Bidspirit auction | Deborah Butterfield ”Echo” Steel Horse

Deborah Butterfield ”Echo” Steel Horse Sculpture - Deborah Butterfield (American, b. 1949). Large life-size found steel and tin sculpture titled ”Echo, ” depicting a horse on its side, 1986. Provenance: Edward Thorp Gallery, 1989; From the Estate of Gary Fink. Reference: Michael Brenson, The New York Times, December 12, 1986. Lot Essay: Deborah Butterfield is perhaps best known for her large sculptures of horses made from found objects such as metal and wood. She was born on the same date as the 75th Kentucky Derby, and has credited her birthdate as a subject of inspiration for her. Mentored by Manuel Neri, she wanted to work in the female form, but felt Neri dominated that subject. Instead, she chose to work on horses, using them as metaphorical self-portraits. Her sculptures started out depicting the mares as gentle, calm, and at rest. As she progressed in life, however, the sculptures sometimes took on a darker, more sinister tone, reflecting her flood of experiences. At first, she made her sculptures from sticks and natural materials found on her property in Bozeman, Montana. In 1979 she began using reclaimed and found steel and scrap metal. ”Echo” is a prime example of her use of found materials to create her subject. For the past two decades, she has combined her earlier and later materials and has used found pieces of wood and then cast them in bronze. She uses pieces of wood that outline the form and gesture of the horse, seeing inspirations in what others may discard. ”Echo” was described by Michael Brenson of the New York Times: ”In one of the strongest works in the show [referencing an exhibition at Edward Thorp Gallery], ”Echo, ” a horse is lying on its side. The head is straining to lift up. The corrugated metal rump looks like a blanket. The corrugated metal tail, squeezed and rumpled like paper, springs out. But the tail also suggests afterbirth. If the horse seems at first to lie wounded like one of Picasso's horse victims, it is also giving life. Gary C. Fink was a collector with both a lighthearted sense of humor and a serious commitment to art. Through the Museum Louvre It or Leave It, he offered Minnesotans an offbeat, thought-provoking experience; through MIA gifts, he broadened institutional collections; and through his scholarship, he continues to enable the next generation of artists. A Renaissance soul in the heart of Minnesota’s art community, Gary C. Fink was more than an astute collector - he was a spirited patron whose unconventional vision left an indelible mark on the creative landscape. Height: 6 ft x width: 8 ft 10 in x depth: 2 ft 4 in. Condition: Please email us at condition@revereauctions.com for a condition report or additional photos.