This Week in the Studio

Or more accurately, several weeks in the studio...

In two weeks I head off to Cookeville Tenn, for a big solo show at Tennessee Tech University at the Joan Derryberry Art Gallery, the home of the famous Appalachian Center for Craft. Right now I am furiously working at fixing, cleaning and refinishing the works that will go into the show. There are many pieces in this installation and I have a ton of work to do. On Saturday I will have a student assistant come by and help with oiling many of the steel pieces to get them nice and clean for the show. I have been doing some 'boat' repair and alterations as well. I like to make subtle changes to each show and repair work offers me the opportunity to do so. In some cases I am taking out old wood ribs and changing them for copper wire ribs, the colors work well for me.

I am also working on a sculpture for the "All Aboard" Exhibition celebrating the anniversary of the Train Depot in downtown Hattiesburg. Eighteen or so artists were invited to create any sculpture that involves trains, tracks, stations, or any imagery related to trains, etc. This sculpture is due two days after I get back from my four-day trip to install my work in Tennessee. Basically that means I have to finish it before I travel in two weeks. Yikes! I have a lot to do! These images show various stages of still unfinished engine, or abstraction of an engine. No wheels yet and I am still working out the 'basket' on the back. Lots to do.

And finally, as an update to the ferro-cement test; I have put on a couple of coats of finish layers and done some sanding. The surface is getting very smooth, need to do a lot more sanding, but all will have to wait until I get back from Tennessee, to much other stuff that needs to get finished first.

Experiments in Ferro Cement

In an earlier post I spoke about working with Martha Ferris on a commission in Jackson at the Museum of Art. As Martha finalizes designs for the works I have been doing some experiments in a process called ferro-cement. We think this may be the process we are going to use for building the outdoor structure for the commission and to make sure I know everything I can about it I decided to go ahead and do some experiments. The process is fairly easy; I have done it before. What makes this project different are the colors and surfaces needed for this project are for more refined that I have done in the past. Bright colors and smooth, almost shiny surfaces are needed for what we are constructing. I have found many examples of this on the Internet, so I know it can be done and done well. I just have to learn how to do it myself. The funny thing about this whole process is that I had been making some plans and drawings for my own designs using this method and now it's kind of like killing two birds with one stone.

Below is a step-by-step description of the first part of the project. The second part will entail descriptions of final surface treatments and coloring. Click on images to make them larger.

Been too Long!

Gosh I am so remiss in my posting! The business of being an academic along with the holidays has conspired against me in a big way!

However, I have not been idle. I am still working on finishing my 'houses', but since my studio has no heat and it is 16F out right now I will dispense with and shop work until it is a bit warmer. Just a bit.

Currently I am working on a project with another Mississippi artist, Martha Ferris on a proposal for a sculptural water part up in Jackson at the MS Museum of Art. It's a hug project that involves all kinds of gardens and art and we are responsible for just one part of it all. Martha envisioned the original plan and called me to work with her as head fabricator and subcontractor on the project. Our part consists of what are called splash pools with a variety of animal forms that rise up from the floor and are covered with mosaic. It will be bright and big and lots of fun. Madge Bemiss is the architect for the whole project and I am excited to work with her as she has a very creative vision as a designer. Last week Martha and I finished the maquette for the committee to view this week. We have been working on budgets and time lines and it has been a lot of work!

The budget for water park part of the project is $200,000. I will be responsible for building the three dimensional shapes around her 2D drawings and concepts. Martha is an amazing artist and I love her imagery and color, that makes working on this project even easier. We think that we will use a ferro-cement method of building, but that might change as the process goes forward. First armatures will be constructed out of steel and mesh and then covered in ferro-cement. Check out this LINK for some fascinating information on this style of work. Once the pieces are in place at the museum another team will take over the detailed work of covering all the objects with mosaic. Next week the committee will look at it and then we will see from there if they approve the project or want changes and such. I am keeping fingers crossed.