Sculpting Magic

As usual after two workshops in a row I sit exhausted but happy. The last three days have gone by in a blur. Fourteen people attended the Sculpture Magic Workshop this go around. With Peter, Bec, and Matt helping with the teaching and attending to the needs of our guests it went smoothly. In the house Janis and her crew cooked delicious meals and snacks to keep everyone nourished and happy. Each day the workshop hours were from 8:00 am until 11:00 pm (or later) Each morning when I came out of the house shortly afer 7:30 there were people eagerly waiting for me to unlock the door of the shop and we had to shoo them out each night.

Besides the lectures and field trips we had plenty to do. Each student painted small plaques, sculpted two concrete sample boards, welded, wired and sculpted a concrete tree, and sculpted an animal head using sculpting epoxy. It is amazing to watch fourteen people accomplishing what many previously thought impossible. Each was given the same assignment and then used their imaginations to produce very different solutions. Our job as teachers was simply to enable and encourage. The result was pure magic!

Each group we host in our workshops is memorable for different reasons. This one will be remembered for their passion and eagerness to create wonderful things. Thank you to each person who attended. Thankyou for your willingness to paticipate whole heartedly and for adding to everyone's experience by sharing and helping at every turn.

Day zero

Our workshops officially go from Friday through Sunday but we've found that most of our attendees fly in Thursday and are desparate to at least peek into the workshop andif possible get a jump on the learning. I know how they feel for when I pay my hard earned money for a workshop I like to get as much learning time in as possible. I've occasionally been frustrated to tavel across the country for only a few hours of actual instruction. We are determined to absolutely cram in three FULL days of learning and instruction giving as much value to the workshop as humanly possible.

Rather than just have people mill around and waste time we decided to begin our workshops unofficially late Thursday afternoon, have a no-host supper together and then go back to the shop to get to know everyone and the layout of the shop. If we get an especially eager group we talk of the learning adjenda and even get to sketching ideas for the projects.

Sometimes even that isn't enough. (This weekend's group is a good example.) These guys wanted to kick things into gear. Once they had their ideas sketched they pressed for more so we broke out the tools and started in on the projects. By 10:00 pm they had all made good progress with all of the dino heads cut and mounted. They also had all of the diamond lath stapled to their sample boards. Some were pressing for more but I reminded them that tome had been up since 4:00 am EASTERN TIME and travelled all day. It was probably best of we put away the tools until tomorrow. The day was so busy that I didn't get a chance to grab a picture until most had already left ot get a few hours of sleep.

I love it when we get such a group for they provide me with the opportunity to share a whole lot of information and some wonderfully creative work is always the result. This is going to be fun! Stay tuned for tomorrows report on the progress...

-dan

O'RYAN

On a large piece like the KRAKEN every step is important. It all starts with the design of course. The frame is critical and as we work our way through the subframe and then the welded pencil rod the form of the piece comes together. The sculpted concrete further defines the piece and at this point we are gererally pretty happy.

Then the painting begins and the piece always comes to life in a hurry. But it isn't until the last day when the layers of glaze go on that it becomes what I first imagined. Today was that day for the KRAKEN and it was pure magic.

After the last purple glaze but before the turquoise patinas we painted on the symbols. It was time to inject some humor. The skull with the wrenches was a given as it is the symbol that will be everywhere through the park. The legendary and much feared KRAKEN took out many pirate ships in it's time and it was fitting that those conquests be noted on the starboard flank of the ship. Just for fun we included a small island and a rowboat as well. Hailey also suggested a surfer which we thought was a perfect visual joke. We recruited Phil who is visiting from Australia to help paint the graphics. After the graphics were dry the crew expertly applied the turqoise patinas to finish it off.

On the other side we painted the big skull. We also painted the sub's name and the Trinidad and Tobago flag. For the name we decided to honor a former team member. Ryan joined our crew back in 1996 (or so) and worked with us for four years full time. He was a strong (super star) member of our team and we remember him fondly. Ryan is now a fireman for the city of Halifax - his dream job. We are very proud of him and his achievements.

As we thought about how to honor Ryan McCracken his last name was our first thought but we decided to go for something a little less obvious. The early mariners navigated by the stars and the constellation Orion seemed to be perfct name for this unusual and original craft. We changed the spelling a little as our artistic licence allows. This one's for you Ryan!

The four top arms still remain to be finished but they won't be attached until it arrives on site in Trinidad. I can hardly wait to see it all together.

Tomorrow our guests will arrive for the 2014 Sculpture Magic Workshop. We'll be pulling out the stops to make it one of the most memorable ever. Stay tuned...

-grampa dan