"Cor Liberum" Installation is Right Around the Corner

Center pedestal pre limestone veneer wrap

It is very hard to believe, but "Cor Liberum" begins installation in just a few days. I will begin delivering components tomorrow! I have had an upset stomach all week. This is that part I hate. When I see the last 10 months of work being lifted and put on a truck for transport, my heart is in my throat. When the crane lifts my babies over the side of a wall and into a courtyard, I will be difficult to watch. However, my installers, Meathods and Materials out of Chicago are the best! Roger Machin has been such a calming force that it has helped ease my stress.

History pillars ready to transport for engraving.

Three of the birds with their stainless steel sleeves epoxied in place.

The crane came out last week and weighed the central figures. They were 6800 and 4500 pounds. When the blocks came to the studio, they were 18000 and 17000- pounds a piece. The five birds were carved from blocks weighing around 2000 pounds. They are down to around 150 to 225 pounds. I wish I could say I went on that same diet!!

This commission has been a very interesting and personal journey. The whole experience has such meaning to both the hospital and me. The experience will create a park like setting for the hospital patrons. It will create a home for my idea to come to life. I am very nervous, but also excited to see the hard work come to life.

One Month Out from the Installation of "Cor Liberum"

The Care Giver and Patient, the central elements of "Cor Liberum"

As I continue to march towards the installation date of February 26th for my Norton Hospital commission "Cor Liberum", it feels good to be in a place where I am confident I will be ready. Back in November, I was very stressed out as I was not on schedule to be able to complete the sculpture on time. The large figure (the Care Giver) was carved and standing up. However, the small figure (the patient) was not even close to being done. Also, at that point, I had one bird complete and sanded but without the mounting collar attached. I did have a good start on all of the rest of the birds, but none of them had seen a sander at that point.

Since then, I have finished carving the small figure and I received help from fellow Louisville artists, Karen Terhune and Chris Mozier. They spent a lot of time sanding and refining of the central figures. I have made great progress on the sanding of the birds and am fitting their mounting collars. This has gone a lot faster than I thought. It has been a non-stop process, but I am nearing the end. 

These are the stainless steel posts that the birds will be sitting on.

This past Thursday, representatives from Norton Hospital came out to do a studio visit. They were very happy with the work. I asked them if it was what they were expecting, and they said it absolutely was. They said it look just like the model! It is most important that I like my work, but it sure helps when the folks that are paying for it like it!

There is still a lot of coordination work that needs to happen over the next month. The concrete is sill to be poured, the sculptures still need to be totally finished and delivered, and the installation crew still has their work to do. But, I feel like the bulk of the work is behind me. 

Wish me luck the week of February 26th as there will be a lot of work that has to get done in those 5 short days to complete the sculpture.

Progress Report on "Cor Liberum"

I have mad some good progress the last month and a half on the central figures for my commission for Norton Hospital. "Cor Liberum" will be installed at the end of February. It is moving along well, but I still have a great deal of work to do. Below is a photo of the care giver and patient as of tonight. Both need some refinement on the curves, and the patient (smaller figure) needs to loose some weight, but I am happy with the progress.

Karen Terhune Came Helps Refine Curves on the Caregiver for "Cor Liberum"

I want to give a big shout our to Karen Terhune, a fellow sculptor, who came out today to help refine some of the curves on the larger figure of my Norton Commission. The caregiver is the larger of the two central figures of "Cor Liberum". She is basically carved, but I was not happy with some of the curves. Karen did a great job working with me to smooth out a few areas. We will do some more sessions to work out a few more areas.

LVA Open Studio Weekend is this Weekend

If you are in Louisville this weekend (November 4th and 5th), come by my studio and say hello! I am participating in the 2017 LVA Open Studio Weekend, a fundraiser for the Louisville arts community. I will have a lot of work there ant it will all be at a special studio sale price. You can also see the progress I have made on "Cor Liberum", my commission for Norton Hospital. You can stand next to the pieces and get the feel for how big this piece really is. I will have special pricing on Limestone carving blanks as well.

My studio is located at:

1807 Cargo Ct.

Louisville, KY 40299

"Peace Lilly" is Selected for Inclusion in the LVA Open Studio Weekend Juried Exhibition

I received some good news yesterday. My sculpture "Peace Lilly" was selected for inclusion in the Louisville Visual Arts juried exhibition. "Peace Lilly" is carved from Indiana Limestone. This is the first time I have participated in the open studio weekend. I am happy that my piece will be included in the juried portion of the weekend. The Jurors were from Cincinnati, Nashville and Lexington. Now we just need to get it sold!

"Peace Lilly"

"Made You Look" The Latest Show I Am In

I have been invited to join Karen Terhune and William Duffy in a sculpture show at Kore Gallery in Louisville, KY. This show is all abstract work in stone. This is the first time I have shown at Kore. The opening reception is next Friday, October 13, 2017 from 5pm to 8pm. If you are in Louisville, come by and see the 10 pieces I have in the show.

Progress Time Lapse of the Large Figure of "Cor Liberum"

Here is a short time lapse to show the progress on the large Figure of "Cor Liberum". She has lost about 7000 pounds and is finally starting to take shape.