Scrap iron sculptor, John Lopez, is a genius . . . plain and simple truth. After the death of his beloved Auntie Effie, Lopez moved in with his uncle on his ranch in South Dakota to build a family cemetery. Uncle Geno opened his home and more importantly, his welding shop to Lopez. The rest is history.
Photo Courtesy: John Lopez Studio
While attempting to complete the fence around the family cemetery, the closest town is 35 miles away and Lopez ran out of material. Thus, his imagination kicked into gear and he began to dig in scrap iron on-site to complete his work.
Photo Courtesy: John Lopez Studio
All visitors were amazed at his efforts; re-use gave Lopez such new-found personal satisfaction. Lopez was already a successful commissioned bronze sculptor, but the excitement of the hunt and sculpting from scrap causes him to never be bored. Scrap iron to Lopez brings forth a totally new direction for his work that piques his imagination and talent to a whole new level.
Photo Courtesy: John Lopez Studio
Over the past 10 years, Lopez has been working on The City of Presidents project in Rapid City, SD. Bronze presidents reside on street corners through the town. He has sculptures scattered across the country and in traveling exhibitions.
Photo Courtesy: John Lopez Studio
All the while sculpting presidents and other commissions, Lopez has been able to build a career in sculpture without leaving his rather isolated prairie home in South Dakota. Lopez grew up on a ranch; he knows horses and he knows cattle. It's no surprise that is what he loves to sculpt best.
Photo Courtesy: John Lopez Studio
Lopez's most recent work is a draft horse pulling a plow. What I find so interesting is that the longer you look at the piece, the more items you discover being incorporated into the mix. This brings forth curiosity at a whole new level as a spectator of Lopez's magical interpretations.
Photo Courtesy: John Lopez Studio
Sure, it's metal. Sure, it's scrap. Sure, it's rusted. However, Lopez's beautiful feathered work horse manages to capture your heart when you look into its seemingly kind eye, which brings a soulful feel to this magnificent piece named "Black Hawk."
Photo Courtesy: John Lopez Studio
Photo Courtesy: John Lopez Studio
Photo Courtesy: John Lopez Studio
Black Hawk made it's way over to the east coast this spring, but not before Lopez had a little fun with him in a photoshoot. As of April 24, 2014, Black Hawk now resides at a community-governed, 7-day/week farm store called The Farm at Eastman's Corner (Est. 1737) in Kensington, New Hampshire.
Please enjoy the John Lopez Studio Blog HERE to see his other works on display. Also, click HERE to visit the world of Eastman's Corner on Facebook.
What a fabulous spring day! Calgary Stampede film crew here for the promotional video. Met some awesome people who were as fun as they were professional.
Thanks to our super crew in helping to prepare, to Melissa and Jeanette from Stampede, and Mike and Shaun from Lucidity Entertainment Group.
Stretching helps to improve muscle tone and overall flexibility. To remain supple, the connective tissue and associated muscles benefit from stretching routines. The key is this: energy absorption is enhanced through stretching; muscles are more resistant to injury and it also helps to alleviate pain. Eaglesfield wheeler, Bud, enjoys this soothing therapy which will also increase his range of motion. Joe Dolan takes Bud through the paces.
In honor of our American friends, on this Memorial Day, we find this somber photograph of Arlington Cemetery as a reminder of the brave souls who served and lost their lives.
Arlington Cemetery
Adjacent to Arlington Cemetery stands the Iwo Jima Memorial, with its bells of the Netherlands Carillion tolling for soldiers everywhere.
Iwo Jima Memorial
Likewise, in Canada, The National Military Cemetery at Beechwood is the final resting place for our honorable Canadian service personnel.
The National Military Cemetery
Memorial Day in either country, involves families getting together attending ceremonial services and parades, whether they are in big cities or small home towns. While at these events we remember those who have fought for land and freedoms, and observe various customs and traditions that are adhered to during these events.
The National Military Cemetery
Always in attendance is the riderless (or caparisoned) horse.
Memorial Day Parade, Washington, DC
This horse is led by a "cap walker," and is fully saddled, bridled and bears a pair of boots set backwards in the stirrups. The honor is reserved for high-ranking government officials and for officers of the rank of Colonel or above who have died.
Arlington Cemetery
Today's customary three-shots-fired over a grave probably originated as far back as the Roman Empire. The Roman funeral rite of casting dirt three times on the coffin constituted the "burial." It was customary amongst the Romans to call the dead three times by name, which ended the funeral ceremony, after which the friends and relatives of the deceased pronounced the word "vale" (farewell) three times as they departed from the tomb. In more recent history, three muskets were fired to announce that the burying of the dead was complete and the burial party was ready for battle again.
US Capitol - Ronald Reagan Funeral
The custom of using a caisson to carry a coffin most likely had its origins in the 1800s when horse-drawn caissons that pulled artillery pieces also doubled as a vehicle to clear fallen soldiers from the battlefield. Caissons are pulled by 6-8 black or grey horses, and are usually Percherons. In the United States Capital, the horses used for this purpose are kept at Ft. Myer in Arlington, Virginia, surrounded by hi-rise apartments and office buildings.
The National Military Cemetery
As noted before, in the mid to late 1800s a funeral procession of a mounted officer or enlisted man was accompanied by a riderless horse in mourning caparison, followed by a hearse. It was a custom to have the boots of the deceased thrown over the saddle with heels to the front signifying that his march had ended. You will often see the rider's boots reversed in the stirrups, indicating the soldier will never ride again, as well as signifying the commander's parting look upon his troops who march behind.
When the caisson horses are not being utilized for memorial / funeral events at Arlington Cemetery, they are utilized in therapy on the grounds of Ft. Myer in the rehabilitation of injured U.S. soldiers.
The Percherons are well-trained, easy going and are perfect for the job.
Yet another reason why we love our Percherons so.
We wish everyone a safe Memorial Day, and ask that you please remember those who have not yet (or will ever) return home to their families and to the countries that they loved.
Ethological in theory but so very necessary is letting your stallions run with a "herd." Socialization is one of the most intrinsic needs of the horse.
Though we have a few "grand dams" in the hierarchy who insist upon letting Brigadier know they outrank him, he loves moving into the open spaces with his "chicks" from his bachelor digs . . .
. . . even if they don't think he's as cool as he does.
On sacred ground: Eaglesfield Brigadier joins the historical roster of greats who have graced the fields of Raona Percherons (Bruce Roy), including Lucasia Sir Don; Raona Commanding Knight; Glynlea Raven, Master Flame; Raona Beliveau; Thunder Valley Donald's Price and Queens Commander.
It is such an honor to have our stallion walk this ground.
[This beautifully painstakingly restored chuck wagon featured above illustrates the unique craftsmanship and museum-like quality of Hansen Wheel & Wagon. Please click HERE to meet the team involved, and visit their Facebook page to see what they're up to in the shop.]
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The glorious chuck wagon . . . carrier of food and cooking equipment on the prairies of the United States and Canada back in the day. Thank you, Charles Goodnight, the Texas rancher who brought about the chuck wagon in 1866. He and his partner, Oliver Loving, established the Goodnight-Loving Trail which originally introduced the New Mexico and Colorado growing markets to Texas Longhorns in 1867, and later drove the cattle on into Wyoming.
Goodnight modified a Studebaker wagon, a army-surplus wagon, and added a "chuck box" ("chuck" slang for food -- not a Charles Goodnight reference) to the back. This wagon was his favorite due to its sturdy iron axles. This box stored all the cooking supplies, preserved ingredients, for example, beans, coffee, salted meats, dried fruit, sourdough, etc., and the travelers' personalty. There was a barrel large enough to carry a two-day supply of water for at least 10 men strapped to its side. (Photo: Charles Goodnight, circa 1880. Photo by Billy Hathor/Public Domain)
There were many cubbyholes built in to contain smaller items securely while underway. Interestingly enough, "cubbyhole" comes from the term "cub" which is a stall, pen, or cattle shed (as referred to in the early 1800's). It also could relate to the earlier term "cuddy" which is a small room, cupboard (as referred to in the 1700's) or a small cabin in a boat (as referred to in the 1600's). We find the cattle term of "cub" an interesting spin on the word, especially with these wagons first being used in cattle drives.
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The chuck wagon's drawers and cubbyholes held items such as salt, lard, baking soda, vinegar, tobaccos, matches and molasses. The larger cubbyholes were home for the skillets, dutch ovens, pot hooks and the much needed (and carefully guarded) coffee pot. There were items kept for emergencies, such as castor oil, calomel (white powder fungicide), bandages, needle & thread, a razor and a strop (which was used to sharpen the razor), and a little whiskey for those serious injuries.
The "cookie" was second in command to the trail boss, who served as cook, barber, dentist and banker on cattle drives. He guarded the medicinal whiskey very carefully, and often took a sip or two just to make sure it was still good. When cookie was done for the day, before hitting the sack he would place the position of the tongue of the chuck wagon facing north. When the trail boss started in the morning, he would look at the tongue and know what direction he would be moving the herd.
"The Camp Wagon on a Texas Roundup" (1900)
In modern times, the chuck wagon is raced or is the star of chuck wagon cook-offs where each wagon is judged on its authenticity and driving ability. It's equipment and construction must be limited to the late 1800's. The cooks are also judged on their attire.
Fill your plate and your belly and move on so stragglers can fill their plates.
Eat first ~ Talk later.
Eat with fingers ~ The food's clean.
If you're up for refills on coffee and you hear, "man at the pot," you get to serve refills.
You don't take the last serving unless you're sure you're the last man.
Food left on the plate is an all out insult to the cook.
No running or saddling your horse near the wagon.
When you ride off, do it down wind from the wagon.
If you see decent firewood, bring it back to the wagon; and lastly,
Strangers are always welcome.
For you "Foodies" . . .
Here's Renowned Chef, Bobby Flay, and Kent Rollins of Red River Ranch Chuck Wagon Catering & Cowboy Entertainment in a "Chuck Wagon Throw Down" of Some Chicken-Fried Steak
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