It含羞草研究社檚 been a relationship forged in bronze.
Don Begg and his wife Shirley have worked side-by-side for 54 years at Studio West Bronze Foundry & Art Gallery, their vast space in Cochrane, Alta., northwest of Calgary.
Their combined works include 160 statues on display throughout Canada, the United States, Germany and France. Hundreds of other smaller pieces have been created for private collectors.
含羞草研究社淪he含羞草研究社檒l get in there and do anything that is possible. She含羞草研究社檒l work on one leg on one side and I含羞草研究社檒l work on the other leg on the other side. We含羞草研究社檝e worked together for all of our life,含羞草研究社� Begg told The Canadian Press in an interview.
Among those are the 430-kilogram bronze statue of hockey great Wayne Gretzky holding the Stanley Cup over his head. That piece was on display at Rexall Place in Edmonton and then given a facelift before being placed downtown at Rogers Place, now the Oilers含羞草研究社� home arena.
Their most recent high-profile creation was a 2 1/2-metre bronze rifleman, weighing 450-kilograms, dedicated to the soldiers from the Royal Regina Rifles. It was unveiled by Princess Anne in June at la Place des Canadiens in Bretteville-l含羞草研究社橭rgueilleuse in France, near the beaches of Normandy.
It took nine months to complete and cost $300,000.
含羞草研究社淚t was a real honour to be asked to do it and when the fella phoned and said 含羞草研究社楢re you interested?含羞草研究社� I didn含羞草研究社檛 even think about it for more than a millionth of a second. I said, 含羞草研究社楢bsolutely. We含羞草研究社檙e in,含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫 Begg said.
含羞草研究社淲hat we kind of specialize in is realistic sculptures.含羞草研究社�
The massive model of the rifleman, covered with an inch of clay over a metal frame, sits in the workshop.
Others include a First World War soldier and the first immigrants to Western Canada represented by a man in a bowler hat, a woman in a fancy hat, a boy and a girl with pigtails.
The couple has also specialized in creating Indigenous figures, including a more than three-metre statue of Sitting Eagle, the chief of the Stoney First Nation, in downtown Calgary.
Begg says he is equally proud of all their works.
含羞草研究社淭hey含羞草研究社檙e all favourites. You learn something about every piece and we do bronze work that含羞草研究社檚 going to last for a thousand years, so you always want to do your very best that you can because you won含羞草研究社檛 be around forever to make excuses,含羞草研究社� he said with a chuckle.
Shirley Begg said they won含羞草研究社檛 ever settle for second-best.
含羞草研究社淧erfect is good enough. Actually if you were here all day you would hear that perfect is good enough,含羞草研究社� she said.
含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 no seconds. There含羞草研究社檚 no redo. Perfect is what we aim for and it含羞草研究社檚 the only thing that is acceptable.含羞草研究社�
In the forge itself, a molten brew of brass ingots bubbles in the crucible before the lava-like liquid is carefully poured into the ceramic shell of the statue.
It含羞草研究社檚 backbreaking work but Begg said with the use of cranes attached to the ceiling he含羞草研究社檚 still managing.
含羞草研究社淢aybe another 25 years,含羞草研究社� he said.
含羞草研究社淢aybe 30. No desire to retire.含羞草研究社�
Other works include identical statues of Northwest Mounted Police Commissioner James Macleod in both Calgary and Ottawa, four larger-than-life statues of four fallen RCMP officers in Mayerthorpe, Alta. and one depicting Nellie McClung circa 1929, as a member of the 含羞草研究社淔amous Five含羞草研究社� who endeavoured to make women 含羞草研究社減ersons含羞草研究社� under the law.
Begg is to receive the Alberta Order of Excellence in October to celebrate women and men 含羞草研究社渨ho have contributed so much for the greater good.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淲hen they talk about we have about four million people in Alberta now含羞草研究社nd they only have about 220 of them含羞草研究社hat含羞草研究社檚 quite an honour in itself. I含羞草研究社檓 looking forward to it,含羞草研究社� he said.
But in the meantime, he has plenty to do before that happens.
含羞草研究社淧robably have about 80 bronzes on order right now so we just keeping plugging away.含羞草研究社�
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Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press
