By Carli Johnson SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
On Monday, June 23, a 16-foot bronze sculpture was unveiled at the West Post roundabout in Belgrade as part of the Art in Public Places initiative hosted by Barnard Construction Co.
The monument, named “Touching the Big Sky,” was constructed and designed by Bozeman native and world-renowned artist T.D. Kelsey. The sculpture features a cowboy on a bucking bronco made of clay and over 300 pieces of cast bronze welded together.
This is the first publicly commissioned sculpture in the Gallatin Valley area for Kelsey. “I was raised as a cowboy, not an artist,” Kelsey said. “But then I get to come back and do a cowboy as an artist. It really is full circle.”
The piece was commissioned by Tim Barnard of Barnard Construction Co. to be placed at the West Post roundabout at the intersection of East Frank Road and Airway Boulevard South in Belgrade, an area full of new development including projects led by Barnard.
The unveiling was introduced by Kent Merselis, Barnard development director. In his speech, Merselis thanked Kelsey and those involved for the dedicated effort of getting the sculpture created and placed.
“This Art in Public Places installation represents a significant cultural addition to our growing West Post community and captures the spirit and heritage of Gallatin Valley,” Barnard stated in a press release. “We hope Belgrade residents and visitors to West Post alike will enjoy seeing T.D. Kelsey’s work in his native town.”
The West Post community is a mixed use development site that features both commercial and residential spaces and is located south of I-90, less than two miles from downtown Belgrade and one mile from the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.
In a speech, Belgrade Mayor Russell Nelson thanked those who attended the statue unveiling. “The West Post development is a great example of how thoughtful development can bring tasteful value to our community and help shape the future of our city,” he said.
