Sapling #9 to kindling - finish details

The finish can make or break a sculpture. I decided to lightly ground down the gritty textured surface on the concrete branches and polished the leaves. The highly detailed branches contrast with the simple almost primitive or crude Leaf-like forms. The leaves are smooth except any fingerprints and marks accidentally made by the process. The roughly made leaves have more energy and life than a realistically detailed leaf.

I made the leaves by pouring a thin sheet of wax and then tore leaf shapes out of the wax. Then I crumpled and twisted them Into fall leaves and cast them in bronze.

I made the leaves by pouring a thin sheet of wax and then tore leaf shapes out of the wax. Then I crumpled and twisted them Into fall leaves and cast them in bronze.

The little bird is also highly textured but in a more organized pattern.

The little bird is also highly textured but in a more organized pattern.

I have not made a decision on the stain of the concrete.

I have not made a decision on the stain of the concrete.

Another view

Another view

The base mimics dirt under the tree.

The base mimics dirt under the tree.

SITE Gallery- Sculpture Month Houston - Building the support system

Finally, I feel like I can make some progress. Step one is to make a structure that I can hang my sculptures from. The gallery owners are trying to preserve the space in its original condition, and ask the artists to deface the silo as little as possible when installing our work. Normally I use acrylic hangers that I designed to hold the pieces. Each bracket takes four anchors. I feel like that is too much destruction to the silo. Instead, I decide to buy some black 14 gauge wire fencing, 20 feet X 36”. The silo funnel has metal bands tack welded to it. The middle metal band is 31” from the wall. I cut the fencing in 31” pieces. I cut one end in a concave shape and the other end convex. The convex end will rest on top of the metal band and the concave end will be supported by two screws in the cinderblock wall. This is 19‘ high, and I feel pretty good that my screw holes will only be minimally defacing the silo.

Close up of support system

Close up of support system

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The moment I got off the scissor lift and looked up at my support system, I realized I had made a big mistake. I should have painted them white. The black stood out too much on the white walls. I could not sleep that night trying to decide if I should repaint them... It was not easy, but I spent the next half day painting the system 19’ in the air white.

I think it was worth it, the support system is much less intrusive.

I think it was worth it, the support system is much less intrusive.

I hung from the support system 8 fishing tackle swivels with 25 lb filament attached to each swivel. Four of the swivels are 36” apart 18” from the wall. At these distances the pieces will not touch each other or the wall. Everything should move independently. These are for the big pieces. The other swivels are for smaller pieces and are spaced randomly. I am guesstimating where I want these. Tomorrow I will start hanging work.

Packing the hanging pieces for transporting to the silos.

Last week I spent everyday packing and boxing the pieces I made this summer. I needed boxes they could hang in. Regular wardrobe boxes are not wide enough, so I made my own wardrobe style boxes to transport the sculpture pieces. I took two 30” X 30” X 30” boxes, stacked them and taped them to make them 78” tall.

Then I wrapped each element of each piece in thin plastic dry cleaning bags and kitchen zip lock bags. I don’t want any thing getting tangled. Each little section is in its own plastic cocoon.

Each small element bagged separately making bouquet of bee cocoons

Each small element bagged separately making bouquet of bee cocoons

Making my own wardrobe style boxes.

Making my own wardrobe style boxes.

My pieces hang from the top of the boxes. I needed something to support the top of the box. Southland hardware yard sticks were the cheapest thing I could find. I think they will work.

My pieces hang from the top of the boxes. I needed something to support the top of the box. Southland hardware yard sticks were the cheapest thing I could find. I think they will work.

My sculpture wardrobe boxes have doors.

My sculpture wardrobe boxes have doors.

The pieces in bags make awesome amnion shadows

The pieces in bags make awesome amnion shadows

7 boxes ready to go.

7 boxes ready to go.

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Glyphosate #7 (working title) kinetic sculpture - adding some details

In order to help the large abstract shapes read as botanical or floral shapes I have added some smaller botanical shapes and vines. I think they help. 

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hopefully this flower is abstracted enough but not too much. 

 

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Here is another  

“score” #26 adding some icing


My favorite part of a cake is the icing and my favorite part of this sculpture is the part I am just getting to - the icing. The little pieces, that create the quiet moments. The little nuances that add the extra flavor and detail that will hopefully make it sing. The pieces that will visually depict those tiny, fragile notes that are unique to the violin.

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peace pigeon #20

Last fall I started a project - an experiment with new materials. My subject the German beak - trumpeter pigeon. He is graceful, interesting and conducive to expressing energy. Picasso drew this same pigeon and called him a the peace dove. 

 http://www.arttimesjournal.com/art/reviews/May_June_10_Ina_Cole/Pablo_Picasso_Ina_Cole.html

I can't seem to stop the project. Here is another pigeon.  

German beak trumpeter found object 6" X 6" X 7"  View from front  

German beak trumpeter

found object

6" X 6" X 7"  

View from front  

Below are two of my drawings that inspired the project.  

German beak trumpeter pigeonwith leg muffs.  charcoal  24" X 19"  

German beak trumpeter pigeonwith leg muffs.  

charcoal  

24" X 19"  

German beak trumpeter pigeonwith leg muffs II charcoal  24" X 19"  

German beak trumpeter pigeonwith leg muffs II 

charcoal  

24" X 19"  

New piece in the works- I am still working on the name. It will be part of my "shake shake shake" work.

9/26/2016

I started a  new sculpture.  I hope it works with my shake shake shake work.

Pedestal ✅ photos of similar pose ✅ wire✅ wire cutters✅ music ✅ 

Pedestal ✅ photos of similar pose ✅ wire✅ wire cutters✅ music ✅ 

Starting dogs left paw . 

Starting dogs left paw . 

Paws pulling up on edge of pool.  

Paws pulling up on edge of pool.  

Right paw gripping edge. 

Right paw gripping edge. 

Starting the body  

Starting the body  

Adding back right leg for support.  

Adding back right leg for support.  

A good place to stop for the day.  

A good place to stop for the day.  

I Moved the piece from my garage  to my studio at Glassell. It got a little banged up in the move. There is a lot of negative space involved in these pieces so it is important to have a clean white background behind whichever side I am working on. I have created a movable partition that I move around it as I work. 

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Yikes! So many problems to fix at this point.  (Left view) 

Yikes! So many problems to fix at this point.  (Left view) 

His tail is wagging far to his left.  (right view)

His tail is wagging far to his left.  (right view)

I worked a full day on legs and torso and I am feeling a lot better about how it is shaping up. 

I worked a full day on legs and torso and I am feeling a lot better about how it is shaping up. 

I will address the head in a deprecate post.