Christopher B. Bennett
Sculptor
R.R.#2 Box 242AKeosauqua, IA 52565
(319) 592-3228
FAX (319) 592-3463
Artist's Statement
My works are primarily human figures and animal wildlife, classically rendered. They emphasize the importance of relationships. Those include wisdom and innocence, family members with each other, children, men and women with each other, and with their country, also, animals in their environment. In order to capture the universality of life, I carefully observe the psyche and physical interactions of my subjects, whether people or wildlife.
Education
Naguib School
of Sculpture, Chicago, Illinois
University of Iowa City, Iowa
Sculpture and drawing under the instruction of Julius Schmidt..
University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado
Sculpture and drawing.
Luther College, Decorah, Iowa
Ceramic sculpture, drawing, and painting under the direction of Dean Schwartz.
Experience
Over 30 years experience in bronze, ceramics, welded steel, wood, stone, resin, cast iron, plaster and cement.
Work includes over 50 public commissions and numerous private commissions, small reproductions, teaching, slide lectures, demonstrations, and exhibits.
Awarded Change, Inc., grant, 1998; Adolf and Esther Gottlieb emergency Assistance grant, 1998; Artist Fellowship Inc., grant, 1999; Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant, 1999.
Selected for an artist exchange program, Kufo City, Japan. Displayed three sculptures and created a ceramic portrait of the mayor of Kufo City.
Awarded Numerous Iowa Arts Council grants, including a research and observation grant to interview various artist in Yugoslavia.
PUBLIC WORKS INCLUDE:
[Click on Underlined Titles to View Photo]
Architectural
Continuum, Life-size aluminum cutout figures, printed color contemporary and sepia historical imagery on Mylar and Plexiglas, 12 w. x 8 t. x 1 d. hanging above doors in atrium entrance, University of Northern Iowa, Innovative Teaching and Technology Center, Cedar Falls, IA, 2007
Parade Route, Life-size, bronze 2 figures, grandfather lifting grandson to his shoulders for a better view of a perceived parade. Main street, Shoreline, WA.
Prairie Preening, Life-size, bronze Red tail hawk perched on a hedge corner post crowned with barbed wire, while preening under its wing, Butler Community College, El Dorado, KS.
Descending Strength, Ascending Peace, 50 x 75 landscaped area, 27 dia. plaza with light fountain, 10.5 h. x 21 l. furling bronze wall, life-size eagle with six arrows, over-life-size dove with olive branch, 40 flag pole with flag, lighting, donor text brick. Veterans memorial, Ames, IA., 2006
Illinois Representative Douglas Hoeft Memorial, Life-size, bronze figure, seated on a park bench, River Walk Park, Elgin, IL. , 2005
Pool of Bethesda, Two life-size, bronze figures Jesus standing, and an invalid man kneeling arms outstretched, installed atop a flowing tiered fountain. Bethesda Lutheran Home Services corporate Headquarters, Watertown WI. 2004
Henry Anson Memorial, Life-size, bronze figure on limestone pedestal, including a time capsule. Courthouse Square, Marshalltown, IA, 2004
Hugh Cantrell, Life size, bronze bust, on walnut pedestal, National Softball Hall of Fame, Nicholasville, KY , 2002
Reflective Tribute, Life size, bronze figure, life size, bronze relief figure, 24 x 30" descriptive plaque, 25 x 18 site specific stone plaza, stone benches 7, stone pillars 7, hedged quiet space, W.W.II Memorial, Upper Iowa University, Fayette, IA, 2001
George Soumas Memorial, Life size, bronze, Soumas Court, Hotel Patee, Perry, IA, 2002
Clinton Street Scape Project, Life size, eagle, mink, snow geese (2), otter, heron, catfish, beaver, fox, bronze on stone bases, each central to 6 ½ diameter x 2 high fountain, 15' dia. landscaped composition (8 fountains, 8 street corners), Clinton, IA. 2002
Lil Slugger, Life size bust, bonded bronze, Office of the Governor, state capitol, Des Moines, IA, 2001
Virginia Larson Memorial, Life-size, cold cast bronze, private memorial, donated to the library, Story City, IA. 2000
Stepping Stones, 24 dia. fountain with over life-size bronze figure torsos, also 24 1/3 life-size figures within 12 dia. quiet pool, 24 x 8 & 12 x 4 stainless steel circular tube framing, water fall, meadow, seating, landscaping, commissioned by Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny, IA. 2001
Peace, Service, Community, Police/Fireman memorial, fountain with granite, stainless steel, and bronze, commissioned by the City of Cedar Rapids, IA, 2000
Nancy Neafie Memorial Life-size figure, welded bronze sheet, commissioned by the City of Burlington, IA, 2000
Lady in Bloom, life-size plaster of woman in her ninth month of pregnancy. Commissioned by the Maternity Ward, Iowa Methodist Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa; 1999.
Dr. Jesse Wasson Memorial, Life-size bronze torso, commissioned by the City of La Porte City, Iowa; 1998.
Field of Honor, Eight life-size, bonded bronze military figures, Memorial 20th Century Wars, commissioned by the Rockford Park District, Loves Park, Illinois. 1997 (cast bronze in progress)
A Caring Touch, Life-size bronze, (enlargement), Donna Young Design, commissioned by Trinity Hospital, Rock Island, IL. 1997
George Daily Memorial, Life-size bronze, commissioned by the George Daily Center, Oskaloosa, IA. 1997
Haulin' Gear, Life-size bronze, commissioned by the City Improvement Association, Charles City, IA. 1997
William Cay Memorial, 16" x 18" x 6", bronze in 15' x 15' x 20' landscaped quiet space. Commissioned by the family for Jefferson County Park, Fairfield, Iowa; 1997.
Donor Recognition Wall, 11' x 4 1/2' cast ceramic and carved oak panel, commissioned by the Medical and Surgical Center, Marshalltown, Iowa; 1996.
An Old, Old Story, Heroic-size, bronze Indian couple walking, commissioned by Indian Hills Community College, Ottumwa, Iowa; 1995.
Imparting Knowledge, Life-size bronze, Indian Chief teaching a youth, commissioned by Indian Hills Community College, Ottumwa, IA. 1995
A Veteran's Prayer for Eternal Peace, 14 feet high, bronze hands in 185 x 90 Landscaped outdoor chapel, commissioned by Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Des Moines, IA.. 1994.
Leapfrog, Life-size bronze, commissioned by the Fairfield Public Library, Fairfield, IA.; 1990.
A Grandmother's Garden, Two life-size bronze figures, a child and a grandmother, landscaped share garden space, commissioned for Warren County Courthouse, Indianola, IA.; 1988.
Jack Trice, Life-size bronze standing figure, memorial to first black football player of Ames College commissioned by Iowa State University, Ames, IA 1988, Jack Trice Memorial Stadium.
I Plant, Life-size bronze torso bust of Bertha Jacobsen, a farm woman, community-minded person, gardener, and philanthropist. She is depicted smiling and planting a handful of seeds, Tama Civic Center, Tama, IA ; 1986.
Generations, 30 x 36 plaster relief, commissioned by the City of Fairfield, Fairfield, IA; 1985.
Mayor Chuzohara, Life-size ceramic portrait of the Kufo City Mayor of Kufo City, Japan; 1984.
Dancers, Life-size plaster, Ottumwa Regional Medical Center, Ottumwa, IA.; 1983.
William Coop and Friend, Life-size bronze of two seated figures of a modern boy with a pioneer man, commissioned for the Central Park, Fairfield, IA; 1981.
Commemorative Wall: 8 life-size relief busts, with text of life history, of various significant priests and teachers, Loyola Academy, Wilmette, IL. (in progress)
CORPORATE & PRIVATE WORKS
Douglas Hoeft Commemorative, life-size aluminum mask portrait, over aluminum metal photo image plate. 36h. x 26 w. x 10 d., Homeless Shelter, Elgin, IL 2007
Dwight Vredenburg Memorial, Life size, bronze figure with bronze accessories on bronze bench, Hy-Vee Corporation, West Des Moines, IA , 2003
Athletic Heroes of Iowa, 3 life-size, bronze figures. Iowa High School Athletic Association, Iowa Events Center, Hall of Pride, Des Moines, IA., 2006
Paraclete: 24 flame, copper tubing with brass screen overlay, on 8 sq. x 8 t. alabaster pedestal, mounted on walnut, two 6 ft. t. x 30 w. burgundy banners with 7 gold bar stripes and one red strip each, between accompanying stained glass windows, 1st Methodist Church, Ottumwa, IA, 2002. 1/3 life size, bronze figure, 24", double helix and relief, bronze 24", stone base, 24", composition 6 tall, Kemin Industries, Des Moines, IA, 2001
Diggin Dutchman: Vermeer, Inc. sales awards, Vermeer logo 1/3 size torso bust of construction worker, 1/3 size torso relief bust of a construction worker on a relief background of Vermeer machinery, life size torso bust of construction worker, mounted on a rough cut block of limestone, 2002
Angel of Knowledge, 1/3 Life-size bronze angel mounted on granite, a cemetery monument. Private commission. 2000
Soaring in Grace, 24 x 18 bronze relief with eagle sculpture coming out from relief plane, mounted on granite; a cemetery monument. Private commission.; 1999
Freedom, 27"h x 31"w x 4-1/2"deep bronze relief in curly fir frame. A young boy releasing a frog from captivity. Private commission; 1999.
Natural Causes, Life-size bronze relief, red-tailed hawk catching it prey. Studio Piece; 1996.
Alice Johnston Memorial: Life-size bronze, humming bird, gardening hand trowel & gloves, 3
roses, concrete bench. Private commission, (in progress)
John Hill Memorial: Life-size bronze on black granite, music stand on podium, with open music book and score, entwined trumpet vine with actual instrument trumpet valves for blooms, 2006
Zack Yates Memorial: Life-size bronze on granite, open hands and shell container for commemorative memorabilia at cemetery site, (in progress)
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Artist has completed numerous other private commissions, including portrait busts, miniature portraits, compositions of small figures, and wall reliefs.
EXHIBITIONS:
Luther College Exhibition Gallery, Decorah, IA. 2004
Newton Sculpture Festival, Newton IA. 2004
Hearst Center for the Arts, Cedar Falls, IA. 1999
Kruse Associates, Iowa City, IA. 1999
Loveland Sculpture Invitational, Loveland, CO. 1996, 1997, 1998
Percival Galleries, Des Moines, IA 1997
ARTIST COMMENTS:
Bennett Studio has specialized in creating public works for a variety of sites, for a number of years. Most recently I have concentrated on designing water features for the numerous requests that have been received. Included in the resume are three examples of the most recent compositions, one of which is in progress, due to be completed this fall.
This studio has coordinated efforts with Mid Iowa Fountain Services to expertly implement a creative fountain element to, and as sculptural form to my designs. Also, their expertise has been valuable to understand the most effective lighting that can be used for each proposal. All safety and technical concerns are addressed for each project.
Bennett Studio will be able to collaborate with architects, and all designated subcontractors to implement the chosen work in a timely manner.
Complete client reference available upon request.
