To the Skyland

Students create stories and poetry and prose about Big Sky’s next public art project

By Leslie Kilgore EBS CONTRIBUTOR

The Arts Council of Big Sky continues their fundraising efforts for a public art display titled To the Skyland by artist Brad Rude, a life size sculpture that will enhance the already robust public art collection in Big Sky. Rude’s piece has already been inspiring locals; fourth graders at Ophir Elementary School have been busy sharing their stories and poems about the sculpture after a small replica of the art  took a visit to their classrooms. The piece is a bronze and features a lonesome wolf looking ahead with the aid of two wheels and a walking stick.

“Our students worked very hard on their poems and stories,” said Ophir Elementary fourth grade teacher, Jonathan Gans. “It was a great way to partner with the Arts Council while learning about poetry and storytelling.”

Gans and his colleague, Mariel Elleman, who also teaches fourth grade, inspired their students to use their imaginations to write poems about the wolf, or stories about what the wolf’s journey would entail.

Born in Montana, the artist Brad Rude spent most of his life in Walla Walla, Washington, where he explored his grandfather’s folk-art studio as a child. With his own studio now tucked beneath Walla Walla’s Blue Mountains, he’s inspired by nature combined with symbols that represent the human conditions of uncertainty, danger, questions and joy. Rude creates sculptures and paintings of animal adventures that spark the imagination and can be found in prominent places such as Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo, the Boise Art Museum and the Microsoft art collection.

“Brad Rude approaches art with the wonderment and curiosity of a child. It seemed fitting to share To the Skyland, our next public art project, with students in our community,” said Patty Rhea, chair of the Arts Council’s public art committee.

With the life-size sculpture To the Skyland, Rude tells the tale of a wolf on his own quest and captures the spirit in each of us as we look forward to our next adventure, while also using common objects that help carry his storyline. If all fundraising goals are met, the sculpture is slated to be placed in Big Sky’s Town Center in 2024.

“The fourth grade’s enthusiasm for the project was heartfelt. The children composed poems and stories about the bronze wolf and his many adventures.  Art should be an open conversation. There are no right or wrong answers,” Rhea said.

For more information about the Art Council of Big Sky’s fundraising efforts for To the Skyland or to make a donation, visit bigskyarts.org.

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Writing Samples from Ophir’s Fourth Graders on To the Skyland

The Wolf Story, By Crosby

Once upon a time there was a wolf named Jamal. Jamal wanted to go to Alaska so he started on his long, long, long long advance. He stopped and asked the Rabbit if he could borrow the red wheels and hiking stick. “Yes,” said the Rabbbit. So Jamal kept going and he came across a big mountain and he got a good idea that he was going to hike the mountain. He was successful and when he came back down he was strangely old. He went from age 17 to 89. After he hiked the mountain, he retired in Alaska. The End.

The Wolf, By Max

The wolf is on a journey to go to Montana from Idaho. He started hiking on a mountain. Once he was halfway up, he saw four bears. But this wolf is not scared of bears. So he went toward the bears. The bears names were Glacier, Icicle, Hailstorm and Winter. They said they would help the wolf. The next day they got to Wyoming and the wolf found a walking stick and two wheels. He decided to use them. The bears had to go back home. At sunset, the wolf decided to take a nap. He dreamed about getting to Montana and having cubs. The next day he got to Montana and had a great time. The End.

The Wolf Story, By Vivi

When I look at it, it reminds me of Beauty and the Beast. It looks colorful and I like how he is creative. And his name is going to be Ghost. And it is heavy and shiny. And it is so cute and cool.

To the Skyland, By Mae  

Too beautiful

Out of this world

The details

How amazing

Evolve through creativity

See the beautifulness

Know how to believe

You can change your life

Life is about living

A beautiful sculpture  

Now or never

Down into your feelings

The Wolf, By Abi

El nombre es luna. Porque

ella Pesa mucho y porque

Tiene ruedas y un palo creo

Que se chanco o creo que

Quiere ir más rápido porque

Se perdio y por eso y cuando

Lo veo siento que me mira

Y porqué es azul, verde, amarillo

¿El huele a pasto y me siento

Mal por ella tiena familia?

Creo que si y la familia le

Estará buscando su mama

Estará nerviosa pobre luna

Ojala que llegue tranquila

Sin heridas sana y salva

Ojala que la familia le

Lleve al hospital para que

Le sane las piernas.

Wolfy the Wolf! By Grace

One day a wolf named Wolfy set off; he was super young. But he was super active! He had two red wheels and he had a walking stick too! He was such a cool wolf but he did not like his mom who was super mean. She would not let him play and have fun. He was clearly sad. One day, Wolfy ran away! He passed roads and trees and cars. It was so much fun! One day, he came to a dumpster. There were two red wheels and a walking stick! So he got on the two red wheels and used the stick and he walked for the rest of his life. And he was happy!