Metal deer, artful addition

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

Enderby sheet metal worker Braden Kiefiuk wanted to see if he could make a sculpture out of metal.

So he did.

Businessman Ted Callahan was looking for something different for the front of his commercial building on Manhattan Drive in Kelowna's North End.

A fortuitous set of circumstances brought the two together, leading to Thursday's official unveiling of a 1,000-pound mule deer sculpture.

"I thought I would put it on my lawn, and that's where it sat for a while. Then, the City of Enderby displayed it in front of City Hall for about four months. Then, Ted contacted me and wanted it," said Kiefiuk.

"I saw an article on Braden and a picture of the deer and was quite intrigued with it," recalled Callahan.

"What I really liked was the combination of steel and nature. Around here, you often see the mule deer hanging around."

The sculpture was Kiefiuk's first. During their discussions, he told Callahan about a bear he was working on.

The businessman purchased that one, too. The grizzly bear and cubs is situated on the boardwalk at Hotel Eldorado.

Callahan is also interested in a third sculpture Kiefiuk is working on, a nine-foot-tall moose.

"It was something I thought I would try. I didn't think it would come to fruition," said Kiefiuk of the inspiration to try his hand a sculpting three years ago.

So, far, it's paid off.

Callahan said the work fits in with the city's downtown Art Walk.

If you take a look, within a 20-minute walk from here there are some pretty interesting pieces," he said.

"Whether it's local citizens or as tourists, I think it provides an interesting way to see the city."