Breaking Free
The Charles Stough Memorial Fishing For the Fight Trophy
About The Trophy - written by sculptor Bryce Pettit
It was a privilege to create this sculpture for “Fishing for the Fight” and to be able to contribute my abilities to such an important effort. I have titled this piece “Breaking Free.”
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The creation of this sculpture began with conversations about what the organization represented and what the goals were. Many designs were considered, but eventually, a simple, straightforward design emerged and began to take shape. Being a fishing trophy, a trout was decided on as the main element of design. The selection of a rainbow as the representative species also became obvious in short order. Each type of cancer is represented by a different color, but as “Fishing for the Fight” supports all types of cancer, the selection of a rainbow is a nod to a rainbow of colors, thus showing broad support for all.
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I wanted the overall feeling of the sculpture to be hopeful and convey a sense of dynamic rising. This mirrors the hope that both the organization as well as the benefactors with grow and move upward. To create this feeling the fish is swimming upward and the overall design is sleek and fluid. The supporting ribbon represents the familiar cancer ribbon and reiterates the connection of “Fishing for the Fight” to the wider struggle. The fish itself becomes a tail of the ribbon, symbolic of the fishing tournament becoming part of the worldwide efforts as well as the ribbon from an inanimate object into a living being. The loop of the ribbon is not connected showing the trout breaking free from the binding effects of cancer. The reverse of the ribbon is embedded with coins that allude to the entire piece being made of coins, visible just under the surface. Besides raising awareness, the tournament raises funds to help those in need when battling cancer. The coins are a reminder that all is built on the generosity and donations provided.
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Bryce Pettit Bronze
“I find the inspiration for my work in the natural world, but my sculptures are not just models of animal subjects. Each piece has an underlying story and is imbued with feeling and emotion. My work is meant to teach and inspire, both about the animals and about ourselves. The amazing diversity of fur and feathers, limbs, bodies, beaks, hoof, and claw give me endless elements with which to create.”​
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Bryce grew up surrounded by nature. His deep love for the world around him and his desire to create art has always been closely linked. He studied biology and the natural sciences followed by graduate studies in ecology.
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Bryce has now been a professional sculptor for nearly 20 years. He has been chosen for several large public works including the Tulsa International Airport, the Maritime Museum in Ludington Michigan, and the Na ‘Aina Kai Botanical Gardens in Kawai, Hawaii.
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Bryce lives in Durango, Colorado surrounded by the mountains and rivers he loves.
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