The Restoration and Preservation of the Niwot Sculptures
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The Restoration and Preservation of the Niwot Sculptures
A brief history
In 2007, Eddie Running Wolf started working on his first of three Native American sculptures in Niwot, Colorado. These beautiful works of art were carved from three willow trees that once thrived by an irrigation ditch along the south side of Niwot Road, just west of the intersection with 79th Street.
This first sculpture was named Biitoheinen (pronounced bee-tah-hay-nen) and also known as Spear Lodge Man. Biitoheinen was completed on June 4, 2008.
Over the next several years Eddie would carve two more sculptures in Niwot:
Eddie died in August of 2020 at the height of the Covid pandemic.
Over the years these great wooden sculptures endured the extremes of Colorado weather, from blistering summer sun, to freezing winter snow and ice. The constant onslaught of these elements took a toll on the sculptures. The oldest, Spear Lodge Man, began to show signs of interior rot and decay, to the extent that Niwot was in danger of losing these works of art. In October of 2020 the Niwot Business Association and a group of concerned citizens undertook the monumental task of removing Spear Lodge Man and starting a preservation and restoration project.
Spear Lodge Man now resides in the workshop of Niwot resident Jeff Wolcott. Jeff has donated his space, as well as countless hours of time and effort to stabilizing, preserving, and restoring the sculpture. Eddie's youngest son, Dustin, also an accomplished artist and sculptor, is leading the effort of painstakingly restoring the weathered surface and rebuilding sections of the rider and horse that have been lost to weathering.
As you can see some of the photos here, and on the Gallery page, work is ongoing, and progress is being made. We'll continue to add updates and photos and videos as the work progresses.
This first sculpture was named Biitoheinen (pronounced bee-tah-hay-nen) and also known as Spear Lodge Man. Biitoheinen was completed on June 4, 2008.
Over the next several years Eddie would carve two more sculptures in Niwot:
- Niisiitenoot Nii’eihiiho (pronounced nee-see-tin-aht nee-ay-hee-hah), also known as The Eagle Catcher, completed March 17, 2012
- Ma'he'ónėhetane (pronounced mah-hee-oh-hee-tahn). also known as Cheyenne Holy Man, completed September 15, 2016
Eddie died in August of 2020 at the height of the Covid pandemic.
Over the years these great wooden sculptures endured the extremes of Colorado weather, from blistering summer sun, to freezing winter snow and ice. The constant onslaught of these elements took a toll on the sculptures. The oldest, Spear Lodge Man, began to show signs of interior rot and decay, to the extent that Niwot was in danger of losing these works of art. In October of 2020 the Niwot Business Association and a group of concerned citizens undertook the monumental task of removing Spear Lodge Man and starting a preservation and restoration project.
Spear Lodge Man now resides in the workshop of Niwot resident Jeff Wolcott. Jeff has donated his space, as well as countless hours of time and effort to stabilizing, preserving, and restoring the sculpture. Eddie's youngest son, Dustin, also an accomplished artist and sculptor, is leading the effort of painstakingly restoring the weathered surface and rebuilding sections of the rider and horse that have been lost to weathering.
As you can see some of the photos here, and on the Gallery page, work is ongoing, and progress is being made. We'll continue to add updates and photos and videos as the work progresses.
Below are a few short videos of some of the ongoing work on Spear Lodge Man
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Below is a short video of Eddie Running Wolf discussing his work
Click HERE for an article from the Daily Camera about the restoration efforts.