Anna Faltermeier/The Kearney CourierGary Staab works on a praying mantis sculpture June 25 in his workshop. The sculpture is to be displayed in the National Geographic Society’s museum in Washington, D.C. Staab works full time designing and sculpting various items for museums.
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‘Jewel in our own backyard’
Artist creates museum masterpieces from studio in Clay County
By Carrie Alexander
Tucked away in the peaceful Clay County countryside, down a little gravel driveway is an average-looking Morton building. The only clue to what happens inside is a unique life-size bronze statue of a Diatryma dinosaur that has taken up residence next to the garage door.
It’s the residence and studio of artist Gary Staab, a world-renowned artist known for his sculptures used in museum exhibits, films and books from coast to coast, continent to continent. His work has been commissioned by well-known names like that of The National Geographic, The Smithsonian, Harvard, Polaroid and Walt Disney.
But Staab didn’t always know that being an artist would be his career.
“It was during my first semester at college when I was sitting in front of a North American diorama,” Staab said. “I was drawing it for my art class when I had this sudden realization that someone had to create the red fox and birds before me. The next week I started a directive study. It was like I just knew, ‘Yeah, this is what I am supposed to do.’”
Staab continued his directive study in Hastings, Neb., and then studied at The Smithsonian Institution and The British Institute before he became employed by the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. After several years in Denver, Staab moved to the countryside of Kearney and went into business for himself as a freelance artist.
Now as a husband and father of two boys — Max, 9, and Owen, 7 — Staab sees the importance in sharing his passion with the world, including kindergarten and first-grade students from Dogwood Elementary who visited his studio June 25.
“I was never exposed to this kind of stuff as a kid,” Staab said. “Once people find out what I do here, they are interested in learning more.”
While the majority of Staab’s art pieces are in museums or storage, he did have a few examples of his work for the children to learn about. As the kids flocked into Staab’s studio, their eyes widened at the sight of dinosaurs, sea life and even a giant clay model of a praying mantis that will be cast in bronze and placed in the courtyard just outside of The National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C. Staab even let them hold bone replicas from dinosaurs and casts of teeth from the Super Croc.
“This really is a jewel in our own backyard,” teacher Mike Hoffman said. “It’s a really amazing opportunity for our kids to see Gary’s work.”
Staab said one of the perks of his job is that he gets to travel all over to study the pieces that he is commissioned to create.
“What’s really cool about this job is that I get to work up close with animals,” Staab said. “The National Geographic Channel hired me to make the Super Croc, which traveled all around the world. To learn more about it, they sent me to Costa Rica, and I was able to see an 11-foot American crocodile and take measurements. I get to work with such a diverse group of subjects. I even got to go to Peru to study mummies. It’s really cool.”
While Staab said he loved being able to travel all over the world, he also said one thing that he really enjoys about his job is that he is able to spend quality time with his family.
“My kids and father-in-law come and help me on occasion,” Staab said. “While I do have other artists (like current assistant Owen Bissex) that work with me, it’s nice to be able to have my family around.”
Staff writer Carrie Alexander can be reached at 628-6010 or carriealexander@npgco.com.
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It’s the residence and studio of artist Gary Staab, a world-renowned artist known for his sculptures used in museum exhibits, films and books from coast to coast, continent to continent. His work has been commissioned by well-known names like that of The National Geographic, The Smithsonian, Harvard, Polaroid and Walt Disney.
But Staab didn’t always know that being an artist would be his career.
“It was during my first semester at college when I was sitting in front of a North American diorama,” Staab said. “I was drawing it for my art class when I had this sudden realization that someone had to create the red fox and birds before me. The next week I started a directive study. It was like I just knew, ‘Yeah, this is what I am supposed to do.’”
Staab continued his directive study in Hastings, Neb., and then studied at The Smithsonian Institution and The British Institute before he became employed by the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. After several years in Denver, Staab moved to the countryside of Kearney and went into business for himself as a freelance artist.
Now as a husband and father of two boys — Max, 9, and Owen, 7 — Staab sees the importance in sharing his passion with the world, including kindergarten and first-grade students from Dogwood Elementary who visited his studio June 25.
“I was never exposed to this kind of stuff as a kid,” Staab said. “Once people find out what I do here, they are interested in learning more.”
While the majority of Staab’s art pieces are in museums or storage, he did have a few examples of his work for the children to learn about. As the kids flocked into Staab’s studio, their eyes widened at the sight of dinosaurs, sea life and even a giant clay model of a praying mantis that will be cast in bronze and placed in the courtyard just outside of The National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C. Staab even let them hold bone replicas from dinosaurs and casts of teeth from the Super Croc.
“This really is a jewel in our own backyard,” teacher Mike Hoffman said. “It’s a really amazing opportunity for our kids to see Gary’s work.”
Staab said one of the perks of his job is that he gets to travel all over to study the pieces that he is commissioned to create.
“What’s really cool about this job is that I get to work up close with animals,” Staab said. “The National Geographic Channel hired me to make the Super Croc, which traveled all around the world. To learn more about it, they sent me to Costa Rica, and I was able to see an 11-foot American crocodile and take measurements. I get to work with such a diverse group of subjects. I even got to go to Peru to study mummies. It’s really cool.”
While Staab said he loved being able to travel all over the world, he also said one thing that he really enjoys about his job is that he is able to spend quality time with his family.
“My kids and father-in-law come and help me on occasion,” Staab said. “While I do have other artists (like current assistant Owen Bissex) that work with me, it’s nice to be able to have my family around.”
Staff writer Carrie Alexander can be reached at 628-6010 or carriealexander@npgco.com.