By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
A film crew was in Hays this week working on a documentary about artist Pete Felten.
Blake Chaffin, a Hays native and country music song writer, has organized the documentary effort.
Five years ago, Chaffin bought his first Felten sculpture.
"I fell in love with concept that this guy was waking up everyday in the moment and going down to his studio and chiseling on this limestone," he said.
"I found a lot of connection with how my life journey had taken me to Nashville to write songs and pursue that as a creative outlet I loved. I saw a lot of similarities of waking every morning and packing your lunchbox and going to work even though it was a creative endeavor."
Chaffin, 43, was in a band while attending college at Kansas State, moved to Nashville nine months after graduating and has been writing songs there ever since — about 19 years.
You might recognize a song he wrote for Brantley Giblert "The Ones That Like Me," Rodney Atkins' "Thank God for You," or Brett Combs' "Down Home."
As COVID brought Chaffin home for longer stays, it helped him reconnect with his roots and resparked an interest in Felten's work. Today, Chaffin owns a bison, an Adam and Eve, and woman with guitar sculptures — all works of art produced by Felten.
He said his favorite of the three is the woman with guitar because it reminds him of the "Street Singer," the limestone sculpture near the corner of Seventh and Main in Hays.
Mark Meckel originally commissioned that piece and owned a studio by the same name on that block. Chaffin visited the studio as a kid.
Chaffin visited Felten in his studio several times informally to chat about his work before beginning the documentary.
For the project this week, Chaffin has recruited Logan Mize, Kansas singer from Clearwater, and videographer Jordan Horsch of Wichita. Chaffin has considered bringing in other Kansas singer/songwriters to produce music if it is needed for the film.
Chaffin has never done a video project before. The project comes on the heals of a long-term project with Mize — an album "Welcome to Prairieville," which is a compilation of small-town songs, Chaffin said.
"On the question 'Why?' Why not?" Chaffin said of the Felten film. "I just want to put this down. I know Pete's 89th birthday is coming up April 14."
Chaffin said he thought the concept of time is interesting in Felten's work. It took millions of years to form and bury the limestone Felten works with and the sculptures he has created will likely be around long after him.
Chaffin knew that Felten would be hard to nail down for a formal interview, but he worked with his friend and fellow artist Bruce Burkholder to schedule a sit-down interview.
Chaffin scheduled a reception for Felten at his studio Thursday so people could come and admire Felten's limestone wall, which is covered in carvings and also share stories about the artist.
Felten spent most of the event content to carve on a small bison sculpture in his studio, pausing occasionally to talk about the work or his two years observing bison when he was carving the large bison sculpture that is now on the grounds of Historic Fort Hays.
He spent a lot of time observing and studying their anatomy.
Felten laughed as he talked about hand feeding grass to the bison bull that was housed at the park across the street from the fort where he was working.
"Oh, that's what your nose looks like," he said as he recalled the bison sticking its head through the fence to take his grass.
Anyone who would like to contribute photos, comment or stories about Felten for the project can do so by emailing [email protected].
What the final film project will look like is yet to be determined. Chaffin said the length of the piece in part will be determined about the amount and quality of material the crew is able to gather this week.
"The hope for the end product is there is some kind of inspiring video of some kind that might trigger anyone like myself that grew up in a town like Hays, Kansas," Chaffin said.
"I didn't think I necessarily knew that I could go away to Nashville have my songs back in the Walmart or on the country radio or KAYS. I also don't think you necessarily need to leave where you are to make your art."
Chaffin said he hopes he can create something that tells the story of Felten, will inspire other artists to keep committed to their crafts and to show people what a lifetime of work can be.
You can follow the project on Facebook at meetpetefelten.
