Klaus Duebbert
 Sculptor, Historian, Adobe Consultant and Blacksmith
by Nancy J. Reid

We first met Klaus a couple of years ago while having a look at Calico, a 'living history' ghost town just outside of Barstow, California. We saw him entertain a crowd while using his humor and blacksmithing expertise to impart the history of blacksmithing while making candle holders, meat hooks and roses for bystanders. He brought the art of blacksmithing alive and with that, a touch of history lives again. It made you think what life was like for the settlers and pioneers.

Klaus has a love of history and he has the pioneer spirit--if you need to learn something--you go out and learn it. He has produced a video and a pamphlet on making adobe bricks, and he has restored adobe buildings in the southwest. He often works as a consultant for museums and teaches adobe brick making and gives lessons in blacksmithing.

Originally from Germany, Klaus comes from a blacksmith and iron working family. He has taken his trade to another level--combining again his humor and his imagination--sculpting birds and whatever else strikes him as a good subject.

We (Nancy & Lisa) interviewed Klaus at his studio in Banning, California. Amidst ducks quacking, roosters crowing and trains passing by, we had the opportunity to see some of his very unique art. As you enter, out of curiosity, chickens and ducks follow you down the driveway lined by iron sculptures--some are birds and others resemble space creatures. My favorite is the fire-breathing bull that stands guard before one can enter the workshop/studio. The workshop is full of cords going every which way, numerous hammers, and a lot of material. On one side of the shop the material looks like scrap metal, on the other side of the workshop--the scrap metal has turned into a showroom of the latest pieces of sculpture Klaus has finished.

When speaking about what inspires him and how he feels about his work, he says he hopes those that view his work " ...enjoys the beauty and uniqueness of each piece as each piece is one-of-a-kind." He may work to a theme, but never makes the same creation twice, even to the point of destroying the molds for his bronze castings.

One of Klaus's biggest achievements is his 4 time life-size mammoth that is on exhibit in the Harupa Mountain Cultural Center in Riverside, California. Using tons of steel and needing heavy equipment, Klaus created his Mammoth onsite, in about 4 months.

Click here to hear the full interview with Klaus - please note, on some computers you may have to click on the play button twice.