Ann Ayres - Bronze Sculptress
"Bonnie McCarroll - 1915 - Pendleton Round-Up"
By Ann Ayres Ann Ayres and her brothers were raised in Southwestern New Mexico where the Western/Native American culture and living close to the land was a way of life. It never occurred to her that there was any other way to live. Discovering the world outside this arena brought an undying appreciation and interest in preserving the lifestyle she so loved, particularly the Cowboy/Cowgirl way of life, through Western art. She married her brother Roy's college roommate, Jim, who was a day-working cowboy on 1500 acres and a few other places when time allowed. Jim was raised on a family-owned place at Dalhart, Texas. "While the inspirations may be mine, Jim always seems to know how to make each piece come together so that every detail works. I was having a problem with Buck Taylor's mustache (Buck Taylor of Gunsmoke fame). The mustache was very difficult to mold, but Jim had the solution resulting in a great likeness and one of my favorite sculptures, BUCK TAYLOR - I GOT LOTS OF FRIENDS." Ann tried her hand at drawing through the years but was less than successful at it. It wasn't until her sons Matt and Jake were grown that a dear friend introduced her to sculpture and a niece asked her to make a cowboy, one with a red vest and black hat. And make cowboys she did...and much more. Ann and husband Jim live on a small ranch where playful colts, horses, Crossbred Angus cows, Catahoula working cowdogs and a few day-working cowboys provide an endless supply of art and sculpture ideas. When asked where she gets her ideas, she said, "Ideas? My life is saturated with ideas! Sometimes I can't stop them even when I want to. They can be a distraction, but never an agitation. You just have to take time to watch, and care enough to never forget." When asked if she is glad to have the sculpture of BONNIE MCCARROLL - 1915 - PENDLETON ROUND-UP finished after her many hours of work, she replied, "No. It's not a great feeling at all, but I can't find the words to tell you just how I do feel about it. The bottom line would be that it is humbling...very humbling. It is a borrowed talent and can be taken away at any time, so I intend to do the best sculpting that I can and enjoy every minute of it. To take a piece of clay in my hand, squeeze, and now it's an amazing reflection of what was simply and image in my mind...now that's incredible! But the strongest feeling of all is that I could never, try as I might, do it justice. Until completion of a piece there is always the underlying fear that I might have created a shell with no heart, no soul, no life before or after that moment. That is what I love about the BONNIE MCCARROLL story. Even though too much time has passed to really know her as we would like...she lives!" "Each of my sculptures becomes my favorite, but BONNIE MCCARROLL is a very interesting subject with many stories to tell. Everywhere I turn there are people with fascinating accounts, pictures and great information on her short life. I have researched the Pendleton, the Cowboy Hall of Fame, The Oregon Historical Society and the University of North Texas, among many sources. I have contacted historians at Wimbley and Madison Square Garden." Ann has all of these stories logged and is working on the book to chronicle BONNIE MCCARROLL's life. If even a small part of my life reflects in my bronzes...and if my bronzes bring you pleasure...that's when it becomes art, and for that I thank you." RESERVE YOUR LIMITED EDITION BRONZE SCULPTURE NOW!
See Cowboys and Indians Magazine, "Bonnie in Bronze", October 2008, pgs. 188-189. All pieces are limited editions. View Ann Ayres' bronzes in our Bronze Gallery. |
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