Spear Lodge Man comes back to life

Jeff and Cindy Wolcott hosted approximately 40 visitors on Friday, July 7, at their home just east of Niwot where Jeff Wolcott has been working with Dustin Wolf to restore the iconic tree carving, Spear Lodge Man.

The sculpture, also known as Biitoheinen in the Arapaho language, was carved by Dustin's late father, Eddie Running Wolf, from the stump of a willow tree along Niwot Road near its intersection with 2nd Avenue.

Although the willow tree died when the Hinman Ditch no longer ran next to it, the tree's roots continued to suck water from the ground, causing the carving to deteriorate.

The restoration project has been ongoing for over a year, with the Wolcotts donating the use of their shop space.

The Friday open house was the first opportunity for community members to view the restored carving, which is almost complete. Spear Lodge Man is now upright again, as most of the work took place with the carving lying on its side. It is braced by a large metal structure at the base.

Wolf was on hand to explain the restoration process and describe his work, which to date has been funded jointly by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association, the Niwot Business Association and the Niwot Local Improvement District.

"I've been working on it for over a year now," Wolf said, "which is longer than it took my dad to carve it." Dustin Wolf has not only restored his father's work, using pieces of undecayed wood from the tree trunk to replace rotted wood, but has also added his own enhancements.

"I went a little crazy with a hatchet one day," Wolf said, describing how he removed rotted wood from the base of the tree. Since the tree carving is not as high off the ground as it once was, Wolf made sure that viewers had even more to appreciate.

"There's more detail in the breast-plate," Wolf said, pointing out some of the changes he made, "because it's lower to the ground."

The assembled guests included Melissa Wolf, Dustin's mother, and many other family members, including Eddie Running Wolf's brother, also a sculptor working primarily in marble.

Also on hand were several members of the NCAA's Tree Carving Committee, including Anne Postle, Lisa Rivard, David Lee, Jack Trope and Biff Warren, in addition to Wolcott and Wolf.

The NCAA is launching a fundraising campaign to cover costs of the project, which also includes removal and restoration of the remaining two sculptures, Eagle Catcher and Cheyenne Holy Man. Permanent locations for the restored carvings are still being considered. To date, $3,200 has been collected. Tax deductible donations can be made by mailing a check to Niwot Cultural Arts Association, P.O. Box 733, Niwot, CO 80544.