Elmer Petersen


Elmer Paul 'Pete' Petersen (born September 4, 1928) is an American sculptor who works in metal. His most prominent artwork is the World's Largest Buffalo in Jamestown, North Dakota. Petersen lives and works in Galesville, Wisconsin. Much of his art is publicly displayed around La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he led the Downtown La Crosse Sculpture Project Committee.[1] The La Crosse Tribune called Petersen "one of the premiere sculptors in the Coulee Region" and "instrumental in getting public sculpture scattered throughout downtown" La Crosse. He has worked significantly with welding, including that of found metal objects, and often sculpts in cast bronze.

This article is about the sculptor from Wisconsin. For the politician from Wisconsin, see Elmer Peterson.
Elmer Petersen
Born (1928-09-04) September 4, 1928
Racine, Wisconsin
NationalityAmerican
EducationLeo Steppat, Prof. of Sculpture, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Alma materDana College; Blair, Nebraska, B.A., University of Wisconsin–Madison, M.S., M.F.A
Known forsculpture
Notable work
World's Largest Buffalo, La Crosse Players, Eagle in La Crosse's Riverside Park
Spouse(s)
Carole Mortvedt (m. 1968)
Electedchairman of the Downtown La Crosse Sculpture Project Committee
Websitesculpture-in-metal.com


At Dana College, Petersen was drafted in the middle of his education, then returned on the GI Bill for graduate work in art at the University of Wisconsin. Early in his career, Petersen worked (and taught/Texas Lutheran University) in Texas[2] before returning to Wisconsin in 1978[3] and opening a studio.

Petersen received thirteen awards out of 23 juried shows. In 2007, he displayed a collection at The Danish Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn, Iowa.[4] Roger D. Roslansky, Chair of Board, HSR Associates (engineering/architecture) of La Crosse, notes that Petersen is "an invaluable resource and an extremely creative artist," "a sculptor of significant note!"

Works
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
  • World's Largest Buffalo, Jamestown, ND.[5]
  • Martin Luther sculpture at Texas Lutheran University, Seguin, TX.
  • Bicentennial Monument, Jamestown, ND.
  • La Crosse Players, La Crosse, Wisconsin;[6][7] a replica is at the Rose Street city entrance
  • Eagle in Riverside Park, La Crosse, Wisconsin,[8] a large statue of 14-gauge weathering steel depicting a tree trunk with bald eagle atop it, clutching fish in its talons[9]
  • Head of Sculptor
  • Gambrinus, "King of Beer," Heileman brewery, La Crosse, WI.
  • Family, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse, WI.
  • Boy with Butterfly, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center lobby, La Crosse, WI.[10]
  • Master and Disciple, Lutheran Church of the Master, Edina, MN.
  • Eagle Landmark, La Crosse, WI.
  • Eagle and Eternal Flame, Veterans' Memorial Stadium, U. of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
  • The Visionary, Galesville, WI.
  • Gideon Hixon statue[11]
  • George Frost Kennan, Truman Presidential Library and Museum, Independence, MO.
  • D.B. Reinhart, Aquinas H.S,, La Crosse, WI.
  • George Gale, Galesville, WI.
  • Rev. David O. Van Slyke, Galesville Methodist pastor and farmer, depicted with apple and Bible, in a statue on edge of downtown Galesville, WI. [12]
  • Symphonic Joy (2015), stained glass, Viterbo University campus[13][14]
  • George Coleman Poage, first African-American Olympic medalist, Poage Park, La Crosse, WI.

Bibliography
  • Parlin, Geri (September 6, 2008). "Elmer at 80: Hand Petersen the welding torch — there's more art to create". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  • "Elmer Petersen's Sculptures on Display" (PDF). The Danish Immigrant Museum. Spring 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 29, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  • "Local roots: artists and entertainers with ties to La Crosse". La Crosse Tribune. February 24, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2014.

References
  1. Kent, Joan (2006-06-30). "Statue Boy Will Keep Wearing Birthday Suit; The Gift Stirred Discussion Because Of Its Nudity". La Crosse Tribune. La Crosse, Wisconsin. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  2. "Hemisfair Sculpture Show: 'Best Ever This Side of Ocean'". San Antonio Light. April 21, 1968. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  3. "Elmer Petersen, Sculptor of La Crosse". WKBT-DT. April 27, 2015. Retrieved 2015-04-28.
  4. "Past Exhibitions". Danish American Museum. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  5. "Jamestown's big buffalo sculpture gets a paint job". Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, North Dakota. 2007-06-19. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  6. Stephannie Hammes; Leslie F. Crocker (1992). Forms and Spaces: Sculpture in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
  7. "Forms and Spaces: Sculpture in La Crosse, Wisconsin". murphylibrary.uwlax.edu. Archived from the original on 2014-10-16. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  8. "Riverside Park History". City of La Crosse. Archived from the original on 2014-08-08. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  9. Magney, Reid (April 18, 2003). "Rusty eagle needs patchwork". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  10. Explore La Crosse: La Crosse Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Boy with Butterfly – Sculpture". explorelacrosse.com. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  11. Hyra, Jackie (July 19, 2007). "Local man supervises renovations to landmark: the "World's Largest Buffalo"". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  12. "Hometown Icon: Galesville Square". La Crosse Tribune. September 18, 2014.
  13. Daily, Erik (July 30, 2015). "'Symphonic Joy' on campus". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  14. "New sculpture installed on Viterbo's campus". WKBT-DT. June 30, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
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