Titled "The Art of the Fight", Kupka's latest work -- his first for the sport of wrestling -- features at its center the iconic image of Dan Gable as University of Iowa head coach, making a stalling call against one of his own wrestlers, knowing that once the referee would call the Hawkeye matman for stalling, he would be more aggressive. (That image also served as the basis for the statue of Gable outside of Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.)
Among the other images within Kupka's "The Art of the Fight" include Gable wrestling Ruslan Ashuraliev of the Soviet Union for the gold medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics, along with that medal earned by Gable (its shape echoed by the border of a wrestling mat) ... the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum in his hometown of Waterloo, Iowa ... the Campanile at Iowa State, where Gable wrestled for the Cyclones ... and the Old Capitol on the campus of University of Iowa, where Gable coached. The original painting is oil on canvas, measuring 3 feet wide by 4 feet tall.
Wrestling fans may purchase their own "Art of the Fight" portrait of Dan Gable in a variety of formats:
> Poster, measuring 18" x 24", unsigned and unframed, $30
> Fine art print, 18" x 24", printed on high-quality paper, framed, unsigned, $295
> Limited edition (just 1,972 copies) on canvas, 18" x 24", unframed, signed by artist Mike Kupka, $795
> Limited edition (just 181 copies) on canvas, 30" x 40", signed by the artist and by Gable, $2,995.
All prices include free shipping. A portion of the proceeds will go to a 501(c)3 charity of Dan Gable's choice.
To place your order, visit Mike Kupka's website or call 1-800-507-3007.
Want to know more? Check out the online brochure explaining "The Art of the Fight" which provides greater detail on this incredible artwork.
Born in Waterloo, Iowa on Oct. 25, 1948, Dan Gable has achieved greatness at every level. Wrestling for legendary coach Bob Siddens at Waterloo West High School, Gable crafted a perfect 64-0 record with three Iowa state titles. He then headed west to Iowa State, where he was 117-1 for coach Harold Nichols. At the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany, Gable won the gold medal in men's freestyle without having a single point scored upon him. He then launched his coaching career at the University of Iowa, where his Hawkeyes earned 15 NCAA team titles and a 355-21-5 record. Gable coached 45 NCAA champs, 152 NCAA All-Americans, 106 Big Ten champs, and 12 Olympians. He retired from coaching in 1997 but continues to serve the sport as a motivational speaker and goodwill ambassador.
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