some progress on woven steel structure+ a construction delay

I started working on the woven steel structure for the new top secret space. I was planning to create some elements of the form in the studio using the column in my space as a guide, but then I was going to set up shop in their space and build out the rest of the form. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately they hit a delay on their end so the actual install is temporarily pushed back another week or so. This is great for me since I have some prep work to do for the city gallery piece and I actually have some applications and proposal deadlines I need to knock out. As well I will be moving out of this studio on June 1st. I have toyed with the idea before of having an open studio/closing studio event back in December when I thought I was losing my space forcibly, but now I will probably have some sort of event/opening/closing reception yard sale. I would like to mark the end of this studio, since the last two years have been a significant period of growth for me artistically and much of it was fueled by time spent both in this studio and in residencies and working on other sites, but always grounded by knowing i would return to this space.

This is how i got started. I began by just seeing if the same tensile weaving i use for the 7" coffee stirrers would work for 5-10 foot strips of 1/8"x3/4" strips of ribbon stock steel. the answer is yes of course.

next i began forming them into a more basket like structure allowing it to form around the column. Ultimately the piece will be more of an organic woven form engaging directly with the space i will install it in.

At this point I intend to keep weaving the structure through the column and into the actual installation space. This would have been the day that I set up my tools on site and began that process but like I said earlier I am on hold with it until next week. I don't mind being patient with this one as I think the pay off will be worth it to see the tensile weaving of the stir sticks translated to a heavier stronger material, I already translated the process to some acrylic strips which has been very satisfying and might be the beginning of some more plastic work. Either way this method of working directly with my materials continues to help me focus and prepare for the city gallery install, if you want to see more about the city gallery show go here
http://www.contemporarycharleston.com
Once the show opens in May there will be a catalog and dvd available for purchase from the gallery.

flourescent bulb+npr+bad reception=strange occurances in the studio

i noticed the static on npr was in time to the flickering light, might be time to change the bulb...

Big Water Bottle Basket now installed at North Charleston River front park

big water bottle basket is on display until March 2010 at the North Charleston river front park as part of their juried national outdoor sculpture show

Today we installed the big water bottle basket at the North Charleston River Front Park.

this is a flash gallery of images from today,if you are reading this blog somewhere other than on blogger and cannot see the image gallery you may need to go to my flickr page to see the images

After I finished I began gathering material for the woven steel installation taking place in a top secret location, which i will reveal once i have permission. below are a couple of images of the space and some projections of what the woven steel piece might look like. I am going to use the same process and approach for installation that i do with the stir sticks but using thin pliable steel stock instead of my beloved birch wood coffee stirrers. As with all these installations I will try to create the piece entirely in situ as a direct response to the space and the materials I have chosen. I will try to keep up blogging the progress of this, but as soon as I finish this one I will immediately begin the city gallery installation so needless to say I will be pretty tied between now and May 15th...

this is actually the interior of the space and it features the facade of a house and the wonderful steel column running through the center. I am really interested in using the column and the corner of the room in a way similar to the Orangeburg piece, as both a support and a guiding element of the installation.