The Big Snag, made by artist Wesley Blossom, snagged him the first place prize this year in the Creede Sculpture Show. Photo courtesy of Creede Arts Counc

CREEDE— The Creede Arts Council (CAC) held their annual Creede Sculpture show over the weekend and are pleased to announce that they purchased a commissioned piece for the town that will be made by this year’s judge Huberto Maestas.
The Creede Arts Council (CAC) held their annual Creede Sculpture show over the weekend and were pleased to announce that they purchased a commissioned piece for the town that will be made by this year’s judge Huberto Maestas.  The show began in 2016 in an effort to bring art to Creede. Each year the Creede Arts Council purchases up to $5,000 in sculptures to be put on permanent display throughout town and has purchased six since its inception.
According to Maestas bio, he is famous for his life-sized Stations of the Cross that are located in San Luis, Colo., his hometown. “Huberto Maestas is somewhat of a celebrity in his tiny hometown of San Luis, Colo. Besides its status as the oldest town in Colorado, San Luis has received fame as the home of the Huberto’s life-size Stations of the Cross Shrine on the Hill of Piety and Mercy. Miniatures of these stations reside in a collection at the Vatican Museums in Rome.
Born of an old Hispanic family, Huberto knew very early that he had an artist’s heart and he pursued this calling because he loved it and also because he didn’t want to be a farmer like all his family before him. He began by painting and drawing, and then one day, someone showed him how to carve wood. He was hooked. After studying sculpture at Adams State University, he began working in a foundry, learning the skills necessary in the final stages of casting bronze sculpture. He returned to San Luis where he lives with his wife Dana in an old hotel.”
Basham Park has turned into the perfect venue for the annual show, giving plenty of room for artists to set up tents and for guests to meander around to look at the sculptures.
This year’s show also featured a new presentation on sculpting which was conducted by Maestas and will be done again by CAC for future shows. CAC hosts this juried show to highlight some of the area’s most talented sculptures from all different mediums and awards up to $1,600 to winning artists.
First place was awarded to Wesley Blossom from Gunnison, Colo. for his sculpture titled The Big Snag. Second place was awarded to Bob Booth out of Alamosa for his sculpture titled Prairie Thunder and third place was awarded to Maria Battista from Colorado Springs, Colo. for her piece titled Seduction.
Other artists that participated in this year’s show included Kylene Blossom, Bianca Maestas, Aubin Maestas, Dan Mead and Amyas Maestas. Throughout the weekend around 1,000 guests came to Creede to enjoy the show.
CAC invites artists to enter next year’s show; information can be found on their website at www.creedeartscouncil.com.