COLUMBIAN MAMMOTH

COLUMBIAN MAMMOTH (2010) Monumental Bronze, 20’ x 25’ x 16’ 
I was commissioned to create the Columbian Mammoth which is the representative symbol for the Washakie Museum and Cultural Center in Worland, Wyoming. The Colby Mammoth Kill Site near Worland provides evidence of Paleo-Indian hunters: namely, the recovery of Clovis projectile points, along with various stone fragments and tools. Dr. George C. Frison, emeritus faculty member at the University of Wyoming’s Department of Anthropology, believes the Paleo-Indian hunters maneuvered mammoths into areas such as arroyos or gullies, where they could be safely harvested. The remains of seven prehistoric mammoths were excavated at the Colby Site, where animals were butchered and stacked in meat caches or piles to be used at a later time. These caches remained unopened until Dr. Frison opened them in 1973. The site provides us with a unique glimpse into the lives of some of Wyoming’s earliest hunters and gatherers. I am amazed at early Wyoming men taking these massive animals down with a sharp rock on the end of a stick. Man, they had to be tough! cnavarroart.com

‘’1OTH MOUNTAIN’’

‘’1OTH MOUNTAIN’’ (1998) Monumental Bronze, 14’ x 9’ x 5’ this monument was commissioned by Bert Bidwell a 10TH Mountain veteran of WW ll and Aspen resident. I did not know he was suffering from cancer at the time and he passed away 6 months after the dedication. He wanted to leave a memorial to honor both the men he served with and the town he loved.
The 1OTH MOUNTAIN memorial is located in Aspen, Colorado, and was dedicated to honor those who served in the 10th Mountain Division. Formed at the beginning of WW II, the 10th fought in Germany and Italy and was the United States’ first division of mountain ski troops. The core of the unit was comprised of 3,000 National Ski Patrol veterans and was trained in Leadville, Colorado.
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‘’EAGLE AGAINST THE SUN’

’ Bronze, and Stainless Steel Monumental Bronze. This was the first monument I installed in Casper, WY a commission by Della Works from Casper as a memorial for her son Robert who was killed in a plane crash in Alaska. I told her I wanted to create a sculpture to capture her son’s sprit expressing flight and the freedom of soaring above the earth. A polished stainless steel ring represents the sun. Attaching the Eagle’s upper wing to the top of the ring allows the lower wing to be surrounded by negative space, creating a stronger sense of flight. cnavarroart.com 

WHEN CHAMPIONS MEET

WHEN CHAMPIONS MEET (1996) 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. cnavarroart.com

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

SPIRIT OF THE THUNDERBIRD

SPIRIT OF THE THUNDERBIRD (1995) Monumental Bronze, 15’ x 11‘ This monument was another self commission with the help of Bill Landen who I went to Casper College with. We were at a youth hockey game when he told me I should do a monument for Casper College and raise the funds like I did when I created the Champion Lane Frost Monument. I told him I would and with his help we were able to get it done by finding donors for $1000. and giving them an 18'' smaller bronze of the monument. I believed by giving donors something of value back for their donation it would be successful and it is proof that the more you give back the more good you receive in your life.
Spirit of the Thunderbird depicts the Native American warrior eagle dancer who has long been the logo and mascot for Casper College. 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. cnavarroart.com

CHAMPION LANE FROST

CHAMPION LANE FROST (1993) Monumental Bronze, 15’ x 11’ x 9’ This was my first public monument. I commissioned myself to do the job I raised the funds by finding donors who would give $1000. each and they received an 18'' smaller bronze of the monument. With their help I was able to get it done. If you want to do something bad enough you will find a way.
World Champion bull rider Lane Frost lost his life at age 25 competing in the 1989 Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo. As a former bull rider, I wanted to honor this great young man who paid the ultimate price doing what he had a passion and love for, so I decided to commission myself as the artist. Champion Lane Frost is always going to be one of my favorite sculptures because of all of the difficulties and challenges it took to complete it. Every time I started feeling good about the project, something would come along and knock me on my ass. Right out of the gate, the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo Committee turned me down, saying I would have to raise all of the funds on my own. My father suffered a stroke just as I was starting the monument. He died on Nov. 8, 1992. When I was nearly finished with the clay original, it burned up in a fire at Caleco Foundry in Cody, Wyoming, on March 6, 1993. I was living in the foundry when an electric heater warming the clay shorted out and started a fire in the building. I awoke at 3 a.m. to find my room filled with smoke and called 911 before jumping out of the second story window. The volunteer fire department arrived and extinguished the fire, but not before the surface of the clay sculpture and most of my tools had been destroyed.. I ordered new tools and clay that very day and began working long hours to repair the damage. I was able to finish the monument and delivered it just days before the dedication on July 26, 1993. This was my first large public monument and it will always have a special place in my heart. Champion Lane Frost is located at Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Through its simple truth, the following quote by Lane touches my heart and gives me strength. ''Don't be afraid to go after what you want to do and what you want to be. But don't be afraid to be willing to pay the price.'' ̶ Lane Frost

''20% Chance of Flurries''

''20% Chance of Flurries'' Monumental Bronze, 15’ x 11’ x 7’
Last week I posted monumental sculpture competitions & proposals I did not win.This week I will post competitions & proposals for monuments bids I did win. Monumental Bronze,
20% Chance of Flurries is a sculpture that won a national competition and was commissioned as a 15-foot tall monument by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. 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. Guy and Vern Robinett, my rancher friends from Casper, Wyoming, modeled 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 seemingly small storm turned out to be a severe spring blizzard and killed more than half of their herd. As I depict him here, the rancher has his head down against the wind, calf across the saddle, with his horse pulling through deep snow in the middle of a blizzard.
For me, this image of a cowboy on a horse saving a young calf embodies the test of endurance that highlights the best qualities of the men and women who live in the West. They face hard conditions and take life as it comes.
cnavarroart.com