unexpected were so much a part of their lives, Plains Indians believed that through personal suffering, they would receive supernatural power in their favor. Suffering and testing were also forms of thanksgiving, because they proved, without doubt, their sincerity and gratitude to the Great Spirit for responding to their pleas. Sioux warriors believed that by suffering at the pole at the center of their sun lodge, they took upon themselves much of the agony of their people. As a sacred Native American ceremonial dance, the sun dance required exhaustive preparation, fasting, and self-mutilation. The sculpture portrays a sun dance warrior at the culmination of the ritual. Having completed his fasting and chanting, he is suspended by sticks that pierce his chest. He wears the sacred sage wreaths, and with his head thrust back, blows the eagle bone whistle. The sound of the whistle replicates an eagle’s cry, which delivers the warrior's plea to the Great Spirit above. Beneath him, the buffalo skulls are bound to his legs in order to hasten the tearing free of his flesh. The sun and the skulls further symbolize the mystery of the Great Spirit. 

I work with live models whenever possible, which allows me to respond and interact with my subject. For example, while sculpting Vision Quest of the Sundance, I constructed a hoist and harness to suspend a live model from the ceiling of my studio. This allowed me to authentically represent the tension that the fatigued warrior felt in his muscles from being suspended.

DUALITY OF THE BULL AND BEAR

I try to tell a story with my art and I want to share some of the stories behind the sculptures I have created. chrisnavarro.com 
DUALITY OF THE BULL AND BEAR Bronze, 6’’ x 15’’ x 8’’ This bronze represents the changes and cycles of the stock market. In a bull market, rising share prices encourage buying, while in a bear market, declining prices prompt selling. This is the first “reversible” sculpture that I have designed. By picking up and flipping over the sculpture, you are able to change the meaning of the design. From one direction, the bull dominates the bear. Flip it over, and the bear dominates the bull. The ability to switch the sculpture shows the duality and change of the bull vs. bear markets. clik on for videohttps://youtu.be/8OVqYAc4SQk

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

I try to tell a story with my art and I want to share some of the stories behind the sculptures I have created. chrisnavarro.com
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND Bronze, 25” x 24” x 9
Roping is my favorite pastime. I use a well-known saying to depict what every cowboy knows from experience: “What goes around comes around.” This cowboy is roping a rangy, crossbred, banana horn bull that has gotten in with his cows. The bull is fighting the rope and coming around the trunk of a tree, heading straight for the horse and cowboy. With his saddle starting to slip, he must decide whether to hold his dailies or let go. Either way, there's going to be a big wreck!

WHEN CHAMPIONS MEET

I try to tell a story with my art and I want to share some of the stories behind the sculptures I have created. chrisnavarro.com

WHEN CHAMPIONS MEET Bronze, 38’’ x 23.5’’ x 15’’ Monumental Bronze, 15’ x 11’ x 7’

Located in Greeley, Colorado, the Greeley Independence Stampede is known as the world's largest Fourth of July rodeo. I was commissioned to create the monumental sculpture When Champions Meet for the stampede’s 75th anniversary in 1997. The sculpture depicts saddle bronc riding, often referred to as “the classic event of rodeo.” The horse is rocketing out of the chutes, with a rider balanced in the mark-out position. What you see is a champion bucking horse against a champion cowboy in a beautiful, wild dance. I have probably sculpted more cowboys riding bucking horses than any other subject. There's always something epic about a horse trying to throw a man off of his back.

Rodeo is more about trying than anything else. A man or women with guts and heart can become anything in this world they want or desire, because to be a champion, all you have to give is all you got.

WHEN CHAMPIONS MEET

They say I've drawn a champion bronc that no one can ride.

Well, I'm a champion, too, and I’ve got just as much pride.

So I guess I'll take my chances and nod for the gate,

‘Cause it gives my life meaning, being in this wild dance with fate.

By Chris Navarro

WHEN SHADOWS SPEAK OF DANGER

WHEN SHADOWS SPEAK OF DANGER 
Bronze, 15.5” x 20” x 6’’ chrisnavarro.com
It’s always exciting to tell a good story. When Shadows Speak of Danger depicts a lone cowboy riding his horse down a steep ridge. His eyes are focused on the skyline of the next ridge, and he sees three warriors on horseback dressed for battle. The setting sun casts their shadows on the rocks below⎯ a foretelling of what is to come.

I try to tell a story with my art and I want to share some of the stories behind the sculptures I have created. WYOMING COWBOY

I try to tell a story with my art and I want to share some of the stories behind the sculptures I have created. chrisnavarro.com

WYOMING COWBOY bronze, 30” x 18” x 9’’ Monumental Bronze, 16’ x 11’ x 5’

Wyoming Cowboy is located at the entrance to the University of Wyoming’s Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center in Laramie.

The silhouette of a cowboy riding a bucking horse has long been the symbol of the state of Wyoming. The cowboy astride a bucking horse represents the toughness, pride, spirit, and independence of the people, animals, and landscapes of Wyoming.

My sculpture has been modeled after the great bucking horse, Steamboat. This famous bucker, bred in Wyoming, was voted Worst Bucking Horse of the Year at the Cheyenne Frontier Days celebration in 1906 and 1907. Steamboat was jet black with three white socks and had a powerful build. When he was a colt, Steamboat 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.

I try to tell a story with my art and I want to share some of the stories behind the sculptures I have created. WHEN THE EARTH TREMBLED

 Bronze, 13’’ x 40’’ x 12’’ The coming of the horse changed many of the old ways for buffalo hunters. The buffalo chase on horseback combined the excitement of the horse race with the challenge of the hunt. The thrill and exhilaration were so fulfilling that it became addictive to the hunter. The buffalo hunter would put his horse into a full gallop the moment the herd broke⎯a test of horse speed against buffalo speed. Each hunter selected a single buffalo and attempted to ride within a bow's length away. The preferred target on the buffalo was the intestinal cavity just behind the last rib and back of the shoulder, which allowed the arrow to penetrate the heart. This method of hunting buffalo became a real test between man and animal, as opposed to the later mass killings of buffalo by white men, which decimated the herds. Buffalo are no longer hunted in this manner, but there was a time not long ago when man, horse, and buffalo raced over the prairie and the earth trembled!