The Fetterman Fight— December 21, 1866
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S c u l p t o r c r a i g B e r g S g a a r d p r e S e n t S Give Me Eighty Men: The Fetterman Fight— December 21, 1866 To be cast in bronze 33”h x 13”w x 13”d; Second installment in Museum-quality base to add 4” The Indian Wars series Edition of 18 ~ Retail price $5,900 ~ abouT ~ Give Me Eighty Men: The Fetterman Fight—December 21, 1866 | HiSToRical SignificancE Give Me Eighty Men represents 145th anniversary of the unsuccessful battle of the United States against the Lakota (Sioux) Nation on December 21, 1866. The United States troops who lost their lives were led by Army captain William Judd Fetterman. On December 21, 1866, Fetterman and exactly 80 soldiers pursued a band of Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors who had staged an attack on Fort Phil Kearny. Fetterman ignored orders to not venture past sight of the fort and was lured into an ambush with over 2,000 Native Americans. Fetterman and his contingent were killed within 20 minutes. The United States loss weathered at the hands of Native American warriors is second in magnitude only to the Battle of Little Bighorn. Captain William Judd Fetterman is buried in the National Cemetery at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. ~ 2 ~ | artiSTic | inTEnT Give Me Eighty Men features a victorious Lakota warrior at the end of the Fetterman encounter. In his left hand, the warrior clutches the bent bugle taken from the regiment’s bugler, who was the last person standing before finally succumbing to the Lakota onslaught. In his right hand, the warrior clutches a single-shot Spencer carbine rifle taken from a U.S. infantryman in the skirmish. This armament–inadequate firepower for the task at hand–represents both the spoils of war and a symbol of the mis-match between the American forces and the Native American offensive. The Lakota victor’s heavenward gaze “over his shoulder” is a metaphor for the war party’s knowledge that the death of 80 soldiers will be certain to incite harsh retribution. For a Wyoming battle in December, the warrior may appear at first glance to be insufficiently dressed with thick blanket would be typical garb for a Lakota man of the his light garb of leggings and period. feather hair treatment. Yet according to the biography This warrior would have surely shed his blanket when the of Minneconjou Sioux chief battle ensued, leaving him spartanly dressed on the wind- White Bull, leggings and a whipped plains. ~ 3 ~ | artiST | STaTEMEnT abouT GIvE ME EIGhTy MEn: One day in late summer, I visited the ridge at the Fetterman battle site. Surrounded by vistas of incredible beauty, my thoughts were many, but strongest was a clear understanding of why the stewards of the land would choose to defend to the death this ground so crucial to their culture. i said to a complete stranger, “i would defend this country as well.” The opinions of what happened on December 21, 1866 are varied and full of intrigue. I believe that my charge is not to delve into the mechanics of the battle, but to create enough interest for the viewer to explore this historic event for themselves. This piece also speaks to the dangers caused by an excess of ego. It can be argued that an air of superiority is required by a military commander going into battle, and certainly Fetterman was not the first or only military leader to underestimate his foe—but when ego trumps judgment, as in this case, the subordinates were forced to pay the ultimate price for Captain Fetterman’s decisions. ~4 ~ ~ ThE InDIAn WARS Series ~ by Craig Bergsgaard Give Me Eighty Men: The Fetterman Fight—December 21, 1866 is Craig Bergsgaard’s second installment in his series, The Indian Wars. This series represents major conflicts in the 200-plus years of United States and Native American discord. These works are depicted from the native american viewpoint. The reason, according to bergsgaard, is simple: “it was their ground,” he says. Memorare, Sand Creek 1864 was bergsgaard’s first installment in The Indian Wars. ~ 5 ~ Memorare, Sand Creek 1864 depicts the bloody encounter between the United States military and non-combatant Cheyenne and Arapaho who were camped along the Sand Creek River in eastern Colorado. The sculpture was added to the permanent collection of the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia in November, 2009 to mark the 145th anniversary of this chapter of the expansion of the American West. ~ biogRapHy ~ Sculptor Craig Bergsgaard innesota native Craig Bergsgaard is mesmerized by his adopted home of the MAmerican West. He explores the region’s complicated past by sculpting the people who experienced it first hand. Bergsgaard’s work is featured in private and museum collections in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and Brazil. One of his sculptures was recently added to the permanent collection of the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia. | an inEScapablE | cREaTivE dRivE Craig was an artist, long before he ever described himself that way. After serving seven years in the Air Force, Craig spent 25 years in residential construction, before realizing his hobbies were more fulfilling than his profession. Eager for new artistic frontiers, Craig diverted his path into the art world, beginning his exploration with three- dimensional sewing, furniture making, and hand-carved carousel figures. At the suggestion of an art teacher, Craig made his foray into sculpting, a natural fit for the tactile artist. Clay soon became his preferred medium. ~ 7 ~ Sand Creek 1864 that was installed in The Booth Western Art Museum’s permanent collection in 2010, Most recently, Craig visited the Toadlena trading post region of the Navajo reservation in New Mexico to meet the weavers and sheepherders for inspiration and feedback for his current works- in-progress celebrating the Navajo culture and traditions. | THE artiST | Today Craig lives in Loveland, Colorado with his wife JoAnn. He also maintains a studio presence in Scottsdale from January through March during the Arizona Fine Art Expo and participates in a number of juried art shows annually. Bergsgaard’s work is featured in private and museum collections in the United States, Canada, SculpTing lifE wiTH paSSion Great Britain, and Brazil. After taking the leap to become a full-time sculptor in 2004, Life-size public installations of Craig and his wife traveled through Italy to see the masters’ Craig’s work can be found in works, which took Craig’s art to an entirely new level of Fountain Hills, Arizona.; Castle authenticity and detail. Rock, Colorado, and Spring Grove, Minnesota, and in the It is this extensive research and attention to subtleties which company art collection of the allow Craig his success in telling emotive stories with his work. Holiday Inn Corporation. cRoSSing culTuRal dividES Memorare, Sand Creek 1864 is part of the permanent Craig’s art unearths the complexities and incongruities of collection of the Booth Western history. Art Museum in Cartersville, When Craig visited the site of the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre, Georgia, and also graces private he felt a desire to make an artistic comment about the tragedy – collections throughout the an internal struggle that came to fruition in his piece Memorare, American West. ~8 ~ ~ NOTABLE CAREER ACCOMPLISHMEnTS ~ Collections, Awards, and Significant Events 2010 Memorare, Sand Creek 1864 added to the permanent collection of the Booth Western Art Museum, Cartersville, Georgia Co-founded wopila artist guild, an artist organization with a mission to provide support and funds for Native American youth art education. 2009 Dedication of life-sized installation of Coolin’ the Dogs and Dusty at Castle Rock, Colorado 2007 Received commission to create life size horse, Dusty, to be paired with Coolin’ the Dogs for installation at the town hall in Fountain Hills, Arizona. 2006 • Awarded featured artist at the Thunderbird Artists Show in Edwards, Colorado • Awarded the Juror award at the Castle Rock Arts Festival • Installed life-sized Coolin’ the Dogs at the residence of private collectors in Paradise Valley and Cave Creek, Arizona 2004 Installed life-sized bust of city founder, Mons Fladager, in Spring Grove, Minnesota ~ 9 ~ Top: Ola and Per, installed in the Viking Memorial Park in Spring Grove, Minnesota Below: Panel from the 1918-1935 comic strip Han Ola og Han Per by Peter Rosendahl 2002 Awarded a grant from the Southern Minnesota Arts Council to create Ola and Per, life-size sculptures of characters depicted in a landmark turn-of-the-century comic strip Han Ola og Han Per. The strip was drawn by Peter Rosendahl from 1918 to 1935 and is considered a culturally relevant documentation of the lives of Norwegian-American immigrants. The installation ceremony included guests of honor from the Royal Embassy of Norway. 2001 Life-sized Quest added too the collection of Holiday Inn Corporation, Rochester, Minnesota 2000 Awarded a community-sponsored grant for life-sized Quest; sculpture installed in Viking Memorial Park, Spring Grove, Minnesota ~10 ~ | EXHibiTion HiSToRy Participated in over 100 juried art shows, including: 2010 Oklahoma City Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Oklahoma City Arts Council 2010 Cattlemen’s Western Art Show, sponsored by the San Louis Obispo County Cattlemen’s Association 2008-2010 Calgary Stampede Western Showcase 2008-2010 Phippen Museum Western Art Show 2007-2010 Castle Rock, Colorado ArtFest (2010 date scheduled) 2007-2009 Cottonwood, Texas Art Festival 2007 Ruidoso Art Festival 2005-2010 Arizona Fine Art Expo, sponsored by the Thunderbird Artists Association 2004-2010 Loveland Sculpture Invitational (2010 date scheduled) 2004-2007 Edwards Fine Art and Sculpture Festival, sponsored by the Thunderbird Artists Association 2004-2007 Avon, Colorado Fine Art & Wine Affaire, sponsored by the Thunderbird Artists Association Detail of Lakota warrior depicted in Recounting the Coup; Photograph courtesy Jim Rydbom, Greeley Tribune bronze ~ 11 ~ | PUBLICATionS Local sculptor loves to tell stories through his artwork Windsor Beacon, June 19, 2010 “Oklahoma City’s new energy draws praise” The Oklahoman, April 26, 2010 – featured photograph of Coolin’ the Dogs Memorial in bronze - The Booth Museum’s unveiling of Craig Bergsgaard’s historic sculpture.