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About the Artist: Herb Mignery Hashknife at 50: By the Numbers “As the modern-day Hashknife riders reach back in time to relive the legacy and spirit of the original Pony Express, so too do the riders in my piece connect across the ages.” – Herb Mignery Passing the Legacy is located at the Marshall Way cul-de-sac, just south of Camelback Road on the north bank of the Arizona Canal in downtown Scottsdale.
The commemorative monument for the 50th anniversary of the Hashknife Pony Express was initiated by the community and commissioned by the Scottsdale Public Art Program in August 2006. Once Scottsdale Public Art approved the project, a selection panel came together to pick the most appropriate piece to capture the thrill of the Hashknife Pony Express. The winning concept, designed by Herb Mignery, was created using a complex process, beginning with a hand-carved model. The model was then enlarged to life-size using foam, which has a thin layer of clay on it to create a solid piece. The life-size clay formation was cut into 170 manageable sections about 20” x 20” in size and cast into wax, then into bronze using the “lost wax” process before finally being welded back together. The monument took approximately six months to complete and is ten feet tall and twenty feet long. Passing the Legacy depicts a vintage pony express rider and a contemporary Hashknife Pony Express rider handing off the mail at full gallop, encapsulating the “Old West” meeting the “New West” in downtown Scottsdale. It was funded in part through the Scottsdale Art in Private Development Program with contributions from two developers with significant projects in downtown Scottsdale, including Optima DCH, Inc., developing Optima Camelview Village and Starwood Capital Group, and Golub & Company, developing the Scottsdale Waterfront. “The piece is extremely detailed, exhibiting intricate movements that display the power, energy and adrenaline rush of the ride,” said Mignery. “I am very moved by the tradition and dedication of each of the riders, and their passion drove my creative process in designing Passing the Legacy.” “We wanted a piece that really conveyed the nature and excitement of the Hashknife Pony Express,” said Valerie Vadala Homer, director of the Scottsdale Public Art Program. “This is a completely unique tradition in Arizona, and this artwork represents the western roots of Scottsdale and provides a dramatic piece of art at the canal district.” Passing the Legacy was fabricated by Art Castings of Colorado, the preferred foundry of Herb Mignery. Art Castings has been casting exceptional bronze artwork since 1972 and has assisted countless artists all over the world in creating some of the most notable sculptures in existence today. The foundry is unusually large in size and ceiling height allows the fulltime staff of over forty highly talented employees to create sculptures of almost any size in a controlled and protected environment. Art Castings is one of the most preferred art foundries in North America. The foundry pours bronze nearly everyday and averages over 175 tons each year. Many of the Art Castings staff are accomplished artists in their own right and they take personal ownership of every piece that comes through their department. Other pony express monuments are located across the west: Casper, Wyoming; Julesburg, Colorado; Reno, Nevada; Sacramento, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Stateline, Nevada.
About the Artist: Herb Mignery Herb Mignery is a noted western artist and sculptor. A Nebraska native now living in Loveland, Colorado, Mignery has been a member of the prestigious Cowboy Artists of America since 1984. He gained early recognition for his classic and humorous western cartoons and rose to fame when he started sculpting scenes from his early Nebraska farm and ranch days. Migerny’s work captures the true spirit of his subjects, making the people and events he depicts come alive. Mignery’s subjects often focus on the difficult reality of life in the West. He gives his figures a certain elegance and sense of classical composure, although they are not idealized. It is in the details and accoutrement that Mignery tells us the hidden meaning in his subjects, their profession, and their lives.
The artist’s award-winning career includes a long list of public monuments for cities, collectors, and institutions across the nation. Honors include the Best of Show and the Western Art Associates Kieckhefer Award at the Cowboy Artists of America Show in Phoenix, Arizona; the Norris Foundation Award at the Autry Museum in Los Angeles; and the Leonard J. Meiselman Memorial Award for sculpture at the National Sculpture Society in New York. Elected to the National Sculpture Society in 1996, Mignery has also served on its Board of Directors, as well as serving as president of the Cowboy Artists of America 1992-1993 and is a founding member of Cowboy Cartoonists International.
Asked about the philosophy behind his work, Mignery states, “I feel that our attitude and our view of our future can only be determined by an examination of our ancestors, and the society they created. Just as a weather vane point toward the source of the wind, it must also point to the direction the wind is going. Likewise, we must focus our attention both ways to avoid losing those valuable lessons so painstakingly learned by those before us.” The Hashknife Pony Express is the oldest officially sanctioned Pony Express in the world and has the longest standing contract with the U.S. Postal Service to carry the mail. Every January, the Hashknife Pony Express travels from Holbrook, AZ, to Scottsdale, AZ, clothed in traditional cowboy attire. Riders traverse through 200 miles of terrain, including the breathtaking scenery of the Mogollon Rim Country and the wilderness of the Mazatzal mountain range, braving winter weather conditions of northern Arizona. Relaying the mail bags along the route, each rider travels at full-gallop with legs of one mile. Annually delivering more than 20,000 letters which bear the valued “Via Pony Express” cachet—hand-stamped by the riders themselves before the start of the ride—the riders of the Hashknife Pony Express are sworn in as official U.S. Postal carriers and swear to protect the mail with their lives if necessary. Their arrival into Scottsdale marks the start of the annual Parada del Sol, an event organized by the Scottsdale Jaycees. This event includes the Parada del Sol Parade, which has the distinction of being the “World’s Largest Horse Drawn Parade,” and a rodeo.
It is considered a great honor to participate in the Hashknife Pony Express, and there is currently a 10-year waiting list. Riders often brand their chaps, saddle, or saddle blanket for each ride they participated in. Some of the riders have 20 or 30 Hashknife brands to boast of their years on the ride. (Only the Babbitts, however, may use the Hashknife brand on livestock.) In 2008, Scottsdale celebrated the fifty years since it became a badge of honor for volunteer members of the Navajo County Sheriff’s Posse to participate in the tradition of hauling the mail. All Hashknife Pony Express riders are members of the Navajo Sheriff’s Posse. The annual ride is just one of the many responsibilities of a Navajo Sheriff’s Posse member; they also participate in search and rescue missions. The original Pony Express was created on April 3, 1860, to move mail from St. Joseph, MO, to Sacramento, CA, a distance covering 1,960 miles. It consisted of 190 stations, 500 horses, and 80 riders who averaged 75 miles a day and were paid $25 per week. The mail cost $1 and $5 per ounce and was carried in a leather vest or mail pouch called a mochila (Spanish for “pouch”) designed for a quick exchange while on horseback. The most famous ride was in March 1861 when Abraham Lincoln became President. The news and Inaugural Address was to reach the west by Pony Express “Special Delivery.” While the average ride took 9 to 10 days, this news was delivered in a record 7 days, 17 hours. The hashknife itself has a diverse history. During the nineteenth century, it was a tool used by chuck wagon cooks to cut meat for has, which was often fed to cowboys on the range. As a symbol, the Hashknife originated in Texas as the identification of the Aztec Land and Cattle Company, which moved to Holbrook, AZ in 1866. The oldest recorded brand in the state of Arizona, the Hashknife is registered to the Babbitt family. It is also the trademark name of Arizona’s Hashknife Pony Express outfit, which holds the longest standing contract with the United States Postal Service. The Hashknife Brand is now associated with the Hashknife Pony Express since the Navajo Sheriff’s Posse retai The unveiling of Passing the Legacy took place on February 1, 2008, at the Marshall Way roundabout to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the Hashknife Pony Express’ annual mail delivery to Scottsdale. More than two dozen riders galloped through downtown Scottsdale and arrived at the canal to participate in the unveiling of the commemorative monument to the public. The riders then proceeded to Scottsdale Stadium, with a free trolley ride from the statue dedication site to the stadium for guests in attendance. The mail, including the official Super Bowl XLII traveling ball, was then presented to Mary Manross, the Mayor of Scottsdale, and the U.S. Post Master. Unprecedented recognition from local and national media, rave reviews from those in attendance, and an electric, festive, family-friendly atmosphere made for a highly successful community celebration. It was also the best-attended event to date with at least 500 people who witnessed the unveiling of Scottsdale’s newest landmark. The dedication of Passing the Legacy was emceed by historian and author Joan Fudala. Speakers included Mayor Mary Manross, artist Herb Mignery, and Hashknife Trailboss Dave Alford.
1. Mold Making and Wax Pouring: Working from an original sculpted form made of materials such as wood, stone, clay, plaster and terra cotta, a rubber mold is created that is supported by a mother mold of plaster or fiberglass. Hot wax is poured into the rubber and plaster mold to create an even, uniform wax thickness of about 3/16ths of an inch. After the wax cools, it is removed from the rubber mold leaving a highly detailed positive image of the sculpture.
2. Wax Chasing: The wax is trimmed, resulting in a detailed wax pattern identical to the artist original. Sprue bars are attached to create paths for the molten metal to flow into the wax pattern. 3. Ceramic Shell Room: The wax pattern and sprues are fortified by an outer ceramic shell that becomes the final mold after the shell is fired. The wax is melting and drained from the mold. This stage in the process explains the origin of the term “lost wax.” 4. Dewax and Pouring Floor: The now empty ceramic shell is fired in a kiln at 1600 degrees Fahrenheit. Molten bronze is poured into the shell and allow it to cool. 5. Sandblasting: The ceramic shell is removed and sprues are cut off. Sandblasting the resulting bronze sculpture removes any ceramic remaining from the casting process before welding can take place. 6. Welding: Welders take special care in making certain that every piece is hand-crafted to the exact size and proportions of the original. 7. Metal Chasing: Pneumatic (air compression) tools are used to restore detail to the sculpture giving a detailed representation of the artist original.
8. Patina & Basing: The sculpture is heated and various chemicals are applied to the surface of the bronze to create the desired color or effect. Hashknife at 50: By the Numbers
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ned limited use of the brand in 1957.