Masks at MoCA 2008

Not exactly marble sculpting, but close: this year's annual contribution to the Masks at MoCA fund raising event (the largest event for the local Museum of Contemporary Art) is in fact a stone sculpture. I think I may stick with stone in the future. It's increasingly difficult to create something unique for this amazing display of local talent and there have as yet been no other stone sculptures in the mix. Here is the finished piece formed from Colorado Alabaster (which is sold about a quarter mile from where I live), "Break-Out":



And photos of a few steps along the creation process:






The 2006 Masks at MoCA brochure is available as a pdf. I'm still trying to track down the 2007 brochure pdf.

Centennial Gallery!

My first MARBLE/marble sculpture (Muse of the Dance) has been placed in the front window of the Centennial Gallery on Linden Street in Old Town Fort Collins. Centennial (previously known as Jean Wilson Gallery) is my favorite in Old Town: as much for the people who run it as for the charm of the building and eclectic collection of work on display. I am tremendously honored.

Thank You MARBLE/marble XIX

Thank you M/m!
Until next year...

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Notes for next year:

1. notepad (cheap spiral; for workshops and Mark's recipes)
2. tool bin (big plastic container. Walmart?)
3. fix power cord (!)
4. shaving mirror
5. get there earlier; stay over on last day.
6. Yes, the food is that good, but try gaining a little less weight.
7. Start maquette by early Spring; not night before.
8. Calling card
9. WD40 -- tools get wet.
10. rain gear
11. no books/magazines
12. box wine
13. ibuprophin
14. fan!

Day 8 - French Toast and Aliens

I think it's going to be a requirement to get a photo of Connie every year:

After a couple-day delay, we were finally treated to Mark's famous baked french toast. I've not eaten this well for a very long time. Last night's lasagna and salad were sensational. Madeline: charge more for this meal plan!

Today my aspirations of pulling out the Calcite stone I hauled up to begin a new piece quickly evaporated as I enjoyed strolling the grounds saying good-bye's. I stopped by the Redstone gallery to pick up Muse of the Dance. A quick stop at Dos Gringo's for coffee and I'll be off with my 500 pound payload for a careful drive back -- reflecting all the way. I'm hooked

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MARBLE/marble is an experience of a lifetime -- once a year.

Day 7 - Roger Seal

Today is very unique in the history of MARBLE/marble. Today we mourn the loss -- and celebrate the life -- of Roder Seal. Roger touched the hearts of most everyone who's ever had anything to do with M/m. He was a lovable generous man; always willing to help anyone in need.

At 2pm a special ceremony was held in the new "Roger Seal Garden" that has been carfully and lovingly crafted on the M/m grounds. It was very moving.

Today I very nearly finished my sculpture! We located and drilled a granite base and re-drilled the sculpture then mounted it. What satisfaction! I struggle for words. The joy this brings is immense. Thank you Madeline Weiner and Crew!

Tonight is a lasagna feast. A band is setting up to play; the celebration of Rodger's life is in full throttle.

Day 6 - Sanding and Sipping

With all of the major surfaces finally placed where I want them, its on to sanding. With new diamond-grit pads, this isn't nearly so time consuming as it once was. Colorado Yule is especially attractive when sanded to around 220 grit. At this point, the marble crystals come alive and put on a show.

The workshop this morning was on pinning and mounting. My piece will be pinned to a granite base so this was quite relevant and very informative.

At 2pm, Scott delivered his much-anticipated treatise on art. Indescribable. At three Kathi Caricof gave a talk and demo on relief carving. Next year, I think I'll incorporate some of this into my piece.

This evening was the Redstone Art Center's annual Sculpture Exhibition where I entered my piece from last year's MARBLE/marble. Again, this was an amazing event. An unbelievable spread of food; free-flowing wine; old and new friendships.

One of the above photos is M/m founder Madeline with one of her amazing pieces. Check out that face!

Were I not so tired, I'd add much more. And will...when I can also add photos. Check back early next week. ***

Day 5 - Quarry Tour

I need to photograph this with a longer lens. The wide angle used for most of these photos tends to distort the figure somewhat.

More lipo today. Finally pulled down the legs all the way to the base. Each time I take a fresh look after a break -- or with different lighting -- I see work that needs done. She's still a little heavy in the thighs compared to my now-shattered maquette, but I'm starting to like it that way.

In the evening we had a tour of the marble quarry. Much has changed since I last was there some 35 years ago. Colorado Yule, they said, is now the most expensive marble in Europe where 45% of the production from this mine is shipped.

After the tour, we came home to an amazing Indian dinner cooked up by staffer Ravinder Bhardwaj. Why didn't I do this meal plan last year?!!

As always, I'll be adding many more photos to each of these posts once I get back into civilization...

Day 4 - Lipo

Today's 10am session was Cool Tools. Two tool vendors come to each M/m session to hawk their wares and this is when we find out why we need them all. $400 on an Italian in-line chisel is typical. This can get expensive.

The afternoon session, Fase Off, has two accomplished staff sculptors -- Rex and Scott -- sculpting a face in wood (Rex) and marble (Scott). Very informative and entertaining.

I broke my maquette today. It fell to the ground and before I knew it I had stepped on it and shattered it. Bummer. But it did force me into a needed shift in focus.

Today, I mainly did liposuction to the sculpture (she needs a name): gradually pullling in surfaces to where they need to be. This year's sculpture (and last) is mainly nice nurbs-like surfaces and are best shaped with the MadKat diamond blade. Next year I want to switch radically to an almost entirely chiseled piece with much more fine detail.

Speaking of next year, note to self: bring a fan. Helps keep the dust and flys at bay.

Day 3 - MadKat

No, it isn't a forest fire. It's mid-day at MARBLE/marble!



Every morning at 10am, a bongo drum alerts the sculptors that a training session is about to begin under the tent by the tool shed. Today's topic was the in-line chisel. Listening to and watching these on staff instructors instructors is certainly one of the highlights of the symposium. Scott, Petro and Madeline (left to right) shared many valuable tips and some priceless humor (particularly the inimitable Scott Owens).

Made a lot of progress today! I may actually finish this piece by the end of the Symposium. Spent most of the day with the newly-christened "MadKat" blade. This is a 5 inch diamond encrusted wonder. It's new name comes from the two staff members most responsible for the high sales rate of this blade.



Tonight, after dinner, a rescheduled slide show is on the docket.

Day 2

Fortified by what was probably the best oatmeal I've ever had (chef Mark sautes fresh ginger and apples in butter, then adds to cooked oatmeal along with cinnamon, raisins and brown sugar), I'm set for a good start this morning.

Baking the maquette was a big help. Primarily because it forced me to stop futzting with it! With all of these intersecting planes and lines, the model is critical for the first two or three days. I'll be modifying the final sculpture compared to the model: I've decided to have her back more sharply arched. This was not possible with the maquette due to her spine (a 20 penny nail).

Well ahead of where I was last year at this point, the stone is beginning to take shape. Throughout the day it did a lot of work with an in-line chisel, pealing off layers parallel to the 'bedding plane. Several times I'm reminded of the helpful tips and instruction I got last year from Roger Seal. Rodger past away earlier. He was a much-loved fixture at M/m and is sorely missed by all who have met him. The M/m t-shirts and name cards this year are tie-died in Rodger's honor and there will be a memorial ceremony later this week.

With help from Kathi and Petro, a whole new perspective opens up with the marble drilled and mounted upright. I'm getting excited.

The maquette is a critical reference today. Tomorrow I'll probably begin to set her aside: her job is nearly done.

An evening rainstorm that wouldn't quit forced a postponing of the slide show.

Uploading images from the satellite connection at the Inn at Raspberry Ridge (adjacent B&B) is painfully slow. I think they seriously need a dish alignment. I'll likely not upload more than one per day and follow up with the others when I next drive down to town.

Sore muscles! Where is that bottle of ibuprofen?

Day 1

If you ever come to MARBLE/marble, sign up for the meal plan! This is my second M/m and first experience with the meal plan. I'll never go back. First, you have some pretty excellent cooking at a bargain price. Last night we had what grew up calling "hay stacks" (well, a mean variation: Delicious ground beef and jalapenos). This morning 'chef' Mark is making Oatmeal. But not just any oatmeal: fresh apples and ginger mixed in. With the cooking plan, you also get much more exposure to the staff and fellow artists: a huge part of the total experience.

My stone is a beautiful translucent white specimen of Colorado Yule. It's about 36x10x10.

Today fussed with my maquette too much. Encouraged by Kathi Caricof (one of the several outstanding staff) I finally forced myself to 'fire' it in the oven down at the kitchen.

This is the famous Dining Table. This is one of several photos I've created with Photoshop CS3's powerful new photomerge feature. This one is created from three vertically stacked photos.

On the day of arrival, I spent some of my free time up around the Marble Quarry. This photo is taken close to the gate which keeps the public out of the quarry property. (three photos merged, uncropped).

Humble abode. No cooking mess!

I removed a lot of marble with an in-line air chisel today. Tomorrow, I'll use a 5" diamond blade for more removal. The in-line chisel will create "bruises" going into the marble and must be used carefully.

This session (second of three) of MARBLE/marble is the busiest so getting here early is key if one wants to carve on prime real estate and get early pick of the stones. This year I'll be next to the river which I think will be nice.

I've cornered a nice piece of clean white marble about 10x10x36. Now, if I just need to get a handle on what it's going to be.

Dos Gringos

Found a new WiFi hotspot in Carbondale: Dos Gringos Burritos and Cafe Ole. It is still almost an hour from Marble so I'm still sniffing for wifi. A quick chai and I'm off to Redstone to drop of Muse of the Dance. Then on to Marble to lay claim to a new stone, camp and work station.

Getting Ready for MARBLE/marble XIV

It's that time of year again. This Saturday I head back up to Marble, Colorado for the 19th MARBLE/marble symposium. My sculpture from last year ("Muse of the Dance") has been accepted into this year's annual Sculpture Exibition at Redstone Art Center so I am spending much of this week perfecting the finish.

A few changes for this year's adventure:

- Go for the "meal plan" and not drag up all my cooking gear.
- Sculpt a smaller stone. Last year's Muse piece is a couple hundred pounds and a royal pain in the butt to move around.
- Avoid acute angles. Surface finishing is hard enough without this constraint.
- Consider sculpting something other than Colorado Yule. There are some marvelous stones available from Myles.
- Look for new internet connection. Last year, nearest wifi is was a 45 minute.

Tonight I'm pulling out the clay to begin the ideation process. Any suggestions?