The Crucible Foundry

Artwork from the Crucible Foundry in Norman is placed all over the world. People in the Oklahoma City area enjoy pieces created by the foundry. For example, on the top of the Oklahoma State Capitol Building sits “The Guardian,” an iconic statue designed by noted Native American artist Enoch Kelly Haney.

 

“Every day you drive by that thing, you see a part of us out there,” says Mark Palmerton, the owner of the Crucible Foundry.

The Crucible was the dream of Palmerton and Todd Papst who passed away before the foundry was built in Norman during the late 1990s. Palmerton and Papst were searching for the ideal place to build their dream. Papst found it in Norman with the help of sculptor Paul Moore.

 

“What started as a business venture between two friends is now much more,” says Palmerton. He and Papst were working together as foundry men in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

 

Palmerton now co-owns the foundry with his brother, Steve and businessman Gary Clinton. By spring of 1999, the Crucible began producing its first pieces at its 6,000-square-foot facility. It also has a 1,400-square-foot gallery.

Palmerton says his parents were a major influence on him growing up. His father was an illustrator who got to work with Norman Rockwell. Vincent Price was a fan of Palmerton’s father and purchased many of his paintings. The elder Palmerton eventually became a sculptor. His mother was a chef and musician.

“We were Dad’s free labor for ten years. That installed it into our blood whether we liked it or not. We had to do it. So, if you wanted to eat dinner, you were going to help him beat up some bronzes or whatever.”

 

Palmerton spent much of his time in University of Nebraska town of Lincoln. He believes that could be a reason why Norman feels like home because it is a college town much like Lincoln.

 

“The only difference between Lincoln and Norman is Lincoln has taller buildings. That’s it. There isn’t much difference. There really isn’t. So, coming back to Norman is like, hey, this is home. I had no problem leaving Santa Fe.”

 

He says that the people of Norman are friendlier and the cost of living and doing business in Oklahoma is much less expensive. Palmerton says the Crucible was built in Norman for about what it would cost just to buy land to build a similar facility in Santa Fe.

 

The Crucible is nearing its 16th year of operation in Norman. It’s still a family-run business casting statues and monuments to be displayed all over the country.

Their work has grabbed the attention of the History Channel. The cable network has produced a show called Monuments Guys. A couple of episodes has aired on the main History Channel with more slated to appear on H2 this summer.

 

“That show was two years of our lives. That was not a weekend warrior thing. That was two years of our lives setting that up.”

 

Palmerton says the Crucible is a family operation that has a great team of collaborators creating some of the most interesting bronze pieces. It is that collaborative effort which makes things work.

 

“I don’t call them employees. I call them my family. We just sit down, and we get a six pack and figure it out artistically.”

 

While the atmosphere at the Crucible feels like family, work still gets done.

 

“It’s really laid back. It’s not a commune. We are a professional business. We pay our taxes just like everybody else.”

 

Palmerton says he enjoys seeing an artist’s vision become a bronze reality.

 

“The creation of the bronze. That is an art form in and of itself, my friend. There are so many gifted sculptors out there, but so many of those gifted sculptors wouldn’t have a clue how to get their clay to bronze.”

 

Palmerton considers one of the Crucible Foundry’s greatest accomplishments was the creation of “Shoulder to Shoulder Even the Fallen Stand Tall” by Gareth Andrews. It is a tribute to all of the branches of military service. It depicts soldiers, airmen, Marines and sailors supporting each other as they are wrapped in the wings of a giant eagle. The monument was installed in Veteran’s Park in Virginia, Minnesota, in July of 2012.

 

Closer to home, the Crucible’s work includes part of the Land Run Project on the banks of the Oklahoma River near the Oklahoma City Boathouse District. The Will Rogers statue at Will Rogers World Airport also was created by the crew at the Crucible.

 

In June, Crucible was working on a special project destined for Chicago.

“We’re working on a 20-foot version of Pope John Paul II for a Chicago cemetery. It’s going to be one of the largest in the country, and it’s pretty awesome. That’s a lot of Pope.”

 

Palmerton says even after all of these years, the Crucible motivates him to come to work.

 

“With the great artisans that I’m surrounded with and their minds, it just makes it a happy place to work, energetic, and full of creativity.”

 

Written by Jason Doyle Oden   |  Photography provided by The Crucible, LLC