The sight of a bald eagle soaring over the St. Croix valley is always a thrilling and majestic sight. Look up as you enter St. Croix Regional Medical Center's new lobby and you'll see a magnificent bronze-cast bald eagle sculpture "soaring" above the atrium. This unique and remarkable piece was created for the Medical Center by Osceola artist, Wally Shoop, at the request of the Medical Center's CEO, Lenny Libis.
As you might guess, Shoop draws his inspiration from his observations of the natural world and from his American Indian heritage of respect for nature and the almost spiritual qualities of animal life. His realistic bronze sculptures clearly demonstrate his creative ability as well as his intent to capture human feelings within natural forms.
While he began bronze casting professionally in 1970, Shoop actually started expressing his artist creativity as young child. "I remember carving sandstone rocks I found in the creek near my home in the Badlands near Rapid City, South Dakota," he said. "It was an odd beginning. I had just seen Mt. Rushmore and I must have been impressed, because I got a rock and carved Teddy Roosevelt's face. I was always carving something, and leaving sand all over the house and porch." One day, Shoop's mother had had enough, and tossed all his carvings into the neighbors compost pile. A few years later, a neighbor found one of Shoop's carvings and called the local papers. "Because of the moustache, some people from the local mining company thought the piece was an early Indian representation of one of the first whites to come to the area," said Shoop with a laugh. "Someone also noted that it 'strongly resembled' Teddy Roosevelt!"
Today, without any formal training, Shoop has become a well-known artist. His American Bronze Casting, Ltd. is one of only a few artist-owned foundries in America. "The lost wax process of bronze casting is an ancient art that first appeared nearly six thousand years ago," Shoop explained. "The basic principle of the lost wax method of casting remains unchanged, although new techniques have been developed." Shoop's 15,000 square foot facility is located along the St. Croix River in Osceola, Wisconsin.
Shoop was also blessed with musical talent. He taught himself to play guitar at the age of thirteen and went on to play for yearsin various rock bands, touring throughout the Midwest, He has written many songs, has a number of albums, and just finished recording his newest CD. To view samples of Shoop's work, go to www.bronzes.com/index.html.
|
