What processes go into creating innovative and collaborative artwork? For father and son metalsmith duo Dan and Foster Romano, the process began when they met Cochiti artist Virgil Ortiz. The Colorado Springs natives learned of the eclectic work of Virgil Ortiz from a friend at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center in 2018. Inspired by Ortiz's work, they signed up for a workshop series produced by Ortiz at the Fine Arts Center. Friendships were formed as Ortiz mentored and worked with Foster to design and create a set of steel weapons for his Venutian Soldiers series. Fast forward three years and the trio of artisans have co-created a first-of-its-kind VO mixed media sculpture.

The sculpture was sandblasted to produce a consistent velvet-like surface finish to achieve the earthen color tone and texture. The steel was then wet and left to oxidize to form the rusted patina. Days later, the desired look was achieved. Once notified of the sculpture's condition, Ortiz traveled to Colorado Springs with photographer Bryce Risley to inspect and document the completed work.  

Arriving at Romano's studio, Ortiz unloads a larger-than-life bust of Po’pay, leader of the 1680 Pueblo Revolt, from his truck. The piece is formed of clay, carefully coiled and sculpted in Ortiz's studio in Cochiti. The bust is set in place atop the steel platform cut precisely to fit the ceramic addition. Both artists circle the monolith, inspecting its details and the negative space around Po'pay's bust. All the elements fit together perfectly. With no alterations needed, the team prepares to depart from Carbon Studios to New Mexico. Untangling several ratchet straps, Ortiz climbs into the truck bed to secure the artwork. 

Back in New Mexico, it's time to capture the full effect of the work against the desert landscape before concluding its tour. Ortiz and Risley load up the bust of Po'pay and set off to photograph him at a location that served as a backdrop for one of Ortiz's earlier projects. Surrounded by pink, yellow, and white hoodoos, Ortiz and Risley strategize photo-ops to create visceral content to reveal the art. "We used a long sturdy piece of fabric as a sling to tie up the bust so we could carry it safely from one location to the next," remarks Risley. On either side of the makeshift sling, Ortiz and Risley carried Po'pay over a mile to capture bold and powerful images against the extraterrestrial-like sandstone and clay landscape. Fatigued but also ecstatic at the photos they'd captured, the duo set off once more to reconvene with Dan and Foster.

Ortiz and Romano have now recruited friends and family to transport the steel sculpture to a location to capture images for marketing and documenting purposes. Once on-site, the team took direction from Ortiz, deliberating ideal areas for the photos to be taken. The process of capturing the images required trust, finesse, and heavy lifting from everyone on the team as they loaded the sculpture, weighing some 300 pounds into the bed of Ortiz's truck. After five or so relocations and minor adjustments to level and angle the art piece to compliment the landscape, Risley once again entered his domain, capturing the sky, stone, clay, and steel in an environment seemingly destined to showcase the presence and spirit of the art.

After the photoshoot wrap, the team departed to meet at the Inn at Loretto; it was time to complete their creation's journey. Once the team had lifted the sculpture from the truck bed and positioned it upright, Dan used a hammer drill to set the base of the steel sculpture onto its sandstone pedestal centered in the roundabout of the hotel's driveway. Foster helped sink the bolts as Virgil and Dan carefully mounted Po'pay's bust into position and anchored it in place. The assembly was finished once the baseplate segments were installed, covering the foot of the sculpture. 

Alas, the installation was complete — the team rallied in front of the sculpture, applauding one another for their contributions. Po'pay has arrived, and he has a plan.

For information on Foreseer and the Revolt Runners, please email us here.