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“Distant Thunder” sculpture makes its way to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West

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The Buffalo Bill Center of the West welcomed a new sculpture to its beautiful grounds on September 6, 2019. Distant Thunder, a stately bronze of a bison by sculptor Michael Coleman, made its debut near the front door of the Center with the help of a large forklift, several staff members, some muscle… and some impressed visitors who lucked out by arriving at the right moment to witness it all!

The sculpture's new home to the right of the Center's front entrance. Michael Coleman (b. 1946). Distant Thunder, 2019. Bronze, 7.5 x 10.4 feet; 3,000 pounds. Gift of Naoma Tate and the Family of Hal Tate.
The sculpture’s new home to the right of the Center’s front entrance. Michael Coleman (b. 1946). Distant Thunder, 2019. Bronze, 7.5 x 10.4 feet; 3,000 pounds. Gift of Naoma Tate and the Family of Hal Tate.

Transporting and precisely placing a life-size, 3,000 pound bison sculpture is quite a feat. Michael Coleman works in Salt Lake City, so after Distant Thunder‘s completion, Ed Conder, who also patinated the bronze, transported it to Cody by flatbed trailer. Then our skilled Facilities staff took over to install the bronze. Karen McWhorter, Scarlet Curator of our Whitney Western Art Museum, was on hand to supervise the installation. She shared these photographs of the process…

  • Whitney Western Art Museum Curator Karen McWhorter is equipped with a hard hat and ready for the work to begin.
    Whitney Western Art Museum Curator Karen McWhorter is equipped with a hard hat and ready for the work to begin.
  • Our thanks to Ed Conder for transporting Distant Thunder from Salt Lake City to Cody.
    Our thanks to Ed Conder for transporting Distant Thunder from Salt Lake City to Cody.
  • The Center's Facility crew guides the sculpture toward its new home.
    The Center’s Facility crew guides the sculpture toward its new home.
  • With Maintenance Manager Rich Herman operating the forklift, our staff positions the bronze.
    With Maintenance Manager Rich Herman operating the forklift, our staff positions the bronze.
  • A little muscle helps with precision placement.
    A little muscle helps with precision placement.
  • A little muscle helps with precision placement.
    A little muscle helps with precision placement.
  • Naoma Tate, Center of the West Trustee and donor of Distant Thunder, poses with the sculpture after its successful installation.
    Naoma Tate, Center of the West Trustee and donor of Distant Thunder, poses with the sculpture after its successful installation.

The sculpture, measuring 7 1/2 by 10 1/2 feet and weighing in at 3,000 pounds, was a gift from Center of the West Trustee Naoma Tate, who commissioned the work from Salt Lake City artist Michael Coleman. The work commemorates the 150-year celebration of the completion of the transcontinental railway. Tate gifted a second monumental cast of Distant Thunder to the State of Utah, and donated a small version that will be auctioned off at the 2019 Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale on September 20.

The clay model for Distant Thunder in Salt Lake City. Sculptor Michael Coleman (center) is join by Donna Poulton and Naoma Tate.
The clay model for Distant Thunder in Salt Lake City. Sculptor Michael Coleman (center) is join by Donna Poulton and Naoma Tate.

The Buffalo Bill Center of the West offers a sincere thank you to Naoma for the gift of this magnificent bronze.

And visitors, as you make your way to the front doors of the Center of the West, we know you’ll appreciate the scale and detail of this beautiful sculpture just to the right of the main entrance.

A quick video glimpse of the installation of Distant Thunder

https://www.facebook.com/centerofthewest/videos/2389411234635982/

Video by PR/Marketing Manager Levi Meyer.

Distant Thunder, to the right of the front entrance to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.
Distant Thunder, to the right of the front entrance to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.

About Nancy McClure

Nancy works in the Public Relations Department in electronic communications. Her work includes writing and updating website content, publicizing events, copy editing, working with images, and producing the e-newsletter Western Wire. In her spare time, Nancy enjoys photography, reading, flower gardening, and playing the flute.

BUFFALO BILL CENTER OF THE WEST ◦ 720 Sheridan Avenue ◦ Cody, WY 82414 ◦ 307-587-4771Contact Us
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