What has two antlers and flies? A bronze elk ... of course

Troutdale sculptor celebrates raising of elk sculpture to gallery roof

By Shannon Wells

The Gresham Outlook, Apr 28, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Trevor Dick and George Burns help guide the bronze elk sculpture by Rip Caswell land on the top of the Rip Caswell Gallery on Tuesday, April 28.

Shanda Tice / Gresham Outlook

ADVERTISEMENTS

Many Oregon outdoor enthusiasts have spotted a herd or two of elk over the years. It’s presumed, however, that considerably fewer have seen one of the hulking mammals fly 50 feet in the air.

But that’s what happened in downtown Troutdale on Tuesday morning, April 28, when a 2,000-pound, 13-foot-tall bronze elk sculpture was hoisted to its permanent home atop the newly renovated Caswell Gallery.

Renowned sculptor Rip Caswell created the majestic edifice – which he dubbed “Challenge Accepted” – as the crown jewel for the 16,000-square-foot gallery he’s been renovating for nearly three years.

Using a crane three times taller than nearby buildings, the Bremik Construction crew gracefully hoisted the elk – attached with strategically wrapped orange straps – from the gallery’s parking lot to a specially designed platform tower in the middle of the roof. From lifting to bolting it down, the operation was completed in less than 10 minutes.

While grey skies and spring drizzle kept gawkers to a minimum, the symbolism of the moment was hardly lost on the artist himself.

“Today just feels like a major milestone. Like the icing on a cake,” Caswell said between sips of sparkling cider. “The artwork is a tangible reality of a dream coming true.”

His dream? A significant reimagining of the 100-year-old former potato warehouse that’s housed Caswell Gallery for years. As finishing touches are applied to the massive renovation, Caswell said he looks forward to moving out of the nearby storefront his studio has temporarily occupied into a one-of-a-kind showplace.

With 18-foot ceilings, the building’s bright, cavernous interior should provide ample space for Caswell’s deeply detailed bronze works. A mixture of modern and rustic styles, the gallery maintains the warmth and tone the artist ultimately chose in lieu of starting from the ground up.

“An old building like this, you keep running into more and more things,” he said. “There’s such character to it. The wood is 100 years old. It’s probably more cost effective to rebuild new.

1 | 2 Next Page >>