Fire that destroyed renowned sculptor’s studio blamed on wood-burning stove

Jan. 05--An early December fire that destroyed the studio/foundry of renowned sculptor Huberto Maestas is being blamed on a wood-burning stove within the structure.

That determination was made through an official investigation of the blaze that gutted the nearly century-old building at 405 Main St. in San Luis, according to Maestas.

Based primarily on the age of the building, Maestas was unable to obtain insurance for it. It's estimated that due to the contents, including large-scale molds capable of producing bronzes selling for up to $150,000 each, the loss is estimated to be in excess of $1 million.

"At the time of the fire, I was working to correct some of the issues that made the building not insurable, including putting on a new roof," said Maestas, whose revered creations include the life-size "Stations of the Cross" positioned on the Hill of Piety and Mercy in San Luis.

Maestas was, however, able to retrieve sentry griffins being recast for Pueblo's City Park Gate project from the ashes and plans to return to work on them, as well as other projects, in the coming weeks.

Along with the ongoing cleanup of the destroyed studio -- "we had to knock down the front of the building, because it was pretty dangerous," he said -- Maestas is working to set up shop in a building that formerly served as his foundry.

But even that is proving to be problematic.

"I'm having trouble getting the state inspector to come and give an OK to get my power turned back on," he said. "I've been calling them two, three times a day and haven't been able to get ahold of them. I need that place so that I can get back to work."

In the month since the fire, a GoFundMe page (Huberto's Sculpture Studio) has raised in excess of $19,400 of a $50,000 goal. The display of gratitude and compassion has touched Maestas.

"I would like to thank everybody who has helped," he said. "I'm very appreciative. This fire is a setback, but it would take a lot more than this to stop me from being a creative person.

"This is what I do. I'm an artist. That's my business."

jpompia@chieftain.com

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