"Sun Ray" stone trough

After I finished the "Wave Urn", I decided to make a stone trough. There are a lot of antique stone troughs in England, that were used to water horses. I wanted to make a contemporary functional sculpture based on that traditional form.

I used the crane truck to mave a 1,500 lb. stone block onto some wood cribbing.

After a couple days, I had a preform beginning to take shape. Most stone troughs are rectangles (which are compositionally boring). I used various diagonal compositions to add visual interest to the piece.

This is the final version. I used the shape of the stone block to its full potential by creating a diagonal 'sun ray' emerging from the grey stone. The concept of the piece is about the inevitable 'ray of Hope' that will come out of any grey day.

I also made some design features inside the trough. It has a stippled texture on the bottom, for visual interest, if it is not used as a planter. There is also a 'ray' that cuts diagonally across the sides of the trough.

This is how my stone angel looked when I finished with it a couple weeks ago.

While I was out doing errands earlier this week, I asked Meg to see what she could do to improve the piece and she worked her magic! She reworked the face, neck and body of the angel over two days. It's a vast improvement! I can't wait to see the final version.

My new roommate, Catrina, helps me with the laundry.

(Like, I didn't see that coming!)

"Exodus" Moved

Monday, November 19 was the appointed day to move my functional sculpture "Exodus".

Mike Emerson, an employee of the sculpture's owner, is helping me to determine the exact position for setting the piece.

His co-worker, Ryan, gave the site a thorough cleaning.

I rigged the sculpture and prepared it to be lifted by a 23 ton crane.

It took every bit of boom that the crane had to reach the site.

Dereck Sheroan from JBB, Inc. of Hardinsburg flew the bench through the trees and over to the site

After setting the bench safely on some boards near the site, I mixed up and laid a bed of mortar (while Dereck and Mike watch).

Mike and I set the bench onto the fresh mortar bed.

It wasn't quite level on the first try, but we got it perfect on the second attempt.

...and here is the functional sculpture in its new home.

Fire on the Mountain

Fire on the Mountain gives off light that can be seen from far away. It must move on to new fuel...or the spark will die...

I'm not sure if I'm turning over a new leaf...but, here's a new functional sculpture that I made in the shape of a leaf with its stem curved in upon itself.

Here is how the Swan Vase turned out (see the older post below for the in-progress image). It was pinned to a base of Virginia Steatite.

...and this is the final picture of the Swan Urn.

An idea starts with a sketch...

...then, you find a suitable piece of stone (in this case, it weighs 650 lbs.)

After a few days of focused effort...the final result: "Wave Urn", Indiana Limestone, 22" high x 17" in diameter, 250 lbs.

...and...full cycle. I am ending this week's post with this image of a smile-like "sun dog" (refracted light through atmospherically suspended ice particles).. I think that it is great contrast to the first image: daylight from night, and fire to ice...

"The Flying Bird Brings the Message"

The title for this week's post is a line from The Book of Changes. It is aptly the 'flavor of the week'. A baby Barred Owl flew into my window at first light earlier this week. It took a while to pull itself together before it could get up and fly off. That's me this week, only I'm not yet in the mood for flying anytime soon. I'm still stunned and in shock...

I guess that led to the creation of three stylized stone vessels with a bird theme. This is a Mourning Dove vessel.

This is a side view of the same piece above. It is Indiana Limestone with dimensions of 25" long x 14-1/2" wide x 9-1/4" high.

This is the top view. It's the only one of the three that is finished.

This is an unfinished Swan Vessel. The head is still way too big, but I'll get it refined early next week. It is Indiana Limestone and measures 23" long x 15" wide x 11" high.

Instead of finishing the other Swan Vessel, I flew into this Swan Vase. It is Indiana Limestone and measures 29" tall x 21" wide x 10" thick. It is big - it is heavy!

Here's the new girl in my life. Her name is Catrina, but I call her Trina (...and Cat! when she's bad). I was eating lunch down by a local cave spring. She had obviously been dumped off. O well, her luck took a turn for the better...

Angel From Mooleyville

I woke up this morning to "Angel from Montgomery" by John Prine with Bonnie Raitt, so that explains the title for today's post. There's a little "cowtown" at the foot of the hill below the studio called Mooleyville (couldn't resist the joke).

I've posted these pictures in an order that will give you a sense of walking around the piece. In that way, you can see the various views and details of the whole sculpture.

I've made pretty good progress on this Angel sculpture. I keep thinking that it's done, but when I wash off the dust, I keep seeing things that I can improve.

I decided to show pictures at this point, because no one but me will notice the fussy little changes that I make from here on out.

The top piece is Indiana Limestone and it measures 38" high by 19" by 18". I began it on July 25 with a small "thumbnail" clay model and a 1,500 lb. stone.

The base, to which I'm custom fitting the sculpture, is Indiana Limestone and measures 41" high by 29" by 22". It has a cloud-like feel because of the stipple effect from a bush chisel.

The base was originally carved over 10 years ago for a sculpture of "Icarus Falling". I didn't use the base at that time because it pushed the boundaries of the commission budget. I've been saving it for just the right piece. Has that time come at last?

The overall dimensions of this assembly is 6'-7" high by 2'-5" front-to-back by 1'-10" wide. It is big!!! and it is on top of my rail cart which adds another foot in height. By raising the sculpture up even just a foot, it creates an awe-inspiring sense of monumentality. I'm really happy with the way this piece has evolved.

Urbana - Champaign, Illinois Installation

Things have been a little "hectic" lately, so I'm having to retrace my steps and try to catch up with what has happened recently.

September 6, I rented this flat bed truck from Thrifty Truck Rental in Louisville. I had a functional sculpture accepted into a 2 year temporary show sponsored by the Public Art League of Urbana and the Urbana Public Arts commission. I loaded "Ripples" onto the back and drove 300 miles to Urbana - Champaign, Illinois.

I arrived at 1 Main Street, Champaign, Illinois, early the next morning to scope out the site. I found this old granite and limestone well that had been recently restored and moved to this very central location.

My site was in the center of this central location; between this sculpture "Entrance" by Barry Tinsley...

...and this sculpture "Pointless" by Gail Simpson.

At the appointed hour, a crew from a local contractor (provided by the City) showed up with a large Cat forklift. These guys were so good that I had to run to keep up. The installation was over in a flash! I wish that every installation was so quick and smooth.

This is the front view of my functional sculpture in its new home...

...and this is the back view.

As I made the 300 mile trip back to home, I saw these 3 wind generator blades at a truck stop when I refueled. The scale of these propellor blades is incredible. I also passed some going up the road. I see windmill parts every time that I go out on the highway. I love it!

Chattanooga Trip

I was 1 of 5 semi-finalists for an opportunity in Chattanooga Tennessee. They have a VERY active public art program there (better than in many, much larger cities). I've been hoping to get a signature sculpture in their collection for years.

I made the 300 mile trip on Monday the 17th. It rained the whole way down.

I went out early the next morning to review the site. The first thing that I noticed was the large ice cream cone across the street. As luck would have it, I had their pizza delivered to me the night before (I'll take my omens where I can find them).

The paperwork had mentioned that it was "adjacent to the Inclined Railway", which I had misunderstood as "near" or " in the neighborhood of..." It is actually right in front of the Inclined Railway office.

I had taken a round trip on the inclined railway during a family trip at age 13.

I had plenty of time to kill before the presentation, so I went exploring. I knew that Lookout Mountain was a site for a major Civil War battle, but I didn't know that it was a Revolutionary War battle site, as well.

Half way up Lookout Mountain, I found a bridge where I could check out the inclined railway. I wondered why there were the bends in the track? As 2 trolleys passed, one going up and one going down, I understood. They share the middle rail, and it is the only way to get around each other.

The view from the top of the mountain is spectacular; and no photograph can capture that sense of ...space...perspective...(I'm at a loss for words here!).

With a couple hours yet to kill, I drove through downtown Chattanooga, found where I was supposed to be,and...yes, you guessed it...went exploring. I found this diagram for the Merengue dance steps in the sidewalk. I also found the Quick Step across the street.

I found this life-size masonry piano by Lorri Kelly.

I walked out onto a pedestrian bridge, and checked out the view of the Tennessee River.

I spotted this inter-active metal installation by Jonathan McNair under the bridge.

After a very nervous presentation, I made my way home. I saved my appetite for this mexican restauant in Cave City, Kentucky. It was recommended to me by my neighbor, Steve McMillen (whose birthday was the day before...happy birthday, steve!)