Unbeknownst to many, the majority of sculptors that are known for creating large sculptures in bronze, never actually work with the material. Rather they sculpt in some alternative natural—such as clay or wax—then when the final aesthetic is reached, the object is handed off to a bronze fabricator—a foundry person—to change the sculpture’s materiality. The job of the foundry is to take that unique original object and exactly replicate it in bronze.

One of the aforementioned bronze fabricators is Monumental Bronze Inc. owner Fred Stecher. Fred has worked on larger-than-life bronze sculptures for over 30 years, always behind the scenes. While the public may have interacted with Stecher’s creations on many occasions, his name is not listed on the title of the work. He remains in his studio, facilitating the creation of these publicly loved sculptures. In his most recent endeavor, Stecher is constructing the final components for Charles Long’s new exhibit, “Up Land.”