Deborah Copenhaver Fellows
{{short description|American sculptor|bot=PearBOT 5}}
Deborah Copenhaver Fellows (born 1948) is an American sculptor known for her Western themed works. Her best known work is the life-sized statue of former Arizona senator Barry Goldwater included in the National Statuary Hall Collection in the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. It was added to the collection as one of Arizona’s two statues in 2015.
Life
Fellows was born and raised on a ranch in northern Idaho. Her father Deb Copenhaver was a champion rodeo rider, winning two world championships in 1955 and 1956 and was inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1991{{cite web|url=http://erhof.com/inductees/deb-copenhaver/|title=Deb Copenhaver - Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame|website=erhof.com|access-date=2018-03-08|archive-date=2018-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309120232/http://erhof.com/inductees/deb-copenhaver/|url-status=dead}} and the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1992.{{cite web|url=http://www.prorodeohalloffame.com/inductees/by-category/saddle-bronc-riding/deb-copenhaver/|title=Deb Copenhaver - Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame|publisher=|access-date=2018-03-08|archive-date=2019-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618223556/http://www.prorodeohalloffame.com/inductees/by-category/saddle-bronc-riding/deb-copenhaver/|url-status=dead}} As a teenager Deborah Coperhaver was selected Miss Rodeo Washington.{{cite web|url=https://www.missrodeowashingtoninc.com/former-title-holders.html|title=Former Title Holders|website=Miss Rodeo Washington Pageant, Inc|access-date=2018-03-08|archive-date=2018-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309120440/https://www.missrodeowashingtoninc.com/former-title-holders.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://rodeonews.com/back-bucked-deb-copenhaver/|title=Back When They Bucked with Deb Copenhaver - The Rodeo News|date=24 November 2014|publisher=}} During this time she developed a passion for horses that is frequently reflected in her sculpture.
She attended Fort Wright College of the Holy Names where she first began a serious study of sculpture.{{cite web|url=http://fellowsstudios.com/deborah-fellows.html|title=Deborah Copenhaver Fellows|website=fellowsstudios.com|access-date=2018-03-08|archive-date=2018-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309054536/http://fellowsstudios.com/deborah-fellows.html|url-status=dead}}
She married Fred Fellows and had a daughter, Fabienne. {{Cite web |url= https://fellowsstudios.com/about-deborah/ |title= About Deborah Copenhaver Fellows |publisher= Fellows Studios |date= 2021 }}
Her statue of Bing Crosby was erected just outside the Crosby Student Center, on the Gonzaga University and dedicated on May 3, 1981, Crosby’s birthday.{{cite web|url=http://spokanehistorical.org/items/show/80|title=Bronze Statue of Bing Crosby - Spokane Historical|website=Spokane Historical}}
Fellows won a competition to create the Washington Korean War Memorial, (hers was of a Korean War veteran) and it was dedicated on the Washington State Capitol grounds in Olympia, Washington , on July 24, 1993.{{cite web|url=https://des.wa.gov/services/facilities-leasing/capitol-campus/memorials-and-artwork/korean-war-memorial|title=Korean War memorial|date=26 April 2016|publisher=}}
She was inducted into the National Sculpture Society in 2008 and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.cowboysindians.com/2016/02/deborah-copenhaver-fellows/|title=Deborah Copenhaver Fellows - C&I Magazine|date=28 February 2016|publisher=}}
Selected works
- The Founder, aka Adolph Coors, Golden, Colorado, 1980{{cite web|url=https://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=15Q250MI64372.7338&profile=ariall&source=~!siartinventories&view=subscriptionsummary&uri=full=3100001~!4271~!0&ri=6|title=The Founder|first=Deborah|last=Copenhaver|date=8 March 1980|publisher=|via=siris-artinventories.si.edu Library Catalog}}
- Bing Crosby, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, 1981
- Inland Northwest Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Dedicated November 10, 1985{{cite web|url=https://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=15Q250MI64372.7338&profile=ariall&source=~!siartinventories&view=subscriptionsummary&uri=full=3100001~!297267~!1|title=Vietnam Veterans Memorial|first=Deborah|last=Copenhaver|date=8 March 1984|publisher=|via=siris-artinventories.si.edu Library Catalog}}
- Montana Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Dedicated November 11, 1988{{cite web|url=https://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=15Q250MI64372.7338&profile=ariall&source=~!siartinventories&view=subscriptionsummary&uri=full=3100001~!323354~!2|title=Montana Vietnam Veterans' Memorial|first=Deborah|last=Copenhaver|date=8 March 1988|publisher=|via=siris-artinventories.si.edu Library Catalog}}
- Tribute to a Cowboy aka Benny Binion, Las Vegas, Nevada, dedicated November 28, 1988{{cite web|url=https://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=15Q250MI64372.7338&profile=ariall&source=~!siartinventories&view=subscriptionsummary&uri=full=3100001~!317281~!5|title=Tribute to a Cowboy|first=Deborah|last=Copenhaver|publisher=|via=siris-artinventories.si.edu Library Catalog}}
- Washington Korean War Memorial, Dedicated July 24, 1993{{cite web|url=https://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=15Q250MI64372.7338&profile=ariall&source=~!siartinventories&view=subscriptionsummary&uri=full=3100001~!334652~!3|title=Korean War Memorial|first=Deborah|last=Copenhaver|date=8 March 1989|publisher=|via=siris-artinventories.si.edu Library Catalog}}
- Lady of the Sea, Cape Sante Marina, Anacortes, Washington 1994{{cite web|url=http://www.everyonestravelclub.com/kayaktravel-blog/anacortes-lady-of-the-sea-sculpture-a-great-kayak-launch-at-the-cap-sante-marina-seafarers-memorial-park|title=Anacortes Lady of the Sea Sculpture (& a great kayak launch at the Cap Sante Marina - Seafarers Memorial Park)|website=Everyone's Travel Club}}
References
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Category:20th-century American sculptors
Category:Sculptors from Arizona
Category:Washington State University alumni
Category:Heritage University alumni
Category:20th-century American women sculptors
Category:Cowgirl Hall of Fame inductees
Category:National Sculpture Society members