Posted on by Ed Elser

The creation of “Cowboys and Indians,” a wall-mounted sculpture installation celebrating all things Southwest, is a dynamic fusion of artistry and craftsmanship. Crafted from vintage metals and wood from old derelict Colorado homesteads, each piece of the installation embodies the rugged spirit of the region. The sculptures depict iconic scenes of the Southwest, from majestic canyons to spirited rodeos, intricately fashioned to capture the essence of the landscape. As viewers gaze upon the artwork, they are transported into a world of cowboy lore and Native American heritage, where the past intertwines seamlessly with the present. “Cowboys and Indians” is a tribute to the enduring legacy of the Southwest.

I used materials from two old Colorado homesteads, as well as the thick copper from transmission lines from my broadcast engineering career.

This was the first attempt at the series. I used a thinner copper. The imperfections in the surface serendipitously added texture. I added my touchmark as a brand for fun.
The background flame, Blued with actual heat!
Indians seem to get more exposure in this collection, but there is no better a stereotype to a cowboy as his hat. I love the effect of the background steel surround, this was one of the last made in the series.
This is the first version of what I called Cowboys and Indians #2. I really like how the unfinished copper looks. This was a gift to Cori and Edo in Indiana. <3
This is the third version of Cowboys and Indians #2. But Layered. I am enjoying attempting different versions of the same design. This rendition was given to our friend David in Germany as a gift.
Used stenciling for the handle and heat Bluing for the barrel.
This is version 2 of cowboys and Indians #2. I decided to add a layer using one of the other designs. This piece resides on Emily’s wall in Arvada Colorado.
Learning how to ad color with heat.
I must admit, I think the texturing of the Indian feathers makes it. But the stacking of the hatchets really worked well.
This is known as a “shamans hand”, a symbol of healing and protection found in hieroglyphs in the southwest. This was given to my longtime friend Aimee and her partner in WV.
I love how this turned out to look like snakeskin. The blue is paint from the original source of the steel. This one was sent to Justin Atkin from the fiddle and Bow music and art Gallery in Honea Path SC. See more of that story in the comments.
Id say the layering turned out stunning! This rendition was given to Victoria as a 21st birthday present!

1 thought on “Cowboys and Indians”

  1. I met Justin in Honea Path SC. He and a friend were repairing the church sign on the old church across from my daughters house. He was driving a cool old 1971 VW Camper Van, and I mentioned to him I was a VW fan myself. We struck up a conversation, And I learned that he had a music hall and art Gallery in town. How easy it is to make friends in the rural south. I showed him some of my art, and he was intrigued, and wanted to know if I wanted to sell the Boot from Cowboys and Indians! I told him, no, but I would be happy to give it to a fellow artist! I’m going to be sending it out this week to him. On a side note, I also passed a house with a “little free library” type box out front, but it was for free art! how cool is that? #littlelibraryfree Free art #littlelibraryfree
    You know what? it turned out to be Justin’s house! can you believe it? Im going to send him something to put into the free art box too! I wanna participate!
    I hope Justin likes it, and I look forward to meeting again.

    Reply

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