Sunday, May 31, 2009

No, my grandfather is not actually a member of Blue Man Group

The blue rubber is the first stage of the molding process. Next I apply clear silicon caulking, smells like vinegar. A final plaster layer constitutes the mother mold that helps it all keep its shape.

Below on the left is the oil clay original, removed from its rubber mold and on the right a test cast in plaster.
My dad requested a portrait of his father. I started work on a self portrait during the school year, with my students who had the same assignment. I plan on completing a paternal line of portrait by adding portraits of my father and son to the group. I hope to obtain soil/earth from each individual's birth place to mix into a cast of stabilized adobe (clay, sand, cement).

Monday, May 25, 2009

Memorial Day; Obsessed with Death

So my wife and sister-in-law were teasing this weeked telling me I'm obsessed with death. I recently listened to a book on CD that was a personal memoir on coping with the loss of a husband as my wife and I drove up the canyon. I also told my sister-in-law about where I'd like to be buried; with my wife and some of her ancestors, in the small cemetery up on the hill in the desert outside of Pima, AZ.

Considering my work I would have to admit I focus on death, or at least on my dead ancestry. My Great Grandma Dora passed away this last week at the age of 101. Not trying to be macabre or opportunistic I soon considered how her passing would figure into a piece I am working on in which I plan to can images of each of my deceased ancestors in fruit bottles along with pears, peaches, etc. It would mean one less empty jar.

This is a photo of a related, unfinished, piece. It will be a 200 year family tree in a jar. The wire roots and mini tree will be sealed with a little fruit in the jar.

I once heard it said that in order to be happy we should contemplate death for 5 minutes per day.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Cardboard Chairs for 3/D Design

This tree trunk design is mine.

I thought a tree trunk would look cool and that cardboard rolls would look good. I was at least halfway done before I realized that the tree trunk combined with recycled corogated makes a nice environmental statement.


Here's some student work below. This first chair folds down into a reclyner.



This chair swivels and has built in speakers


The chair below is lightweight yet strong. The fact that it looks like it leans in the second photo is a camera operator error.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Convergence Thesis Exhibit

Branching

Elizabeth Jan Bryce: Portrait of the Artist's Wife

Imprint

Extend
Impression
Cooper Hugh Hall: Portrait of the Artist's Nephew

Cooper, Detail
Broaden


Broaden, Detail

Binding


Andrew Mecham Turley: Self Portrait in Seven Generations




Andrew, Detail

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Sunday, May 3, 2009

The Fiber of Our Being

My Pioneer Ancestry quilt is currently on display as part of the Ciao Gallery's Fiber of Our Being exhibit. This is in Wilson Wyoming near Jackson, south of Yellowstone.