John Gooden, Sculptor
John is a career artist with a sculpting studio and art casting plant in Kingfisher, Okla. He returned to Kingfisher in 1996, where he and his wife, Jody, were once high school sweethearts.
The people and history of Oklahoma have provided John most of the subject matter for his work. He has sculpted the following well-known Oklahomans: American missionary Father Stanley Rother, country singer Vince Gill, Rev. Melvin Grant of the Civilian Conservation Corps. (CCC), Olympian John Smith, baseball great Bobby Murcer and Senator Roy C. Boecher of Kingfisher.
In celebration of the upcoming 2007 Oklahoma Centennial, John was recently commissioned to sculpt a heroic-size sculpture of Jesse Chisholm on a horse. The Chisholm Trail, where nearly 14 million head of cattle once traveled, passed through present-day Kingfisher in the years immediately following the Civil War. John will soon begin a sculpture of William Coleman, who began the Coleman Company in Kingfisher on Jan. 1, 1900. Other sculptures will portray Wal-mart® founder Sam Walton, who is a former resident of Kingfisher, and Reverend Bill Sykes, a notable black minister from early day Kingfisher.
In addition to his studio, John owns and operates Gooden Specialty Manufacturing, which specializes in art castings. Available media include bronze, hand-painted resin, and metal-filled resin castings. Gooden Specialty Mfg. reproduces and distributes art castings nationally.
Professional Experience
| 1997-present | Gooden Art Studio, Kingfisher, Okla. Sculptor of many notable art works dedicated to the people and places of Oklahoma.
John has also produced awards that have been marketed nationally. Gooden Specialty Manufacturing, Kingfisher, Okla. A manufacturing business devoted to art castings of various types, including pet urns and various awards. The castings have been presented to corporate presidents and presidents of foreign countries, including Russia and Nigeria. |
| 1991-1996 | Staff Sculptor, Midwest Trophy Manufacturing, Del City, Okla. Although his primary role was portrait sculptor, John also created a sculpture production line for the Sculpting Department. |
| 1989-1991 | Artist, Don Baker. Preparation of wax castings for bronzes of detailed western bronzes. |
Education
- 1982-1983 - Attended Saint John’s College, Santa Fe, N.M.
- 1986 - Graduated with honors from Oklahoma City University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities.
Awards
2004
- Selected as a Community Volunteer of the Year
for the state of Oklahoma - Oklahoma Public Health Volunteer of the Year