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.
Here are photographs of the creation of the horses...
An actual-size drawing (9 feet high) was created to work out the design.
The drawing was helpful in determining the correct shape of the armature.
The two horses will be identical. I made carts so I could move them around.
The armatures are made of stainless steel square tube and mounted on a steel plate.
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.
The head will be added as a separate piece.
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.
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.
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 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.
The armature for the head is welded on.
Close up of tail.
Progress is moving along on the horses. There are still a few more parts to weld on.
Close up view of the body so far.
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.
Here is the detail view of the hind leg area.
Close up of upper body.
Trial fit on base.
The completed sculptures and bases.
North Foundation
The Town of Cave Creek Utilities Department poured the concrete foundations.
South Foundation
Anchor bolts were placed in the concrete.
Installing the south base.
The south base installed.
The north base installed.
Lifting the horse to place it on the trailer.
The horses are strapped down and ready to roll.
Ready for the Dedication
North Monument
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.
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.