Page 6 - Hobart Institute of Welding - Fall 2020 World of Welding

Dignity of Earth and Sky
By: Melinda Gladish

When artist and sculptor Dale Lamphere attended the University Dignity began in 2015 first with a detailed drawing and then as a
of Wyoming 58 years ago, the Dignity of Earth and Sky sculpture 24 inch clay model painstakingly sculpted with precise detail. From
was not even a glimmer in his eye. Dale, like many students, was there, she became a 5 foot model made with over 50 individual
just beginning to explore what could be accomplished in his career. pieces. Once that was complete, the work began to draft and adjust
Dale and his classmates from University of Wyoming had what each of those pieces to final scale. Dignity is made of stainless
I believe is the coolest internship I have ever heard of. They did steel and welded using the Gas Tungsten Arc Welding process. She
a semester at sea called The University of the Seven Seas – an was built outdoors by Lamphere and three other artists/craftsman.
eighteen country world tour to study art through the eyes of other They used an English wheel to create the curves and lines of her
artists from different cultures and with different values. He said face and hands. Her star quilt is made of 128 diamonds that are in
seeing art from the viewpoints of those in other parts of the world the colors of the water and sky that surround her. Once the 50’ x 32’
gave him a glimpse of the expressive edge of art that endures and x 16’ sculpture was complete, it was moved 200 miles over 2 days
transcends boundaries. Dale says art tells us about a society and overcoming multiple obstacles, such as raising power lines, to arrive
what is important to them. As a native of South Dakota growing up at her permanent home. The completed sculpture was dedicated in
on a ranch, Dale didn’t have exposure to international art until that September 2016, stands 50 feet tall, weighs 2 tons and consists of
trip. hundreds of pieces of stainless steel and miles of welds. Dignity
The vision of Dignity of Earth and Sky came about when a local stands on a bluff in Southeastern South Dakota overlooking the
philanthropist contacted Dale with the idea of a project highlighting Missouri River. She pays honor to the Native Nations of the Great
the importance of women in the Native American culture. Native Plains which consists of 9 reservations in South Dakota and makes
American women are considered the backbone of society in that up 20% of the state’s total population.
region. Being from the area, and growing up near the Plains Tribes When I asked Lamphere if there was anything else he would like to
in South Dakota, Dale developed the vision that became Dignity. say about the Dignity of Earth and Sky sculpture, he stated “It was a
The Native American woman depicted in the sculpture is actually a thrill to work on something of that scale and then have it be so well
combination of three women ages 15, 30 and 55. Dale didn’t want received; it was amazing. As an artist, it is necessary to take risks
one particular woman depicted, but rather a combination of the and you hope they will be well received. However, those risks are
characteristics of all three. how we make progress as artists”.

2020 FALL ISSUE - 6 - www.welding.org
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