I worked on the upper torso today.
“gust” - series update
I started working on this series in 2013.
October 19, 2017 - I have cast approximately a dozen pieces in the series. I did not cast them in the order that they will be installed. Instead, I started with the last pieces in the series. I am now ready to start applying the patina to the first pieces of the series; however, they have not been poured yet. This forces me to start with the last hat that I have cast: “gust #3."
The abstraction of the shapes of the hats reveals the power of Mother Nature, the patina of each piece outlines the impressions of the human spirit left on the felt.
The Patina Process-
I use a torch to impose a heat energy to the surface of the hat, when the metal glows a deep amber the surface is ready to unveil it’s history. I slowly brush on a ferric patina (a dark beige) and as the fluid darkness evaporates off the bronze evidence of an invested grip by determined fingers surfaces, I layer a white wash and the memories of opportunities missed fade into the folds. Next the ferric reveals unfortunate circumstances suffered during the darkest hours, then white washed with life’s lessons. With each layer the impression of the human spirit tell the story of a life well lived.
Below is the progresss after one evening of applying the patina.
I slowly brush on a ferric patina (a dark beige) and as the fluid darkness evaporates off the surface evidence of an invested grip by determined fingers is revealed,
I layer a white wash and the memories of opportunities missed fade into the folds.
Next the ferric reveals unfortunate circumstances suffered during the darkest hours,
then white washed with life’s lessons
New piece # 5 - potential title of work.
During my recent travels, I have kept my eye out for an appropriate title for this new piece. I was reading an article in Papercity magazine about art curator Anna Brodbeck (see the quote below).
"A curator I recently worked with described the act of curating as conducting the artist’s score, and I think that’s true," she says. "It’s our responsibility to bring an artist’s vision to bear, while framing it in comprehensive ways for audiences, and hopefully discovering something new or challenging old assumptions."
- Anna Brodbeck.
Her use of the word score made me think about the piece I am currently working on. Wikipedia defines score as "a written or printed representation of a musical work". Could it also mean a sculptural representation of the energy of a musical work? I think so. For now, I am going to refer to this piece as "score". I say "for now" because I have discovered that, as I build pieces, adding layer upon layer additional meanings are exposed and sometimes the new meanings are more important than my original concept.
In addition, the shadows of this piece will be awesome to work with.
"the turn IV"
I am still experimenting with my runner image movement and monoprints.
Detail
" the turn IV"
30" x 20"
water color, ink, and pastel
monoprint
New sculptor post #4
I am starting the upper torso, it is also what I consider the most challenging section of the armature.
New sculptor post #3
10/12/2017
Still working on the lower half of the figure.
New sculptor post #2
10/11/2017
Day two of welding the armature.
I am building up the pants leg keeping in mind the piece is about the energy created by the music.
The human chain - pentaptych
“Six members of a single family — four adults and two young boys — and four other swimmers had been swept away by powerful and deceptive rip currents churning below the water’s surface. “ - Washington Post
There were not any lifeguards on duty, or rescue vehicles on the beach someone yelled, “let’s build a human chain”.
A poetic act, my interpretation.
10/4-10/5 2017
The human chain V - I left to right
pentaptych
The human chain I
Human chain II
I and II
human chain III
I, II and III
IV
I -IV
V
View from the right I-V
View from the left. V-I
New Sculpture post #1
Day 1 of welding 10/10/2017
The right foot
Both feet - the figures weight will be planted firmly on the right foot. The left foot is turned out and slightly behind the right foot. The left toe rest on the ground with the heel lifted.
Attached two legs + a waiste. The left knee is bent.
The right foot and pant leg. The pant leg starts to fold around shoe. The pant folds will be rhythmic and flow into the energy created by the music.
Below are drawings I made over the summer studying the energy of creating music.
Broken #17
10/5/2017
One last tweak of the title.
I think this fits the piece for all occasions.
“Broken”
The tone is set at the top. Negligent leadership turns a blind eye to the suffering of its most vulnerable.
Broken
The tone is set at the top.
Negligent leadership turns a blind eye
to the suffering of its most vulnerable.
Tweak- tweak - tweak from the title to the toes- “the tone is set at the top” - Greece in crisis” Post #16 retitled Broken when completed
10/4
I have tweaked the title, and it still needs tweaking.
I am trying this on for Size-
“The tone is set at the top” -
Negligent leadership turns a blind eye to the suffering of its most vulnerable citizens -
I took the sledge hammer to the edge of the cup.
This may be my favorite view.
“The tone is set at the top” - Negligent leadership turns a blind eye to the suffering of its most vulnerable citizens.
Reinforced concrete, organic plant material, welded wire and wire cloth.
“the tone is set at the top - Greece in crisis” Post 15 retitled Broken when completed
A day of breaking off more concrete, tweaking wires, a lot of looking,
sitting,
staring,
questioning,
and
repeat-
repeat -
repeat-
“the tone is set at the top - Greece in crisis” Post 14 ΟΧΙ ΚΑΡΤΕΣ -
fresh out of the humidifier
Moving him back to my studio at Glassell
Changing title- ΟΧΙ ΚΑΡΤΕΣ- no cards #13 retitled Broken when completed
This will take time to come up with the right title.
As I work on the piece, I am constantly thinking about the social situation that it is depicting. I am constantly questioning, and asking myself: What is the most important message it can convey? What is simplest way to communicate the message? What should the title be?
As I near completion of the piece, I have decide that the most important lesson that we can learn from Athens is that the tone is set at the top. When a civilization's leadership is corrupt, then its people will follow suit. I am renaming this piece:
”the tone is set at the top - Greece in crisis 2017”
Working on the piece I often consider how influential Greece was in ancient times and how if it can happen to Greece...........it can happen to any civilization.
Still thinking
ΟΧΙ ΚΑΡΤΕΣ - post #10 retitled Broken when completed
9/27/2017
30 lbs. of concrete added to back of the head, neck, hand, jacket cuff and foot. I added a little hay to the back of head and neck.
Foot and left forearm.
back of head and neck.
ΟΧΙ ΚΑΡΤΕΣ- no cards #12 retitled Broken when completed
10/2
burning out the paper with a small torch
Thinking about what I can use to fill his chest
The corrupt owl.
ΟΧΙ ΚΑΡΤΕΣ- no cards # 11 retitled Broken when completed
Video taken 9/28
ΟΧΙ ΚΑΡΤΕΣ - post #9 retitled Broken when completed
I added 30 more lbs. to the forearm , cup and foot.
Arts Brookfield exhibition
@arts Brookfield "Known and Unknown"Opening receptionThursday11-1:00Two Allen Center 2nd floor#abstractart #abstractsculpture#labradorretriever #labrador #artexhibition #houstonartist #texaartist #houstonexhibitin #cindeeklementart
"THAT BALL IS NOT GOING TO THROW IT'S SELF"
39" X 33" X 56"
and
"Fetch" 50" X 60"
Concert master
Last spring I experimented with an image inspired by a photograph of my cousin Andrew Irvin. Andrew is the concert Master for the Arkansas Symphony. This fall I am starting a life size sculpture from the drawing. Actually they are monotypes. I will redrew them so that the violinist will not be a lefty.
The left handed concert master I
Water color monotype
30" X 22"
The left handed concert master II
30" X 22"
water color monotype
Presently the sculpture I am planning will be out of white concrete, rebar and wire holding pieces of this found object violin. The first step is to paint the violin white.
Painting the violin
Painting in process.