Page 14 - HIWT Winter 2012 World of Welding

THE WORLD OF WELDING http://www.welding.org

tHe art of reMeMbering

When Andrew Johnson, a welding
instructor who is associated with
the Welding Technology Program
at Montana State University
Northern in Havre, came to
Troy to take the Preparation for
the American Welding Society
Certified Welding Inspector/
Educator (CWI/CWE) Course
and the CWI examination, he
shared with us an appreciation of
metal sculpture that he inherited
from his father.
Lyle Johnson
Andrew is one of the sons of
master artist and sculptor, Lyle Johnson and his wife Orilla,
who have four adopted children and twelve children of their
own plus more than sixty foster children. Many of these special Plenty Coups, Chief of the Crow Indian Tribe, is installed
family members have been Navajo, Shoshone, Black Feet, at the Chamber of Commerce in Red Lodge, Montana.
Sioux, Cherokee, Karob, Chippewa and Apache children.

Lyle Johnson of Pryor, Montana, specializes in the original Today, the evidence of this lifestyle is displayed in his work
creation of monuments and sculptures of American Western and in a concept that is echoed at the Lyle Johnson Studios
Art and Native American Art, preserving parts of America’s in The Art of Remembering. Johnson and his sons in Pryor,
heritage and reminding people of important cultural events. Montana, pay more than lip service to the idea that, through
Johnson works with his sons to cast bronze utilizing their own their attempt to create fine art, people may be reminded of
foundry facilities. The entire family is well-known for their cultural events which are parts of America’s heritage which
award winning art throughout the United States. that should not be forgotten.

Lyle Johnson holds a
feather in place as his The list of monumental projects completed by the studios and
son, Ercel, tack welds displayed throughout the western United States is long, but one
it onto the sculpture. sculpture we will highlight here is installed at the Chamber of
Commerce in Red Lodge, Montana. It is a sculpture of Plenty
Coups, Chief of the Crow Indian Tribe in the !800’s, who are
located in the south central part of Montana.

In the process, known as a lost wax process, the artist begins by
researching the subject and making it in clay. Rubber moulds
are created into which wax is poured to create patterns. A
Lyle is a self-taught sculptor with a profound love for his ceramic mould is then made and fired in a kiln. Molten bronze
country and its people. Born to a pioneer family on the Ute is poured into the moulds. When it hardens, the ceramic shell
Indian Reservation in the Uintah Basin country of northeast is removed. The pieces of the sculpture are assembled and
Utah, his childhood companions were horses and Indian welded together, and sand blasted. A finish is applied and
youth. He explored the still-wild canyon country of the same coated. The sculpture is then set in place. Plenty Coups, cast
rugged region that sheltered Ouray McCook and his mountain in timeless bronze, stands as a symbol of greatness for untold
Utes. Herding cattle, stalking wildlife and sketching the world generations that many may learn of the great Crow Nation.
as he went, it wasn’t until his tenth year that Lyle discovered
modeling clay and began to fashion the subjects of pencil Lyle Johnson is continually creating lasting monuments.
drawings in three dimensions. When Christmas arrived that His works may be visualized on his website, http://www.
year, the budding young sculptor asked for only two things lylejohnsonstudios.com/index.htm and he may be reached at
under the family tree: a harmonica and a supply of clay. eaglechief50@gmail.com.

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