Yew Dell Gardens Uninstall 2.0

We removed our sculptures that were in the second annual outdoor sculpture show at Yew Dell Gardens in Crestwood, Kentucky.

I had agreed to load up the stone base for Raymond Graf's Lincoln bust, while we had the crane there.

Then we helped Matt Weir (2nd from left) load his stone sculpture.

Meg's 'Wolf and Pups' was next to be loaded up.

Nothing is easy (you don't wanna know).

Meg's "Miss Jessel" took the ride out.

Just like the installation, everything had to be moved in 2 batches, first loading up the crane and then moving them onto the semi trailer for the ride home.

It was a bit of a trick, to sneak under the limbs of this tree and retrieve the Vine Bench. Derrick, the crane operator, did a great job throughout the 12 hour day.

Meg was the one taking all these pictures, and she thought this was a humorous perspective.

Frankie Vessels (on the left) came up with this rigging technique to get the sculptures up off the ground. It's a lot easier than digging under the pieces to get the straps under them. Charlie Williams (in back) is placing a board under the slightly raised piece. Then we were able to safely use a 'basket' hitch to move the sculptures.

We had Meg's "Sea Lion" on a short leash.

Before we left Yew Dell Gardens, Meg snapped this picture of Klein Castle.

We brought everything back to the studio and unloaded. I will make deliveries next week for the pieces that sold. In this picture, Frankie and I are laughing because I said that I was between the sculptures so that they couldn't accidentally swing into one another. His reply was "Better to have a broken leg?" (guess you had to be there). Soon after this picture, the batteries in the camera went dead. So, we didn't have shots of moving 4 other large stones while the crane was at the studio. But you get the picture, another long, hard day of restless rocks.

River Font

I was invited to submit a "..major piece that best represents my work" to the Holidaze show at the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art. To that effect, I am making the largest and most involved vessel form of my 25 year career. This sculpture is entitled "River Font" and the top piece is carved from a block of Indiana Limestone 54" long by 35" wide by 8" thick.

The first step was to cut the outline of the sculpture with the 10" diamond blade.

Then, I started forming the individual 'river current eddies' with the 4" diamond blade.

This was the progress by the end of the week. There will be a 1" hole in the center of the vessel to drain it for winter and cleaning. I envision this as just a vessel, but it could also work as a fountain centerpiece.

We went splashing down Flint Run earlier this week. Can you see me in this picture?

This afternoon, we went up into the Wildlife Area looking for the elusive Purple Fringed Orchid. (Elusive is the key word here).

Installing Meg's Reading Girl

This last week, Meg and I installed the Reading Girl in the Charles City, Iowa central park.

Derrick of JBB, inc. loaded the sculpture onto the rented flat bed from Penske.

After making the 650 mile trip on Wednesday, we showed up at the park early on Thursday morning. I love the house in the background that is made from native Iowa limestone.

Doug Kamm, who is the owner of Kamm Excavating, donated his time and equipment to set the sculpture. He personally ran the crane during the installation.

We drew the attention of the kids at the daycare across the street.

The sculpture was safely set upon its concrete footer.

"How much for a stone Llama?" (not something that you see everyday).

Outdoor Designs, Inc. of Charles City did the brickwork and earthworks that went around the sculpture. In this picture, David has finished cutting the pavers with a chop saw, and has begun to lay the brick trim to match the existing paver work.

A pop-up shower gave everything a good soaking, but these guys toughed it out.

They laid a retaining wall with a cap, and bricks around the back. They had to hand cut many of the blocks, while taking great care that each block was level and carefully placed.

The earthworks were placed and compacted by hand. (Dan, on the right, is no doubt laughing at something that Shawn Davis, the owner of the company, has said. Shawn has a great sense of humor.)

Jeff Otto, owner of Otto Landscaping, planted the 100 plugs of purple flowering Vinca Minor. The plant is an evergreen, and will make a mat of greenery for her dress, and add about 4 inches when it is established.

There were a total of 4 sculptures that were installed this year, one for each corner of the park. This sculpture symbolizes Agriculture and Industry.

Continueing to move around the park in a clock-wise direction, we come to the sculpture that symbolizes Mainstreet.

The fourth sculpture is this intricate gateway made from antique tools and machinery parts.

Before leaving town, we took a walk along their riverfront where they have installed about 9 groupings of functional sculptures. For a town of their size, they are way ahead of many larger cities with their public art program. I hope that other Cities will follow their lead.

finished with this girl

This is a picture taken on May 18, when the stone came to the studio from the quarry.

This is what it looks like 83 days later.

This is the view as we come around to the front side. It's "spot on" to the model, except where the larger scale pointed to improvements.

Meg still finds things that she wants to 'tweak', but for all intents and purposes, it is finished. What a long strange trip it's been.