The dedication of a giant wind turbine blade made into a head-turning marriage of public art and functional snow fence along Wyoming Highway 94 drew supporters Saturday — and a two-man protest.
Wyoming sculptor Chris Navarro, known for his bronze public monuments, dedicated “Windborne,” a 120-foot public art installation on private ranch land at the southwestern edge of the community of Esterbrook.
About 50 participants traveled down the two-track road where the installation sits. Two miles down the corridor is the Casper-based Wyoming Rescue Mission’s recovery ranch.
“This was a long road to get here,” Navarro said. “I started this process almost six years ago to do something with a wind turbine blade.
"This one is kind of special because it is really out in the middle of nowhere. I am really proud that so many people came out to see the dedication of this.”
A representative from the Wyoming Department of Transportation was on hand for the hour-long dedication, as was U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyoming.
“Windborne” was created using parts of a turbine blade donated by Vestas Blades.
The blade was cut into 12 segments and planted upright on the Indian Creek Ranch as a test to determine if used turbine blades could be repurposed as snow fences.
The 12 segments represent the 12-step recovery process used at the mission. The blades were painted by Navarro with a herd of running mustangs.
“The blades stand together. The mustangs run together. And the people who built Windborne stood together,” Navarro said. “When I look at those 40 mustangs, I don’t see horses running away.
"I see a herd moving forward.”
The 12 blades in the “Windborne” sculpture represent the 12 steps of recovery from addiction. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
Wyoming Rescue Mission’s Denise Kleemeyer said the mission was happy to help Chris Navarro with the project because its theme mirrors their work of “restoration.” (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
Rep. Harriet Hageman and about 50 people attended the dedication of “Windborne” in Esterbrook. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
Chris Navarro dedicated his public sculpture “Windborne” in Esterbrook on Saturday. He rode a mustang to keep with the theme of the sculpture. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
At least two Esterbrook residents are disappointed that the sculpture was put in their community. One called it an “eyesore.” (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily)
Pastor Calls It A ‘Scam’
At the entrance to the ranch land, Esterbrook Church Pastor Kirby Kudlak initially held a solo vigil and protest, handing out papers to participants as they drove down the mission ranch road where the sculpture sits, calling it a “scam.”
Kudlak said he believes Navarro duped the public into thinking it was some kind of purposeful environmental project.
“The only purpose I can see is to ruin the view for those of us that live in the community,” he said. “He could have painted it black and made it look like a stone or something there and nobody would have said a thing.
"But this is just a tribute to Chris Navarro, as far as I’m concerned.”
Joe Mayes, another resident, pulled up with a load of firewood to show support for Kudlak and his protest.
He said he was surprised that the owner of the ranch where the sculpture sits went along with the project.
Navarro said that, as an artist, he knows he can’t please everyone.
“I take rejection and I make it work for me,” he said.
Mission Support
Denise Kleemeyer, director of development at the Wyoming Rescue Mission, said the organization was happy to work with Navarro, who has been a longtime supporter of its work.
That the blades reflect a theme of “recovery and restoration” made the mission a willing participant in the project.
“Those are themes that are throughout our programming and what we believe in for the people who come through our doors,” she said. “That tie-in to that story and the similarities were just perfect for us.”
Wyoming Rescue Mission resident Andrew Santor said the experience of helping create the art was “cool.” He is standing by the horses he painted. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
At least two people in the Esterbrook community say they are not happy with the art installation. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
Rep. Harriet Hageman and about 50 people attended the dedication of “Windborne” in Esterbrook. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
Running horses are the theme of “Windborne.” (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
Casper’s Rose Fry says the enjoyed painting a horse in the sculpture. She had problems with the eye on it, and a friend helped. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily)
Checking Out Project
Hageman said she attended to support Navarro, a fellow Casper College graduate, and to check out the installation.
“I think it is very interesting and we need to look at a variety of options for dealing with industrial waste,” she said. “I just think it is something wonderful to celebrate and unique to Wyoming.”
Damon McCausland, physicist and technical support engineer with Vestas Blades, said he worked with Navarro and cut up the blade for the artist as well as presented him with some possible designs for blade spacing.
He characterized the finished art installation as “fantastic.”
“I have been doing recycling of these for five years now and nothing goes in the landfill,” he said. “There are always new uses for them. This is a great one.”
WYDOT Winter Research Project Manager Kathy Ahlenius said the idea of using recycled turbine blades as snow fences has come up in her office a couple of times, but there has never been money to pursue a test project.
After a winter without snow last year, she hopes for a good snow season in Esterbrook so the department can accurately analyze the fence's viability as a way to pile up snow.
If the blades prove useful as snow fences, the agency would look for locations and landowners willing to have them installed elsewhere, she said.
Ahlenius said WYDOT started putting up snow fences in the 1970s, and over the years the system expanded across the state to where it now has about 450 miles to monitor and maintain.
“These would pretty much be maintenance-free,” she said.
Combined Effort
Navarro thanked ranch owner Tim Pexton for his willingness to allow the project, along with the support of the Wyoming Rescue Mission, Jake Milne of ReviablEnergy, who helped install the turbine-blade sections, and mission and community residents who helped paint the blades with running mustang horses.
He said “Windborne” was his sixth idea for the use of a wind turbine blade as art, and he is still working with the city of Casper to do a different installation using blades.
Navarro said the project has involved a lot of “nos,” but he could never get it out of his head and kept moving forward.
“This project wasn’t done by one person; it was done by everybody,” he said.
Pexton, owner of Indian Creek Ranch, said the former Wyoming Rescue Mission director called him and asked if he would consider allowing a snow fence along the road so they could access their ranch in the winter.
He initially was skeptical about any amount of snow fence keeping the road open during the winter, but when he learned of Navarro’s involvement, he talked with the artist about the project and the turbine-blade test, and agreed to allow the installation.
Pexton said he, Navarro, and Milne selected the location for the blades.
Wyoming Rescue Mission resident Andrew Santor, an aspiring artist, said helping with the project with Navarro and painting a blade was “cool.”
“When I heard that he was painting horses on them, I thought, ‘Wow, that is incredible,’” he said. “It’s something I’ve never seen, and it was a blessing to do this project.”
Successful Painter
Casper resident Rose Fry attended the dedication and was among the many community members who took a painting class organized by Navarro and then came up on the mountain to paint the blades.
She said they painted during some of the hottest days in July, and she was happy to see that her work produced a realistic horse. The only thing she needed help with was the eyeball.
Milne, who formed his company after seeing a photo of wind turbine blades in a Casper landfill a few years ago, said he had been looking for a snow-fence project with parts of the recycled blades for the past few years.
He was happy to see the turnout for Saturday's dedication ceremony.
“I am glad to see so many people rallying behind it,” he said. "One protester out of all the people who came here is pretty good.
"Hopefully we can get some snow this year and show that it works.”
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
