Things are now going smoothly maybe too smoothly. All the work I did this summer is paying off.
Copy of SITE Gallery- Sculpture Month Houston - Installing the work#2
Sculpture Month Houston
In May I started seeking a space to exhibit new environmental, 4D kinetic sculptures. I hoped to use this new work as a start to an art installation inspiring conversations about topics I am very passionate about; the unexpected consequences of forcing natural processes into an industrial model and the complex relationships between humans, plants, and animals.
The stars aligned in July when Sculpture Month Houston’s founder and curator, Volker Eisele, invited me to be one of the 19 artists asked to create a site-specific sculpture in the historic Success Rice Grain Silos behind the Sawyer yard’s artist studios. In the 50th anniversary year of man landing on the moon, this year’s exhibit title is Outta Space from the 2012 Van Halen album A Different Kind of Truth. Outta Space will combine two curatorial themes: one features work focused on environmental degradation issues and the other focuses on interpretations and explorations of Alternative Worlds as envisioned in the fantasies of the artists.
I have passionately committed myself to this installation every day since July. My passion comes from spending my early years on a farm in west Texas, from my concerns regarding industrialized food and its effect on our health, from my love for historic buildings and, most importantly, from my desire to make an impact on the return of our most important keystone species.
As a site specific installation artist my aspiration is to create a piece that is unique to the silo’s space and true to my work. My silo is a circular space constructed from cinder blocks, 18’ in diameter and spans 20’ in height. It has, in the center of the space a 10’ tall funnel suspended from the ceiling. There are a few old, large light fixtures, conduit runs vertical and perpendicular on the walls and there are three entrances to the space. I have three weeks to install the work that I have assembled to date. My mantra as an artist is “if I am not nervous to take on a new project then I am not stretching myself”. I am slightly anxious, yet happy to embrace the butterflies and honored to have my name listed among this year’s SMH artists.
In celebration of the opening there will be food trucks, a bar and music provided by Chapel In The Sky with projections by Michael Walrond - SHDWSOFDUST.
OUTTA SPACE
Public Opening for the Exhibition
SITE Gallery Houston,
1502 Sawyer St. Houston, TX 77007,
(The multi-story building behind the artist studios facility).
https://glasstire.com/2016/11/04/the-problems-and-rewards-of-houstons-silos/
https://glasstire.com/2017/10/30/a-conversation-about-art-and-the-silos-on-sawyer/
peace pigeon project #4 - screen
I found an old scrap of screen used for windows.
The piece is sewn together with wire thread.
Material detail
The project is to experiment with a new material every week. I am keeping the subject simple to focus on the material.
When lit properly he looks like he is made of smoke.
shake shake shake IV started
10/5/1016
10/11
End of day 10/11
I want this one to have it's front right paw off the ground. In order to achieve this the paw will be lightly defined to keep it physically light and the left side will have to be very sturdy- tricky
End of day 10/12
Right paw lifted.
Awkward view.
Working on the backside.
From the back
10/24
Left side
Tres Perros - wire
I am almost finished with #III. Here is a video of me seeing how she fits in with the first 2.
shake shake shake- wire III (day 1-2)
Day 1-
The goal is to have 5 wire shaking pieces that make 1 massive sculpture.
Screen shot photo for inspiration and the first two pieces.
Tools and materials ready- nose and 1 ear.
The head.
Day 2-
Still working on the head.
Left front paw- a little pigeon toed.
Left and right paws and legs.
Body parts - the front legs on the right. The head on the left.
It looks like a mix between a bat and 1/2 a dog.
Mage is all ears and front legs.
Coming along but very strange looking.
Stepping back for a moment
That is an ear in motion.
The lower ear.
Uh oh-
awkward
My pliers rack.
It looks better in person. the back half will have to wait until tomorrow.
Seeing how her front half works with the other two pieces.
Just playing around with placement
2 and 1/2 pieces.
Work in progress.
New piece- still working on the title
9/26/2016 - 10/2/2016
I started a new sculpture. This will be an additional piece to my series based on shaking dogs. My fingers are crossed.
Pedestal ✅ photos of similar pose ✅ wire✅ wire cutters✅ music ✅
The beginning
Paw
Double
Starting the body. This will be the back side of the piece. The front of the piece you will see just the dogs head popping out and paws gripping the side of a deck.
Right side view
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.
I taped two 3 paneled science fair poster boards together to make my clean white back drop.
Left side started
Adding more support
More wire
Front view- at this time he is headless. The most important part of this piece will be the dogs expression.
Left view- the tail is wagging extreme left. I spent an entire day getting this tail perfect. Next week I will take a backside view.
The next step is to start the head and face.
I will start a new post for the head of this piece.
I am still struggling with a name. Curtis suggested "did I win?"
I was thinking "paws up"
Naming the piece is an important task to me. I struggle with the name of each and every piece. And I am struggling with the name of this piece.
If you have a suggestion for a "title of work" please do not hesitate to send me an idea.
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 ✅
Starting dogs left paw .
Paws pulling up on edge of pool.
Right paw gripping edge.
Starting the body
Adding back right leg for support.
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.
.
Yikes! So many problems to fix at this point. (Left 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 will address the head in a deprecate post.