progress

Here are a few images of four finished petals for heliotropis:

Zeta Beta Tau

Last week Katy began this mural for the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity at the University of Florida. They provided the general idea for content and Katy came up with this design. I helped a bit and did some of the background work and lettering- it was a lot of fun! Check out more from mural artist Katy Castronovo on her website here>

Heliotropis

Here is the final design for Heliotropis. It will be a solar powered kinetic sculpture, collecting energy from the sun to open and close the glass petals throughout the day. Eventually different environmental stimuli will be added into the mix to give variation to it's behavior. I'm well on my way, pulling the ceramic mold out of the kiln today to start forming petals, and welding the main stem structure. Scheduled completion is Spring 2010!

Fountain Restoration

This fountain was created by Gay Hanna, and is owned by Amy Vigilante and Taylor Dickerson of Gainesville, FL. It is about 13 yrs old and in desperate need of attention after years of sitting outside in the Florida humidity. The wooden basin, lined with fiberglass, was totally rotten and the copper and brass elements had lost their original verdigris and tarnished a dark mineral rust. After re-building the basin, cleaning all metal parts, and re-applying patina, the sculpture was ready to soothe and calm for many more years!

New Commission: Heliotropis

Here is a sketch of my new project Heliotropis. It is a solar powered kinetic piece, a flower that blooms with the day and responds to its environment. The colors are still uncertain, i've been considering red for the petals, but I like this violet a lot... the flower and stamen will be glass, the stem stainless. This work is being commissioned by Beth Deutch and Larry Rubin in Rumson, NJ.

Rose Colored Lenses

Here is the installation at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre: more images to come....

Progress.....

Here's the latest, time to start making molds for slumping the glass!