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!)

Stone Angel continues and more wildlife

This model, made from oil clay, is for the angels head.

I use the model as a guide to carve the face into the stone.

I begin the pattern of the feathers of the wings as well as the folds of the angel's robes.

I cut the pattern of the feathers with a 4" grinder.

 Another view of the angel. 

 A Doe and her fawns near the studio.

 A rabbit prepares to nibble a tiny blade of grass.