COCHRANE, Alberta—For more than 50 years, Don Begg has transformed molten bronze into remarkably lifelike sculptures depicting everything from historical figures to everyday life on the prairies.
He and his wife, Shirley, who is also an expert in the craft, have a passion for Canada’s western heritage in particular.
Their combined work includes 160 pieces, all crafted at their foundry, Studio West, in Cochrane, Alta., northwest of Calgary, and exhibited across North and South America, Europe, and Australia.
Their goal is to make each piece as unique and interesting as they can, says Begg, given how long the sculptures last.
“If you’re going to make something in bronze, it’s going to last 1,000 years, and not many people get to make something that will last 1,000 years. So you always do your very best.”…