Dobson & Dault

Cazador LLC, upon referral in 2012, commissioned us to create a sculpture for the Lynx Wing Entrance to the Mental Health Clinic at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson.  In keeping with their Lynx theme, we created a 1 ½  life size Mother Lynx with kitten.  We titled it “Best of Care”.  The Mother Lynx is walking  toward the entrance of the clinic with a somewhat reluctant kitten in tow.

The sculpture is rendered in cast bronze and placed atop a 3,800 lb. glacial erratic boulder.  It greets visitors at the entrance of the Lynx Wing.   After approval from the client, the larger than life size clay model was shipped frozen to Bollinger Atelier (formerly Arizona Bronze) in Tempe Arizona for casting in bronze.  First a rubber mold was made of the clay model.    After the rubber molds hardened, a mother mold of fiberglass was made. Then the molten wax was poured into the molds. The  mother molds and rubber molds were removed to reveal the wax models of the clay Mother Lynx and kitten in several sections.  These wax models were then sprayed with an investment ceramic material and allowed to dry.  The wax was then melted out.  This is called the “Lost Wax” process.  The  sections were  poured with  molten bronze by the foundry workers.  After cooling, the cast bronze pieces were cleaned and welded back together to create the whole Mother Lynx and kitten.  A special patina was added to create the look the client desired.

The finished cast bronze Mother Lynx and kitten were permanently placed atop a 3,800 lb. glacial erratic boulder.  This installation took place in the winter during the month of February.  The entire sculpture, rock and all was lifted over 100 feet of heated sidewalk and placed in front of a three story glass wall by Alaska Crane.

Photo Credit: Daryl Pederson