Resonant Journey Installation

November 18, 2022 was the day chosen to install my functional sculpture Resonate Journey.  The day started around 20 degrees and never got above freezing.  The steady breeze just made it that much more miserable.  

Dereck Sheroan of JBB, Inc of Hardinsburg showed up early with their 23 ton crane truck.

We loaded it and a large figurative sculpture of Meg's.  Then, we made the 75 mile trip to the private residence where both pieces were to be installed.

We installed Meg's piece first and then it was my turn.  A footer had been prepared underneath a large Cedar tree.  We tried to install the piece by going around the tree, but we didn't have the reach.

So, we had to go over it.  8,000 lbs. of months of work 40 feet in the air - this is why I wake up at 3:00 a.m. before big installations.

There were lots of people there who helped us immensely.  This is someone pushing back limbs as we lowered the piece into position.

The crane operator couldn't see me or the bench because of the tree, so John Neville had to convey my signals to him.

Here's the piece safely down and set.

Another view...

...and the back view showing how it overlooks a large pond.  This was a pretty tough installation on a breezy freezing day.  Definitely one for the books - and not soon forgot.  J.P. Shadley (standing in front of the bench) was the landscape architect and my contact person for the project.  He invited me, Meg, his 92 year old father-in-law and 3 other sculptors to where he was staying afterwards.  Beer, food, guitars (no less than 3) and good company - a great way to unwind after an ordeal!

 

Mother Nature

This is "Mother Nature", who just got finished with a major make-over.

She is made from Indiana Limestone and measures 8' high x 3' x 3' and weighs around a ton.

...and walking around the piece....

She is imbedded in a concrete base.  This is a technique that I had never used before - an experiment.

This project began in 2016 when I got a commission for a Virgin Mary to be installed in Cincinnati.

I had this 20' long stone block from Reed Quarry of Bloomington, IN.

I split off 8' and moved it inside, but I finally realized that it just wasn't thick enough to have the hands out in front of the figure.

I bought another semi load of stone to finish the commission.  This is the installed piece at a private residence in Cincinnati

Since the first version was already started and still in the studio, I decided to finish it and pour the concrete base around the bottom.  On Halloween 2017, we hired a crane to move the 2,000 lb. sculpture outside.

 For the last 5 years, I have used it as a feeding platform for wildlife.  We pour cracked corn and sunflower seeds on the concrete base at least twice everyday (yes, that gets a little expensive...).  One morning while drinking coffee and looking at the piece, I envisioned the changes to turn the Virgin Mary into Mother Nature - and it is a GREAT improvement!