Welding a career, polishing a life

Bronze artist starts fresh in Wenatchee

- SUSAN LAGSDIN

After quickly summarizing several discreet steps in the process of sculpting bronze from clay to burnished metal (described more clearly on the internet than in this story), in a generous stroke of simplicity, Wenatchee artist Jim Moore suggested, “Just think of this bronze owl as if it were a chocolate Easter bunny. Hard on the outside, hollow on the inside.”

That worked. The teacher in him prevailed.

Though he transitioned from his art teaching job to full-time sculpting a dozen years ago, he has been crafting in bronze for much of his 52 years.

He’s known mostly for his large garden bells, which are a blend of ancient Asian art forms and his fascination with western animals he’s observed.

Recently from northern Colorado, Jim is happy with his new home base that’s complete with a small studio for shaping and detailing clay, and a separate close-by shop for assembling and finishing metal.

His move may have physically distanced him from his timehoned reputation and strong art industry connections with foundries, galleries, shows, and fellow sculptors, but Jim says it also taught him some important lessons about how to use his time.

“One of the great things about moving here is it’s caused me to reconsider exactly how I’m doing things,” Jim said.

In Colorado he would spend full days of lost work time driving between home and foundry, or home and galleries, or home and client.