Steve Reinmuth
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Born in 1965, Steve Reinmuth’s passion for art stems from early childhood, however, the awards and recognition did not begin until high school. In 1981, he received first place honors in the national Accelerated Christian Education Awards art competition. Upon graduation from high school, Steve received an offer for a full scholarship and teaching equivalence training as an encouragement to enter the teaching and graphic arts fields. Finding this unappealing, he abandoned art for eight years to study the human figure and psyche as a triathlete. He competed in over 80 races, six of which were Ironman status. One of his first three-dimensional works, entitled Good Shepherd, received first place honors in the Lane County Fair Art Exposition. As a result, a ¾ life size bronze fountain was commissioned.
This opened his eyes to the wonders of cast metal and for the next 5 years, he studied foundry technology from world-renowned bronze artist Welton Blix. In 1992, one of Steve’s early bronze sculptures was awarded first place recognition in the League for Innovation National Student Art Competitions. A one-person show at the Alder Gallery in Eugene, Oregon soon followed with several sales abroad. Another show at the Coos Art Museum, shows in Portland and the construction of his foundry “in the woods” occupied 1993-1996. Steve was commissioned in 1996 by the Los Angeles International Airport to create a bronze globe landmark in the art deco style. Another commission that same year was for a bronze that was presented to an ambassador to Japan.
1997 brought about his marriage to ZoAnn who jumped in to help anywhere there was a need. In 2000, the City of Eugene commissioned him to create an 8 feet tall multi-bell fountain. In 2001, his business and family continued to grow with the birth of his son and the purchase of an old trucking garage in Eugene to house the foundry. That same year he was asked to show his sound sculptures at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art in St. Joseph, Missouri. The show opened June 18, 2004. Steve received rave reviews on the show which ran until September 5, 2004. In 2006 he placed an outdoor piece entitled “Three Shades” in Lake Oswego, OR.