Born Of The Flames - Aspen Wood Creations and Personal Gifts With A Story, Cascade, Colorado

SPARKY THE ELK

Sparky

Sparky’s Story

Sparky was a participant in Teller County’s 2007 Rocky Mountain Elk Tour. The Rocky Mountain Elk Tour is a celebration of art, history, nature, and whimsy! We recognized the value of this amazing art project the moment we heard about it. When we purchased our fiberglass elk, we knew the painted elk could be instrumental in helping us teach others about the history, tragedy, treasures and heroes of the Hayman Fire.

We chose local artist Lois Rosio Sprague to help us with Sparky. Just as we thought she would, Lois truly brought Sparky the Elk to life. Sparky has become an important symbol used to help us connect with students and visitors from all over the world.

About Lois Rosio Sprague...

Lois is a native of Wheaton, Illinois and currently lives in Woodland Park, Colorado. Her work includes illustration, portraits, fine art from her studio and...of course...one spectacular fiberglass elk mural! She studied at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, under the direction of Irving Shapiro. There she received two degrees, one in Fine Art, the other in Graphic Art. In addition to her own works in the studio, Lois has had extensive teaching opportunities through workshops, classes and demonstrations.

Lois has gained a reputation for her work with watercolors, which makes her warm, sensitive approach and bright, colorful style increasingly sought after. One of her recent projects is a children’s book she illustrated called "The Goodnight Thing," written by Rich Hurst and published by Red Door Press. It is available for purchase though us at Born of the Flames.

Additional Examples of Lois' Incredible "LIFE TO ART"...

Sparky Quick Facts

Composition: Fiberglass

Weight (Elk Only): 150 pounds

Weight (Finished & Attached to Platform): 300 pounds

Height: 9 feet

Length of Antlers: 8 feet

Artist: Lois Rosio Sprague

Hours to Paint: 150

Named By: Rick Haderlie

Sparky the Elk

The beautiful mural on Sparky the Elk was inspired by the devastating 2002 Hayman Fire. The mural was painted by artist Lois Rosio Sprague, in approximately 150 hours. Sparky is painted with an enamel paint commonly used for detailing race cars. Sparky majestically stands guard in front of our gallery in Cascade.

Sparking Curiosity

Sparky’s unique and unforgettable mural was painted using actual photos for subjects. The mural provides a glimpse at the incredible scenes of Colorado’s 2002 Hayman Fire. The mural magnificently captures the beauty and resiliency of our planet and our community. Sparky becomes more than art as photos of the Hayman fire are compared to the striking mural. The ‘Fire’ side of Sparky is painted to show the activity of the Hayman fire. The ‘Restoration’ side depicts the reforestation effort with its toils and treasures.

Education

Sparky spends most of his days looking out at the green aspen leaves and pine trees of the hills of Cascade. However, on special request, he proudly visits local schools and community events to teach children about forest fires, reclamation efforts and the environment. The trees, plants, and animals are slowly making their way back home with Sparky taking the lead in educating people on the value of our beautiful forests and the lessons of the Hayman fire. Sparky has become a popular teaching tool shared with students and visitors from all over the world.