Scraps of Stealth
Man creates aircraft sculptures to honor daughter

By Pamela G. Dempsey
Staff Writer

Pat Chavez talks about a metal sculpture featuring two U.S. Air Force Stealth aircraft he created at Big Mike's Welding on Dee Ann Street in Gallup. Chavez is not sure what he is going to do with the sculpture, but is interested in donating it to somebody who can auction it off for charity. [Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent]

GALLUP — Turning scrap metal into miniature Stealth aircraft takes patience, as Pat Chavez well knows.

The novice artist took nearly two months to create his second sculpture, spending an hour a day.

At 4-feet high and 30 pounds, Chavez's second piece displays two Stealth aircraft and the U.S. Air Force emblem.

He has no plans yet to where it's going.

"I've had a lot of interest," Chavez said, "but I tell them, 'It's priceless, you can't have it.' "

His daughter, Sonia, who is in the Air Force, received the first sculpture, metal parts welded into a single stealth bomber.

Chavez never sculpted before and was inspired to do so by his daughter. He finished the piece for her last summer.

"It's amazing," he said. "It just came to me."

The miniature F117 Stealth Bombers loomed high on a table at Big Mike's Welding Rental and Sales Co.

"This is what I do," Chavez said, indicating the sculpture. "I don't work here."

Chavez said that owner and friend Steve White lets him come to the shop to weld.

The two used to work together in the mines.

"I just do this for fun," Chavez said.

His artistic interest may have taken a hold early on. A corner of White's walls are papered with Chavez's drawings sketches of people or animals on shop grid paper.

But a mining accident that broke Chavez's back forces him to limit his time to an hour a day.

"The trouble is, I have to be on my feet," he said.

Chavez said ideally, he'd like to have the latest sculpture benefit children in the hospital. He hopes to find a way to auction off the piece and donate the proceeds to help sick children.

He doesn't know if he'll sculpt again.

"How many more, I don't know," Chavez said. "We'll see how it goes. Maybe I'll come up with another idea."

For more information, contact Pat Chavez at (505) 863-4399.