Sculptor Mike Call

From his earliest years Mike Call has always enjoyed drawing painting and sculpting. He began his professional training studying painting at Rick’s College. His training at Rick’s culminated in a rare internship with Edward J. Fraughton, one of the finest western sculptors in the United States. While working with Ed, Mike helped in the production of the award winning monument in downtown Omaha, featuring a monumental sized wagon train, a herd of buffalo and a flock of Canadian geese. (There is now a documentary on the project called The Making of an American Monument. Mike is listed in the credits.) After working for Ed, Mike moved to Connecticut to finish his degree in sculpture at the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, a unique institution dedicated to a traditional approach to figurative art. In 2006, Mike was awarded the First Place Walker Hancock Prize from the National Sculpture Society in their annual competition for emerging artists.

Since graduation, Mike has completed many sculpture projects including a series of sculptures celebrating the history of the Boy Scouts. His bust of Robert, Lord Baden Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouting movement, is displayed in public and private collections across the world (Canada, United States, Argentina, The United Kingdom, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Australia). During 2007, the centenary of scouting, Mike was commissioned to create a limited edition sculpture of the Gilwell Oak to be sold at Gilwell Park during the International Jamboree. Proceeds of the sale went to benefit Gilwell Park.

Mike has also completed a number of projects for the Lacrosse community. In 2010, he was commissioned by Hofstra University to create a special award celebrating their lacrosse team’s 500th team victory. That year he was also commissioned by a private collector to create a 36 inch Native American lacrosse player with costuming and war paint, based on a historical drawing by George Catlin. He recently completed a commission for the Canadian Lacrosse Foundation to design the Jim Bishop Award which is on permanent display in the Lacrosse Hall of Fame. A smaller version is awarded to a single player each year at the National Championships who has embodied outstanding leadership and sportsmanship.