PIECE SPECIFICATIONS:
Marble, Granite, Stainless Steel, Steel, Cast Bronze, Cast Glass 11’-6”H x 5’-0”W x 2’-0”D
WEIGHT:
2,000 LB
ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
Top Element Rotates 360 Degrees.
CREATION DATE:
2012
click photos to enlarge
HOMETOWN:
Saint Francis, Kansas
STUDIO LOCATION:
Alfred Station, New York
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SCULPTING?
65 years.
WHAT GOT YOU INTO THIS MEDIUM?
Love of stone, knowledge of welding from age 10 and a lifetime intrigue with ceramics and glass.
WHERE DID THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS SELECTED PIECE DERIVE?
The inspiration for Homage to Gus emerged from the loss of my father, Gus, who lived to the age of 99.
TELL US ABOUT THE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH CRAFTING THIS PIECE.
Challenges in the making of Homage to Gus occurred with dealing with the massive weight of the base and the precision of the top element fitting into the bottom element.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO COMPLETE THIS PIECE?
It took about 18 months to complete the sculpture.
HOW DO YOU WANT THE SCULPTURE GARDEN AUDIENCE TO LOOK AT YOUR WORK?
I’d like my audience to view my sculpture with an open mind.
WHAT WOULD YOU HOPE THE AUDIENCE TAKES AWAY FROM YOUR PIECE?
I hope the viewer understands that I knew my father well and loved him a lot.
WHAT OTHER ARTISTS INSPIRE YOU?
Inspiring artists are David Smith and Isamu Noguchi.
WHY DO YOU DO THE WORK YOU DO?
Creating is the ultimate expression of freedom. Making sculpture is my passion. When I begin creating a concept for public artwork, it is an evolutionary process. The request for proposal generally states the mission of the project and what hopes to be achieved with the public art piece. The journey begins as an artist, the moment I attempt to translate the project concept into a vision that can be realized into sculptural form. When the form is received and understood, then the process is successful and extremely rewarding for everyone involved along the way, and for years to come when one engages with the work of art.
WHERE DO YOU HAVE OTHER WORKS?
My sculptures are in Canada, China, Italy, UK & the following states: AZ, CA, CN, FL, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MI, MS, NC, NJ, NM, NY, PA, TN, VA, VT.
HOW DO YOU FINANCE THE WORK THAT YOU DO?
I finance my work through a pure entrepreneurial spirit driven by sales, trades, gifts and a lasting background in F.F.A. (Future Farmers of America).
