Permanent Sculpture at Sculpture Space

“Sculpture Space is the Place”

This is a story about a permanent sculpture of mine and how from just a simple idea, complex projects can be born.  Sculpture Space is the Place, and I couldn’t agree more.  As a fully supported Artist in Residence in 2018, I am incredibly thankful of the hard work and support that came from the organization.  Sculpture Space is an artist residency program in Utica, New York.  They have been running as arts foundation since 1976.  They deserve all the support we can give.

So, how did a sketch become a permanent sculpture?

Its a long story but to sum it up, when I first arrived, Tom, the director, asked me if was interested in working with a neighboring plastic bottle plant.  He had seen my previous work and right away wanted to tell me about this local opportunity.  Tom knew I had just finished a plastic pollution project with the Siem Reap International Airport in Cambodia, where I was doing just that, plastic bottle sculpture.

Yes,

So, off we went.  I welded up a steel tube structure, had it galvanized and then began the process of attaching plastic bottle ‘pre-forms’, thousands, I’m not sure how many, but at least 600 pounds of plastic, on to the frame.  Below are some photos of the process from start to finish…I had to leave to go off to another residency, so I wasn’t around when it got planted permanently…such is life, lol!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the beginning, we wanted to feature the sculpture permanently with local partners, in the end, we ‘planted’ the sculpture on neighboring property to Sculpture Space, in a organic public garden space where it is permanently placed and available to the public, thanks to the all the staff and the board members of Sculpture Space.  You can actually see it in the background behind Tom in this video…

 

And here, are some work in progress videos….

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much for all the support, thanks a million to Sculpture Space, keep doing what you’re’ doing!!