Jeff Bates

Welcome to Sky River Ranch, the home of J.L. Bates and Colorado’s center of creativity.

As a farm kid, I started Welding in Jr. High School. Later I paid the expenses of a college education by welding every summer.  I have worked as a welder in the oil and gas industry, construction, demolition, repairs, and fabrication. In all of that time, I have also been creating art.  My first art show was in the late 70’s and in my eyes, was a huge success. It was mostly smaller pieces made from reclaimed metal.

Ten years later, I started making custom furniture, and architectural features for custom homes.   Many of my furniture pieces walked the fine line between art and function. I also designed fine furniture for a company in North Carolina.  Although I had made stand alone, art pieces during that time, it was not until the 90’s that I started making larger public art pieces, and custom park benches. Although I remain a certified structural welder, I use that skill set less and less.  However, what I bring with me from that area, is my familiarity with construction, heavy equipment, dirt work, cranes, concrete, and layout.

In 1998 my family and I moved from Crested Butte, Colorado, to Fruita, Colorado.  Soon after that I was commissioned to build a life-sized rearing horse sculpture for the City of Fruita. I had already been building artistic park benches for Fruita, and soon afterwards I built the first ones for the Grand Junction, Colorado. In all I have built around 100 benches found the towns of Western Colorado.  I have had artwork on display for Grand Junction’s Art on the Corner program.