Inside Cattleman’s Square

A new sculpture project will entertain visitors

until the cows come home.

A new art project will celebrate Okeechobee’s rich and ongoing heritage in the cattle industry. Cattleman’s Square, which is scheduled to be installed in Flagler Park (55 S.E. Third Ave.) in February 2022, will be a landmark for the county’s public art profile: A $500,000, privately funded, 10-piece sculpture project initiated by Okeechobee Main Street. In 2018, the organization commissioned artist J. Michael Wilson, a Utah sculptor known for his realistic, accurately scaled bronzes, to take on this massive endeavor. When completed, it will transport spectators to a classic cattle ranch, with an information kiosk exploring each individual work. In this conversation, Wilson tells us more about his inspiration for the project.

What appeals to you about this project? My life has taken me in several directions over the years. At the age of 7, I was invited to a cattle branding in Colorado where my cousin worked. He was one of those guys who looked and lived like the cowboys you’d see in Westerns. That was the image I wanted for my life. The following year I was invited back to participate with a new crop of cattle, all needing shots, branding and castration. To this day, I can still recall the sights and sounds— but mostly the smell—of burnt hide and disinfectant. By the age of 8, my parents bought me my first horse. As I grew older and more experienced, my interest involved breeding and raising (small scale of course) quarter and thoroughbred horses. This would continue for the next 25 years. At 18, I went to college to become a large animal veterinarian. That lasted for 3 years when it became obvious I had a problem with the sight of blood. This put a huge wrench in my plans. Now at the age of 21, I needed to figure out how I could live my passion and make a living. I liked open space and being around livestock, and there was always a silent interest in making things. But one thing was for sure, I did not want to be an artist. All I knew about them at the time was they were either dead or starving! I needed to have a serious talk with my dad. He told me, “God has given you a gift; use it!” I did not know much about art but was determined to figure it out. I have

always thought if you looked long enough at something, you could recreate it. Making cows, horses, and people out of clay would not involve blood, so why not give it a try? Can you tell us about each of the 10 pieces and what they will represent? Having a story to tell is a good place to start. From there you figure out a design that gets the message of your story told. For the Cattleman’s Square project, we wanted to depict a common setting that every rancher could relate to: moving the herd. The mounted wrangler on his horse, assisted by his hardworking, focused cur dog. The proud Brahma bull present while the cows pass by. Also in the setting is a heifer who has recently delivered her newly born calf. Watching all the activities and excitement is the owner/breeder of the cattle operation. One can imagine he is probably assessing each animal and grading the herd. Living and working in Utah, do you feel a kind of kinship with Okeechobee—an understanding of the environment and culture here? I like open space. I need room to think with few distractions. As I’ve gotten older, this early trait seems to become harder to find these days. I need to be relatively close to the foundry on this project because of its size and number of pieces. That, plus the surrounding area, suits my pace and way of living. It still has a smalltown feel, yet within minutes of high-tech business. Every day my drive into the studio takes me past a large herd of Texas longhorns, small horse farms, and a few produce stands. Where do you find that these days—perhaps Lake Okeechobee?

What do you hope will be your work’s permanent impact on Okeechobee? My hope for this project and Okeechobee is to leave a lasting reminder of the importance provided by local cattle owners and breeders from the last 500 years—a rare breed of community, integrity and pride. As the world is rapidly changing, it’s important to know our roots. I believe it’s important to have a hands-on approach to fine art with access available to all. Everything will be placed in a beautiful setting, enjoyed all year long, offering the enjoyment of one of Florida’s finest environments. COME OUTSIDE & PLAY 17