Kent Ullberg Installs Bison & Calf as Part of "Spirit of Nebraska's Wilderness;" Stampeding Bison Cow Appears to Cut Through Omaha Parking Structure at 15th & Dodge
Sculptor Kent Ullberg, widely recognized as one of the leading wildlife sculptors in the world, will install the latest piece of the First National Bank's "Spirit of Nebraska's Wilderness" on Monday, August 21st. Ullberg's larger-than-life stampeding bison cow and calf will be placed at 15th and Dodge.
Omaha, Nebraska (PRWEB) August 18, 2006 -- Sculptor Kent Ullberg, widely recognized as one of the leading wildlife sculptors in the world, will install the latest piece of the First National Bank's "Spirit of Nebraska's Wilderness" on Monday, August 21st. Ullberg's larger-than-life stampeding bison cow and calf will be placed at 15th and Dodge.
The unique piece engages the architecture of the parking structure, using downtown Omaha as a canvas, as the cow comes through part of the building. The cow, in four pieces, will be affixed to the building, with the head emerging from the wall, the midsection cutting through two corners, followed by the tail and hind leg. The calf, placed on the sidewalk, runs alongside its mother.
"The bison ran here on the open plains, from ancient times until the early years of the founding of our nation," notes Ullberg. "Their spirits are still with us today, still running, paying no heed to our modern cities and structures."
The four pieces that comprise the cow, in bronze, weigh approximately 800 pounds, while the calf is 350 pounds. Ullberg's calf was cast by Art Casting, while the pieces that make up the cow were cast by Bronze Services. Both foundries are in Loveland, Colorado.
An 8-foot-tall, 2,000 pound bull bison by Ullberg has already been installed a block away, at 15th and Capital. Three more of the sculptor's bison enter Wilderness Park, at First National Center, flushing a flock of geese he created. Two more pieces, bison running into and out of a downtown planter, will be installed at a later date.
The monument that is "Spirit of Nebraska's Wilderness" was commissioned by the First National Bank. It begins in Pioneer Park with Ed Fraughton and Blair Buswell's wagon train. The westward-bound wagon train – four wagons, draft horses, oxen, a dog and two pioneer families, including children, women and a father – causes a heard of bison to stampede. The bison emerge onto Dodge Street, and flush a flock of 58 bronze and stainless-steel Canada geese from a fountain in Wilderness Park. The geese take flight and enter the urban landscape, where they are attached to traffic light standards and buildings throughout downtown Omaha, as well as 18-foot sculpted bronze trees. They conclude their flight in the atrium of the First National Tower.
About Kent Ullberg
A native of Sweden, Kent Ullberg is recognized as one of the world’s foremost wildlife sculptors. While he has done hundreds of works on a small scale, he is perhaps best known for the monumental works he has executed for museums and municipalities from Omaha, Nebraska to Cape Town, South Africa. His Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Omaha, Nebraska installations are the largest wildlife bronze compositions ever done, spanning several city blocks. Regardless of scale, he imbues all of his subjects with unparalleled vitality.
Ullberg is a member of a number of important art organizations that have honored him with prestigious awards. These include, in New York City, Allied Artists of America, the National Academy, the National Arts Club, the National Sculpture Society and the Society of Animal Artists. In 1990, his peers elected him a full academician to the National Academy, he first wildlife artist since John James Audubon to receive one of the greatest tributes in American art. His memberships and awards outside New York include the American Society of Marine Artists, Ambler, Pennsylvania; and the National Academy of Western Art, Oklahoma City, which awarded him the Prix de West Award in 1998, the foremost award in western art. He is a major supporter of many wildlife conservation efforts.
Ullberg’s work can be found in major museums and corporate headquarters around the globe, including the National Museum of Natural History in Stockholm, Sweden; the National Gallery in Botswana, Africa; National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C.; Exhibition Hall, Beijing, China; the Guildhall in London, and many more. His pieces can also be found in the private collections of world leaders and celebrities, including H.R.H. Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, Jack Nicholson and Robert Wagner. For more information, call (970) 667-7809 or (361) 851-1600, email Ullberg@sbcglobal.net or visit www.kentullberg.net.
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