Copy of SITE Gallery- Sculpture Month Houston - Installing the work#2

Things are now going smoothly maybe too smoothly. All the work I did this summer is paying off.

 

Sculpture Month Houston

In May I started seeking a space to exhibit new environmental, 4D kinetic sculptures. I hoped to use this new work as a start to an art installation inspiring conversations about topics I am very passionate about; the unexpected consequences of forcing natural processes into an industrial model and the complex relationships between humans, plants, and animals. 

The stars aligned in July when Sculpture Month Houston’s founder and curator, Volker Eisele, invited me to be one of the 19 artists asked to create a site-specific sculpture in the historic Success Rice Grain Silos behind the Sawyer yard’s artist studios. In the 50th anniversary year of man landing on the moon, this year’s exhibit title is Outta Space from the 2012 Van Halen album A Different Kind of Truth. Outta Space will combine two curatorial themes: one features work focused on environmental degradation issues and the other focuses on interpretations and explorations of Alternative Worlds as envisioned in the fantasies of the artists. 

I have passionately committed myself to this installation every day since July. My passion comes from spending my early years on a farm in west Texas, from my concerns regarding industrialized food and its effect on our health, from my love for historic buildings and, most importantly, from my desire to make an impact on the return of our most important keystone species. 

As a site specific installation artist my aspiration is to create a piece that is unique to the silo’s space and true to my work. My silo is a circular space constructed from cinder blocks, 18’ in diameter and spans 20’ in height. It has, in the center of the space a 10’ tall funnel suspended from the ceiling. There are a few old, large light fixtures, conduit runs vertical and perpendicular on the walls and there are three entrances to the space. I have three weeks to install the work that I have assembled to date. My mantra as an artist is “if I am not nervous to take on a new project then I am not stretching myself”. I am slightly anxious, yet happy to embrace the butterflies and honored to have my name listed among this year’s SMH artists.

In celebration of the opening there will be food trucks, a bar and music provided by Chapel In The Sky with projections by Michael Walrond - SHDWSOFDUST. 

OUTTA SPACE

Public Opening for the Exhibition 

Saturday, October 12, 6-9 pm

SITE Gallery Houston, 

1502 Sawyer St. Houston, TX 77007

(The multi-story building behind the artist studios facility).

https://glasstire.com/2016/11/04/the-problems-and-rewards-of-houstons-silos/

https://glasstire.com/2017/10/30/a-conversation-about-art-and-the-silos-on-sawyer/

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shake shake shake IV started

10/5/1016

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10/11

 

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End of day 10/11

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I want this one to have it's front right paw off the ground. In order to achieve this the paw will be lightly defined to keep it physically light and the left side will have to be very sturdy- tricky

End of day 10/12

Right paw lifted.  

Right paw lifted.  

Awkward view.  

Awkward view.  

Working on the backside.  

Working on the backside.  

From the back  

From the back  

10/24  

Left side 

Left side 

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shake shake shake- wire III (day 1-2)

Day 1-

The goal is to have 5 wire shaking pieces that make 1 massive sculpture.  

Screen shot photo for inspiration and the first two pieces. 

Screen shot photo for inspiration and the first two pieces. 

Tools and materials ready- nose and 1 ear. 

Tools and materials ready- nose and 1 ear. 

The head.  

The head.  

Day 2- 

 

Still working on the head.  

Still working on the head.  

 

Left front paw- a little pigeon toed. 

Left front paw- a little pigeon toed. 

Left and right paws and legs.  

Left and right paws and legs.  

Body parts  - the front legs on the right. The head on the left. 

Body parts  - the front legs on the right. The head on the left. 

It looks like a mix between a bat and 1/2 a dog.  

Mage is all ears and front legs.  

Mage is all ears and front legs.  

Coming along but very strange looking.  

Coming along but very strange looking.  

Stepping back for a moment  

Stepping back for a moment  

That is an ear in motion.  

That is an ear in motion.  

The lower ear.  

The lower ear.  

Uh oh-  

Uh oh-  

awkward  

awkward  

My pliers rack.  

My pliers rack.  

It looks better in person. the back half will have to wait until tomorrow. 

It looks better in person. the back half will have to wait until tomorrow. 

Seeing how her front half works with the other two pieces.  

Seeing how her front half works with the other two pieces.  

Just playing around with placement

Just playing around with placement

2 and 1/2 pieces.  

2 and 1/2 pieces.  

Work in progress.  

Work in progress.  

New piece- still working on the title

9/26/2016 - 10/2/2016 

I started a  new sculpture. This will be an additional piece to my series based on shaking dogs.  My fingers are crossed. 

Pedestal ✅ photos of similar pose ✅ wire✅ wire cutters✅ music ✅

Pedestal ✅ photos of similar pose ✅ wire✅ wire cutters✅ music ✅

The beginning 

The beginning 

Paw 

Paw 

Double  

Double  

Starting the body. This will be the back side of the piece. The front of the piece you will see just the dogs head popping out and paws gripping the side of a deck.  

Starting the body. This will be the back side of the piece. The front of the piece you will see just the dogs head popping out and paws gripping the side of a deck.  

Right side view  

Right side view  

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I Moved the piece from my garage  to my studio at Glassell. It got a little banged up in the move. There is a lot of negative space involved in these pieces so it is important to have a clean white background behind whichever side I am working on. I have created a movable partition that I move around it as I work.

I taped two 3 paneled science fair poster boards together to make my clean white back drop.  

I taped two 3 paneled science fair poster boards together to make my clean white back drop.  

Left side started  

Left side started  

Adding more support

Adding more support

More wire

More wire

Front view- at this time he is headless. The most important part of this piece will be the dogs expression.  

Front view- at this time he is headless. The most important part of this piece will be the dogs expression.  

Left view- the tail is wagging extreme left. I spent an entire day getting this tail perfect. Next week I will take a backside view. 

Left view- the tail is wagging extreme left. I spent an entire day getting this tail perfect. Next week I will take a backside view. 

The next step is to start the head and face.  

I will start a new post for the head of this piece.  

I am still struggling with a name. Curtis suggested "did I win?"

I was thinking "paws up" 

Naming the piece is an important task to me. I struggle with the name of each and every piece.  And I am struggling with the name of this piece. 

If  you have a suggestion for a "title of work"  please do not hesitate to send me an idea.  

 

New piece in the works- I am still working on the name. It will be part of my "shake shake shake" work.

9/26/2016

I started a  new sculpture.  I hope it works with my shake shake shake work.

Pedestal ✅ photos of similar pose ✅ wire✅ wire cutters✅ music ✅ 

Pedestal ✅ photos of similar pose ✅ wire✅ wire cutters✅ music ✅ 

Starting dogs left paw . 

Starting dogs left paw . 

Paws pulling up on edge of pool.  

Paws pulling up on edge of pool.  

Right paw gripping edge. 

Right paw gripping edge. 

Starting the body  

Starting the body  

Adding back right leg for support.  

Adding back right leg for support.  

A good place to stop for the day.  

A good place to stop for the day.  

I Moved the piece from my garage  to my studio at Glassell. It got a little banged up in the move. There is a lot of negative space involved in these pieces so it is important to have a clean white background behind whichever side I am working on. I have created a movable partition that I move around it as I work. 

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.  

Yikes! So many problems to fix at this point.  (Left view) 

Yikes! So many problems to fix at this point.  (Left view) 

His tail is wagging far to his left.  (right view)

His tail is wagging far to his left.  (right view)

I worked a full day on legs and torso and I am feeling a lot better about how it is shaping up. 

I worked a full day on legs and torso and I am feeling a lot better about how it is shaping up. 

I will address the head in a deprecate post.