In 2001, Raymond Gibby created his first bronze, an 18-inch howling wolf bust with a wolf pack vignette surrounding the base. With the funds from his first sale, he sculpted a grizzly bear bust, also with narrative elements at the base, followed by an eagle landing over another scene.
“I remember when I sold my first bronze, I was only making $8 an hour working at my full-time job and hadn’t ever brought in that much money all at once in my entire life,” recalls Gibby. “Back then I had nothing to lose because I basically had nothing in my bank account. So I just went for it on each piece and hoped for the best. I sort of cringe at my first works now, but back then, each piece I made was pure satisfaction and represented hope for the future of my dreams becoming a reality.”
Bear Medicine, bronze, ed. of 20, 75 x 33 x 21 in.
Despite losing the molds for at least 60 sculptures in a fire that destroyed his studio and bronze foundry in 2009, Gibby persevered and began to rebuild a new portfolio from the ashes. The first piece he produced after the foundry reopened was Up and Running, depicting a mountain lion in a full sprint.
Gibby has remained focused on wildlife sculptures throughout his career, and they will comprise the majority of the 50 works on display at the Signature Gallery’s 15th anniversary celebration, taking place August 16 from 5 to 7 p.m., to coincide with the Santa Fe Indian Market that kicks off the following day. As the featured artist, Gibby will unveil new works during the reception and be in the gallery throughout the weekend conducting demos with several other high-caliber artists, including oil painters Michael Pabst, Charles Pabst, Manfred Rapp and Reid Richardson.
Northern Royalty, bronze, ed. of 20, 19 x 12 x 21 in.
Among Gibby’s new works are Keep your Chin Up, one in a series of three small-scale horny toad editions—funny-looking lizards that seem scarcer nowadays than they did when Gibby was growing up.
“I miss those little guys now that I am getting older,” says Gibby, adding that he feels a kinship with the horny toad’s plight. “They are becoming a bit of a diminishing species and therefore they are more valued in the minds of those that love them. They face the very challenge of surviving, so the only choice they have is to do just that. My message for anyone that feels like the odds are against them, like the horny toad, is to…hold your head up high, keep your chin up and just keep going.”
Northern Royalty is a larger bronze of a moose, one of Gibby’s favorite species in the animal kingdom. “They are masters of their domain and respected by all…To me, they represent those people who have let their character, strength and personality show forth with such confidence that everyone takes them seriously, and knows that they are not to be trifled with, but instead are to be respected and admired.”
Bear Medicineis a life-size example of Gibby’s figurative works and tells the story of an Arikara elder after the devastation and assimilation of his tribe as a result of the Western migration of European-American traders, and the wisdom, strength and healing that can be drawn from “bear medicine.”
Keep Your Chin Up, bronze, ed. of 35, 3 x 6 x 3 in.
“I think that what I am trying to do is to create artwork that allows the kind of communication that comes by speaking spirit to spirit,” says Gibby. “I want my artwork to be whatever the viewer needs it to be in their lives. If I can help someone draw some inspiration from my work while still keeping my family fed, then I consider that to be a success.” —
The Signature Gallery 102 E. Water Street » Santa Fe, NM 87501 » (505) 983-1050 » www.thesignaturegallery.com
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