Mother and Child, Alice Ann Ochs, Marble
Artist Statement
Alice Ann S. Ochs had wanted to major in art while attending Kansas University, but was dissuaded by her parents and become a physical therapist instead. She finally returned to her passion after raising her two children once they left home.
Her preferred art medium became sculpture after taking a variety of art classes at the local community college. Alice Ann was exposed to the artistic design process of stone while growing up in her family monument works shop. Her father was a monument builder that seeded her love for art and bringing form and beauty into the world. She recounted the many hours spent with her father checking monuments and headstones he had designed and placed.
Drawing on her knowledge of the human body, her physical therapy training served her well in completing commissioned sculptures.
She plunged into her art with a passion and became very involved in not only developing her own talent but working to help others develop their talents. Bronze sculptures comprised most of her portfolio, but she loved sculpting marble, alabaster, welding metal, terracotta, and enjoyed exploring other mediums such as wood and fired clay. Expression through art and bringing beauty to the world was her desire as well as helping others do the same. She started The Studio with several other sculptors that provided a place for community in sculpting and teaching.
Alice Ann’s memory lives on in her public displays of art at The Fine Arts Center Tactile Gallery (“Riley, His Only Trick” “The Gentle Pioneer” “The Professor”), Humane Society Colorado Springs (“Francie”), First United Methodist Church Memorial Garden (“Loving Arms” and “Come Unto Me”), Patty Jewett Golf Course (“Mr. William K. Jewett”), Cave of the Winds (“Wind Spirit”), Colorado Springs Public Library 21c (“Mrs. Peggy Shivers”), and the Colorado Springs Public Library Downtown (“Jazz”).
Alice Ann was blessed to study with Clayton Staples, Louis Cicotello, Gary Coulter, George Lundeen, Dr. Wilfred Stedman, Bruno Lucchesi, Bob Gottschall, and Peter Rubino. One of her lasting memories was studying in Pietrasanta, Italy with master craftsmen in marble.
Artist Biography
Born on August 17, 1930, Alice Ann Ochs went to college at the University of Kansas and became a physical therapist at the bidding of her parents. But after her two children were raised, she was able to follow her passion to become an artist, mainly in sculpture.
Alice Ann had been exposed to artistic stone sculpture in her father’s workshop, where he designed, prepared and placed monuments and headstones, with her help. Added to her knowledge of the human body through physical therapy training, Alice Ann fulfilled her passion for sculpture while also helping others develop their various talents. She and several friends started The Studio to work and express her love of teaching others.
Much of her work was in bronze, though she enjoyed sculpting in marble, alabaster and terracotta, along with wood and fired clay.
Her memory lives on in Colorado Springs through her public art displays at the following places: The Fine Arts Center Tactile Gallery (“Riley, His Only Trick” “The Gentle Pioneer” “The Professor”), Humane Society (“Francie”), First United Methodist Church Memorial Garden (“Loving Arms” and “Come Unto Me”), Patty Jewett Golf Course (“Mr. William K. Jewett”), Cave of the Winds (“Wind Spirit”), Colorado Springs Public Library 21c (Mrs. Peggy Shivers”), and the Colorado Springs Public Library Downtown (“Jazz”).
Alice Ann studied with Clayton Staples, Louis Cicotello, Gary Coulter, George Lundeen, Dr. Wilfred Stedman, Bruno Lucchesi, Bob Gottschall, and Peter Rubino. A fond memory of hers was studying in Pietrasanta, Italy with master craftsmen in marble.
Alice Ann died April 6, 2023.
