Monument banner

Cave Creek Monuments

The Town Council awarded Mark the commission to create two monuments for the town, one at each entrance to the town of Cave Creek.

The monuments depict a horse sculpted out of stainless steel that stands on a rusty steel and stone base.  The stainless steel horse stands 9 feet in height and is mounted on a 4 foot tall base.

The monuments are located on Cave Creek Road at either entrance to the town. One is located on Cave Creek Road a half mile south of Carefree Highway (just south of Walmart). The other one is at the north entrance coming into town from Carefree near Scopa Trail Road (by Stagecoach Village).

The dedication for the monuments was on June 10, 2014.  The ceremony was at the south monument.  Town officials and members of the Town Council were in attendance.

Concept drawing

The Sculpting

Here are photographs of the creation of the horses...

Actual size drawing

An actual-size drawing (9 feet high) was created to work out the design.

The armature

The drawing was helpful in determining the correct shape of the armature.

The two armatures

The two horses will be identical. I made carts so I could move them around.

Armature

The armatures are made of stainless steel square tube and mounted on a steel plate.

Ribs added

The two armatures are completed. Adding the head was left to last so that the sculptures could be rolled in and out of the studio.

Armature finished detail

The head will be added as a separate piece.

First attempt at adding shapes

I didn't like my first attempt at putting the ribbon shapes on the body. I took them all off and cut new parts. Everything is trial and error.

The base

I start fabricating the base at the same time to insure all parts would fit.  The base is made of mild steel and will be allowed to rust.

Establishing the ribbon shapes

Parchment paper was used to trace the shapes from the drawing and place them on the armature, then adjustments were made so they would fit correctly.  I tried to place welds where they wouldn't show.

The templates

The paper shapes were then transferred to Masonite. I used the Masonite templates to cut out the stainless steel shapes with a hand-held plasma cutter. The shapes were then bent to fit, and welded on to the armature.

Armature for head

The armature for the head is welded on.

Tail detail

Close up of tail.

Body nearing competion

Progress is moving along on the horses.  There are still a few more parts to weld on.

Detail view

Close up view of the body so far.

Head closeup

Close up view of the head. At this point, I still want to keep the heads removable, so the neck and chest area are not yet welded in place.

Leg and tail closeup

Here is the detail view of the hind leg area.

Body closeup

Close up of upper body.

Trial fit

Trial fit on base.

Two horses and base

The completed sculptures and bases.

Two horses and baseAnother view.

The Installation

North foundation

North Foundation

The Town of Cave Creek Utilities Department poured the concrete foundations.

South foundation

South Foundation

Anchor bolts were placed in the concrete.

Base installation

Installing the south base.

South base

The south base installed.

North base

The north base installed.

Lifting horse

Lifting the horse to place it on the trailer.

Transporting sculpture

The horses are strapped down and ready to roll.

The Big Day - South Monument

Delivery
Arrival on site
Town manager
Installation
Installation
Setting monument
Bolting sculpture down
Installation
Covering for dedication

North Monument

Arrival
Unstrap sculpture
Place sculpture
Installation
Installation
Installation
Installing bolts
Town crew
Install covering
Ready for dedication

Ready for the Dedication

The Dedication

Dedication
Dedication
Dedication
Dedication
Dedication

The Monuments Installed

North Monument

North Monument

South Monument

South Monument

North closeup
South closeup

Relocating the South Monument

Relocated South Monument

The new location of the South Monument. Two Boy Scouts added some landscapeing and pavers as a project for their Eagle Merit Badge.

Plaque

The Town donated new plaques for the Monuments.


If you would like Mark to sculpt a similar stainless steel horse, contact him to discuss the project.The price for the sculpture is $25,000.  To commission a sculpture.


Comments on the Monuments

Congratulations on the sculptures for Cave Creek. They are wonderful!

Judith V.

Wow, this is so cool!! Wish I could be there! I hope you guys are planning on having a big party afterwards----you deserve it!!

Betsy S.

The Monuments are both Elegant and Beautiful...Cave Creek is lucky to have your Creative Talents...

Gloria D.

Love the pieces. They made a great choice selecting you to do the work....

Walter M.

They look gorgeous.

Jim C.

Congratulations Mark, your horse sculptures are beautiful. Cave Creek is lucky to have you as a resident!

Lyle R.

These are the coolest pieces I've seen in a long time. The Cave Creek folks must be ecstatic!

Bill H.

Congratulations on a project well done.  Your horses are gorgeous and perfect - a real asset to the town of Cave Creek.

Carolyn S.

Face Book

Please Like our Facebook Page,The Sculpture Studio LLC. See more in-depth progress photos about making sculpture.