RAPID CITY — Local artist Mavis Madison and her art foundry, Black Hills Bronze in Hill City, have collaborated to produce the first annual Shane Drury Award, which will be donated and awarded today during the Stock Show’s bull riding event.

Madison sculpted the late rodeo star in the midst of a bull ride. Her intention was to create a remembrance of her family friend — and then Madison’s son, Seth White, suggested turning the sculpture into an annual rodeo award. She brought the project to Black Hills Bronze, where owner Grant Standard agreed to collaborate on the project by donating the foundry production costs.

“It was a wonderful collaboration, honoring a person who made such a positive impact on many people in our area,” Standard said. “We thought that Shane’s inspiration could be captured by Mavis, and then shared with a deserving rodeo competitor.”

The award will be presented to a rodeo rider who has weathered adversity, but continued to compete. Those in either the High School 20X or Badlands Circuit are eligible for the prize.

Local rodeo hero Shane Drury was an inspirational bull rider, having shot to championship level in high school and college. It was while he was a qualifier for the National Finals Rodeo that he experienced what he thought was an injury. It turned out to be cancer, a tumor on his spine, which cost Drury his life last year at the age of 27.

A couple of months before Drury’s death, he signed and dated the piece; both his inscription and Madison’s will appear on every edition of the award.

“He really liked the sculpture,” Madison said. “Shane said he wanted the award to be given here, at the Black Hills Stock Show, where he grew up. This was his home.”

Madison said that it was not Drury’s stardom that caused her to commemorate him in her artistic work. “Shane helped me keep my priorities in order,” she explained. “Every day, he would give glory to God. He didn’t talk about being a champion bull rider; he talked about having faith.”

This touching relationship is what brought Black Hills Bronze on board with the project.

“Mavis came to us with her heart full and a new sculpture in her hands. Who can say no to that?” Standard said.

Madison’s commitment to the project also inspired local fine art mold maker Tim Nimmo, who provided a discount on his mold for the piece. It is this mold that will allow Madison to create future editions of the award in years to come.

Madison’s artwork can be seen at the stock show’s Western Art Show & Auction exhibit, upstairs in Room H of the civic center.

Rapid City Journal