Cowboy Artists of America member Harold T. (H) Holdens work was featured in the The World Series Roper, Winter 2014 spintowinrodeo/ws-roper It’s early October and as a gentle fall breeze sweeps across northwestern Oklahoma, Harold T. Holden is delighted to be tucked away in his home studio finishing pieces for the Cowboy Artists of America Annual Sale & Exhibition that’s approaching all too quickly. Affectionately known as “H” to most folks, he is one of America’s most coveted and beloved cowboy artists. Seven hundred miles to the west, ten bronze castings are underway at Art Castings of Colorado in Loveland. The 42-year-old foundry has been turning one of H Holden’s timeless sculptures into a one-of-a-kind award that has made the trek to the South Point Hotel and Casino and into the hands of the World Series of Team Roping Finale Champions for the last six years. Including the 2014 trophy bronzes, only 50 castings of the sculpture, titled “Faced Up,” have been made—and only the lucky few who have claimed a WSTR Finale win are privileged to own the coveted piece. Knowing the cowboy artist was nationally distinguished, WSTR founder Denny Gentry had purchased one of Holden’s bronzes from the Santa Fe, N.M., fine art gallery of long-time friend Michael Henington. The piece, called “Altitude and Attitude,” is somewhat foretelling of a greater story. Prior to that, as Gentry observed the pristine piece, a novel thought occurred. “The more I looked at it, the more I liked it, so I called to see if he wanted to do a yearly award,” Gentry explained. “Since he is also a team roper he jumped on it. I have seen a lot of bronzes given away over the years, but nothing of this type of quality.” Holden began sketching ideas and in the summer of 2008, the first set of “Faced Up” trophy bronzes went into production. A short year later, after roping at the 2008 WSTR Finale himself, Holden would be taking what very literally could have been his final breaths...
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 21:42:58 +0000
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