I was doing a site survey today to see how we would move our heavy pieces into a tricky location. Planning how we will install is done prior to our initial design and build. It is nice to anticipate all challenges long before we begin a project so there are no surprises when the install happens. At the prospective worksite I was asked if we ever ran into difficulties. It made me smile and brought back memories of one particular project we did many years ago. The sign featured a giant polar bear and all went extremely smooth until it was time to load him on the trailer. I did the hookup but short-cutted the process using a bolt to join the chain instead of a proper hook. As the crane operator swung the bear towards the trailer the chain separated and the bear fell about four feet to the ground. Concrete sculptures don’t tolerate sudden jars very well. All four legs of the bear were shattered. The crane operator was devastated but it wasn't his fault. I bore the blame and that single incident taught me a valuable and never forgotten lesson. Shortcuts don’t ever pay. We had the operator finish loading the bear onto the trailer. I phoned the prosective owner and told him we had run into a small snag. Delivery would be delayed a few days. He never knew why. Later that week, after some carefully done repairs, the bear was delivered safely. We moved him down the road to a new home a number of years later without incident and it still stands proud more than a decade later albeit an inch or two shorter than when he was first built. The photo below was taken as I hooked him up for the second move. You can bet I didn’t make the same mistake as the first time.
Draw, and draw, and draw, and draw
About seventeen years ago we seriously considered becoming a design studio and putting away the construction tools. The idea was short-lived because I didn’t know who could build what I designed. I didn’t want to simplify my designs and I loved working with my hands. So, instead of selling off the tools we built our new shop and we have never regretted our decision.
In the decade and a half since then I have sometimes wondered what it would be like to only design. In the last five months I have gotten a good feeling of that job with a steady diet of concept design work. Since the beginning of last December I have spent the bulk of my ‘working’ hours at my design table. I have churned out more than a hundred and fifty concept drawings (and counting) for a wide variety of very fun projects. Today’s design assignment was a waterwheel and a fancy deck for a restaurant. Another couple of hours at the design board will allow me to finish it before moving on to the next fun idea.
So far, only a handful of these ideas I’ve dreamed up and illustrated have made it to the shop for fabrication. There is still a backlog of designs I need to do and I suspect this long lasting drawing streak might stretch another month and possibly longer. The crew has been keeping busy in the shop on a variety of smaller projects and of course the Hazelnut Inn. I have no doubt, as it always seems to happen, all those concepts will get the green light at the very same time. Then it will be time to put down the pen for a while. Stay tuned…
Shaping the landscape
With the sculpted concrete wall now ready for paint it was time for a little ground shaping. Peter and Matt lugged the heavy landscape blocks into place and then shovelled and raked the soil to the required shape. In the next few days they will weld up the armatures for some tock work and then sculpt those in place. After the paint is on final shaping will be done before another layer of fine soil is added along with the plants. It is exciting to see that things are starting to take their final shape!
