Sodbuster: San Isidro combines the artistic traditions of the American Southwest with imagery representing the hardworking farmers of the Red River Valley. “Sodbuster” is a colloquial term for farmers, and “San Isidro” refers to the Catholic patron saint of farmers. Artifacts visible in the freshly plowed soil represent the extensive Native American history throughout North America. The Fargo edition, one of Luis Jiménez’s first outdoor sculptures, is considered an artwork of national significance. Originally commissioned by the City of Fargo in 1979, it was removed from its original location at Main Avenue and Broadway in 2002 for extensive restoration. The McKay Lodge Art Conservation Laboratory restored the sculpture because of its expertise in outdoor sculpture conservation and experience with other Jiménez works. The restoration process lasted three years, from 2016 to 2019, and included a comprehensive plan for ongoing maintenance and care to help prevent similar problems in the future. Born in Texas, Luis Jiménez studied architecture and art at the University of Texas at Austin and received his BFA in 1964. Brightly colored fiberglass and striking, sometimes controversial themes became his signature style, influenced in part by time spent spray painting and welding in his father’s neon sign shop. His heroic sculptures championed the common man and the working-class ethos of his upbringing. Sodbuster: San Isidro, made of fiberglass, resin, and acrylic paint in 1982, is in the permanent collection of the Plains Art Museum.