In The News
BARAJAS MEMORIALIZING PETS WITH PENCIL DRAWINGS
Mr. Guadalupe Barajas is now accepting commissions for original pencil drawings of your favorite pet. The drawings are made from a good quality photograph and can be customized with matting and framing. Please call the studio at 307-634-5407 for more details.
A LOCAL SCULPTOR AND RETIRED ART TEACHER OPENED A GALLERY TO SHOWCASE HIS ART
Click image to enlarge
By Michelle Dynes
mdynes@wyomingnews.com
CHEYENNE - Guadalupe Barajas runs his hands over a work-in-progress.
The brown clay is molded into a stretched out Afghan Hound, but it's only the first step to create a bronze sculpture. Alongside the hound sit other projects in various stages of completion from plaster molds to hollow wax replicas.
Next Saturday he will add the Grey Wolf Gallery to his studio. The business will showcase Barajas' bronze sculptures as well as give buyers a look inside the artist's process.
"When people go to a gallery there's so much to see," he said. "At times it can be overwhelming."
The Wyoming native attended the Art Institute of Chicago to study sculpture after he graduated from East High. He then became an art instructor for the Chicago public school system. But Barajas returned to his home state to pursue sculpting full-time after he retired in 1994.
He said many of his pieces focus on wildlife and Native American heritage.
His monument of three mule deer, "Open Season," was installed in front of the Wyoming Governor's residence last year. He also earned "Best of Show"
twice at the Western Spirit Art Show.
An outstretched gloved hand prepares to catch a ball outside the softball complex at Brimmer Park. And a bronze guide dog greets guests at the entrance of the Children's Village at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, said Gallery Director Elsie Manzanares.
Barajas added that nine of his sculptures are scattered throughout Cheyenne, including Sierra Trading Post and the Health Sciences Building at Laramie County Community College.
Gallery visitors may get a chance at some point to see him at work on one of his large year-long projects. But most of the works on display at the gallery represent the smaller pieces that art fans can exhibit at home and take three months to complete.
Manzanares said buyers also can get a sense for how a sculpture looks inside a home since Barajas' home adjoins the studio. His artwork sits atop columns within his sitting room and entryway as well as his gallery.
The Gray Wolf Gallery can be reached at 634-5407 or www.barajasstudio.com.
An open house for the gallery will be Nov.21.
Reprinted from the November 14th edition of the Wyoming Tribune Eagle with permission of Cheyenne Newspapers, Inc., copyright 2009.
CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE DECEMBER 12TH
A Christmas Open House for the Grey Wolf Gallery is scheduled for Saturday, December 12th from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Open House is open to the public. Please stop by and enjoy hot apple cider, eggnog and Christmas cookies and cakes with us.
Barajas is offering a 20% discount on purchases made during the Open House.
GREY WOLF GALLERY OFFICIALLY OPENS
 An Open House of the Grey Wolf Gallery was held on November 21st. The Open House was by invitation only and over 60 people were in attendance. Barajas was pleased with the turnout and deemed the event a success.
Assisting at the Open House were the owner, Mr. Guadalupe Barajas, and the Gallery Director, Ms. Elsie Manzanares. Guadalupe would like to say ‘Thank You’ to his brother and sister, Joe Barajas and Molly Barajas, for acting as hosts during the Open House.
BARAJAS FEATURED IN LOCAL NEWSPAPER
Guadalupe was featured in an article in our local newspaper, the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle on November 14th. The article was titled “Local sculptor and retired art teacher opens gallery to showcase art”. Thank you to Michelle Dynes who came to the gallery to interview Guadalupe and Elsie for the story and to Michael Smith who photographed Guadalupe at work in the gallery.
"LEGACY" INSTALLED
 Guadalupe is proud to announce that "Legacy" has been installed at the entrance of the Health Sciences Building at Laramie County Community College.
"LEGACY" captures a moment where two hands are reaching out to one another. "LEGACY" conveys a message, which can be interpreted on many levels. For those students at LCCC who are pursuing a profession in the field of health and science, they may see themselves as the one who will some day reach down to give hope and strength to those in need. As a faculty member of LCCC, it would be easy to see himself or herself as the hand of knowledge reaching out to the future of tomorrow. For the more religious among us, regardless of one's affiliation, the message speaks for itself. Regardless of how "LEGACY" is interpreted, the strongest message becomes that of "people helping people". This is exactly the passion one would expect to find in the students attending classes in the Health Sciences Building - the desire and compassion to offer a helping hand to those in need."
GREY WOLF GALLERY OPENING
Guadalupe Barajas takes great pride in announcing the opening of the Grey Wolf Gallery.
When Guadalupe purchased his home in South Cheyenne in 2005, his goal was to build a studio to create his artwork. In 2006 that goal was realized when his 1800 square foot studio was completed. Beginning in 2006, the building served as Guadalupe’s home studio as well as a place to exhibit his bronzes. When the economy changed in 2007, Guadalupe seriously considered opening his own gallery. As the gallery concept developed, and sales dropped at the galleries representing Guadalupe, and it became apparent that the gallery showcasing Guadalupe’s bronzes was the next step in the progression of his career.
Grey Wolf Gallery is open by appointment and is located at 2308 Division Avenue in Cheyenne. Please call 634-5407 for more information.
BARAJAS WINS SCULPTURE AWARDS
Guadalupe won the Joe and Mary Back Sculpture Award for "Spirits of the Open Plain" at the 60th Annual National Art Show and Sale, sponsored by The Wind River Valley Artists' Guild, in Dubois, Wyoming. Barajas also won the 1st Place ribbon for "Storyteller".
BARAJAS COMPLETES WILDLIFE MOUNT SERIES
Guadalupe recently completed a wildlife mount series including an elk, mule
deer, ram, antelope and moose. The bronzes can be purchased individually or
you can enjoy a significant savings if you are interested in purchasing the complete set. See them at the "Wildlife" link on the web page.
NEW SCULPTURE MINIATURES
Guadalupe is now offering two new miniature bronzes - titled "Buried Treasure" (found on the 'Wildlife' link on the web page) and "Solitude" (depicting a lone bison, photo to come). He also has more miniatures in the production phase.
"CROWNING GLORY" DISCONTINUED
"Crowning Glory", which won 1st Place Gold in 1999 from the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep (FNAWS), is being discontinued according to the artist. The bronze depicts the magnificent Argali wild sheep found only in Central and Northern Asia. The reduced retail price is $3,000 and there are two editions remaining (Dimensions are: 31" H x 18" W x 11" D). The artist is offering a significant discount if both editions are purchased by one buyer.
MEET “THE FELTONS”
Gary and Rita Felton are collectors. They collect heirloom antiques, potbelly stoves, cake plates, juicers, meat grinders, Native American artifacts, and paintings, to name a few of their collectibles.
They did not, however, begin to collect bronze artwork until they saw and fell in love with “Into the New Frontier” while visiting Lander during the 2007 Heart of the West Art Show. They later added the companion piece, a Native American, titled “Ours No More”. The Feltons also own “Solitude”, Guadalupe’s newest miniature bison bronze.
The most recent addition to their bronze collection is “Rolling Thunder”, which they saw as a work in progress at Guadalupe’s studio last year. “Rolling Thunder” is considered by Guadalupe as his most challenging composition to date. He feels honored that Gary and Rita have chosen his bronze artwork to decorate their beautiful new home.
Rita, an elementary school teacher, and Gary, a locomotive engineer with the railroad, live in Torrington, Wyoming and have two grown children, Seth and Sarah.
RUSS TO BE INSTALLED AT CHILDREN'S GARDEN OF BOTANIC GARDENS
"Russ", a life size bronze of a Labrador retriever guide dog is scheduled to be installed at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens this summer. The dog, owned by the late Wyoming State Senator John Ostlund, is a gift from Ostlund's widow, Mary
Russ was 12 when he died suddenly in 2004. After Russ died, Ostlund told his wife that Russ would be waiting to lead him home. A short time later, the senator passed away and was buried with the harness and ashes of his beloved guide.
Mrs. Ostlund commissioned artist Barajas to recreate Russ because she admired his work. A twinof "Russ" was installed at the entrance to the Guide Dog Foundation for the blind in Smithtown, New York.
NEW GALLERY ANNOUNCEMENT
Guadalupe is proud to announce that he will be represented by the Silver Sage Gallery in Dubois, Wyoming starting in June, 2009.
Guadalupe Barajas is awarded a "Bronze" proclamation by Governor Dave Freudenthal proclaiming October 2, 2008 "Guadalupe Barajas Day"
See "Open Season"
CHEYENNE ARTIST UNVEILS ORIGINAL CLAY OF BRONZE SCULPTURE FOR GOVERNOR'S RESIDENCE
CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Cheyenne sculptor Guadalupe Barajas this week revealed the clay original of the bronze sculpture bound for the Governor's Residence in September.
The sculpture, entitled "Open Season," features three mule deer leaping in unison over a slope dotted with sage brush. At the top of the buck's antlers near the center of the sculpture, the piece stands nearly 13 feet tall.
"It is the largest and the most prestigious work that I have done,"
Barajas said as he unveiled the clay rendering to Gov. Dave and First Lady Nancy Freudenthal and members of the State Parks and Cultural Resources Department, the Wyoming Arts Council and the Governor's Residence Foundation this week.
"It is an energetic depiction of Wyoming wildlife that is absolutely appropriate for the residence," Gov. Freudenthal said.
First Lady Nancy Freudenthal called the sculpture a "perfect piece"
for the Governor's residence.
"The buck has strong and beautiful lines," she said. "But the doe and yearling are my favorite pieces in the overall sculpture - they're interesting, delicate and feminine. It will truly define the front of the residence in a way that we could not have achieved with plantings or archways."
The process of choosing an artist to create the piece started several years ago, the First Lady said.
The Wyoming Arts Council set up a process for artists to submit portfolios and Barajas was selected as one of three finalists from a group of 20 Wyoming sculptors.
The three finalists were asked to submit clay maquettes of sculptures featuring one or all of these four native Wyoming animals: antelope, elk, bighorn sheep and mule deer. The artists were asked to create pieces that were large enough to be seen from the highway, were aesthetically pleasing from all angles and showed animals in motion.
Selecting the final choice was extremely difficult, the First Lady said.
"This piece really appealed to Dave," she said. "He grew up on a farm near Thermopolis where there were mule deer out in the fields all the time. And for me it was the same where I grew up in Cody."
The full-sized clay of "Open Season" is more than 90 percent Styrofoam, Barajas said, and will be used to create molds for the casting of the bronze sculpture. The sculpture is slightly larger than life with the animals depicted at one and one-quarter size.
Expected to weigh more than 3,000-pounds when completed, the sculpture will sit at the center of a roundabout on the northwest side of the residence, across from the main public entrance.
After months of casting the sculpture in 40 to 60 pieces and seamlessly welding them together, the piece will be ready for installation in September, Barajas said. It will require little to no maintenance once installed.
"It's wonderful to work with this Wyoming artist," Nancy Freudenthal said. "The pride he takes in his work is apparent."
AWARDS
In 2008, Guadalupe won the following awards:
- Best of Show AND Best Sculpture for "Spirits of the Open Plain" at the Western Spirit Art Show and Sale held in Cheyenne, Wyoming
- Best of Show 3-D for "Reflections" at the Platte Valley Festival of the Arts held in Saratoga, Wyoming
- Best of Show 3-D for "Trail of the Iron Horse" at the Wild Horse & Western Art Show held in Rock Springs, Wyoming
- People's Choice for "Designed for Speed " at the Douglas Invitational Art Show and Sale in Douglas, Wyoming
- 1st Place in Sculpture for "Unsung Heroes" and 2nd Place in Sculpture for "The First Snowfall" at the RSVP Senior Art Fest held in Cheyenne, Wyoming
COMMISSIONS
In 2008, Guadalupe was awarded the following commissions:
- Fourteen editions of “Tatanka” (a bison bronze) were purchased by Investment Centers of America as awards for its top executives for 2007
PUBLICITY
Guadalupe was featured in Around Cheyenne magazine in its November 2008 issue. Visit their website at www.aroundcheyenne.com to read the article in the Entertainment Section on Page 85.
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