You’re welcome to contact the sculptor for more details and images at artist@chinacatsunflower.net
A Root House Studio Production
This video was created by the videographers at Root House Studio. The Trust for Public Land provided the funding and participated as a project partner.
Please visit http://roothousestudio.com/ to see more of their good work.
Please visit https://www.tpl.org/our-work/colorado to learn about The Trust for Public Lands.
Photo by Scott Thompson
A friend and fellow artist captured this image. It shows the energy and integration of the sculpture into the park's natural setting.
The Final Installation
The grass has been laid, the playground equipment installed and residents are claiming their garden plots.
Then the cables!
This is still a construction site and a work in progress. But the artwork is ready for the Park's landscape and features to be installed around.
First comes the hook from the sky
Then, we have the Support Poles
Foundation is Ready
Foundation Installation
The foundation portion of the sculptures was installed this week at Nome Park. Many thanks to all the help in coordinating and performing the installation labor tasks.
The Final Finials
Preparing the last of the component of the support poles. The reed-like top has been cut and capped. The top will get welded to the support using a "slip pole" technique. More images of the welded components to come.
Clouds!
All the clouds have been powder coated and stored until they will be assembled on the cables. The support poles are cut and ready assemble. Their final finish will be completed shortly thereafter. I would expect, besides assembling the cables, the remaining components will be prepared and ready for installation mid-May. More images and progress report to come.First Color, Pearl White
The clouds are packed in foam and wrapped for storage and protection. This is the first of five colors. Four of the five colors have been completed.
Test Assembly before Powder Coat
Images of Backyard Studio Assembly
Clouds and Clouds and Clouds
Forty-eight of them to be exact. They have been spot welded to shape. Then the bearing housing is cut-in using a plasma cutter. The bearing housing is secured by welding to circular supports. They are ready to be sandblasted and powder coated.
Collaborative Artwork Ready to Be Engraved
Many drawings, many interpretations... masks are cut for all six poles. They are ready for sandblasting.If you would like to have an opportunity to take a look at the progress firsthand, feel free to contact the sculptor, artist@chinacatsunflower.net to make an appointment.
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Progress!
Working on the support poles.
Finished polish.
Masking for sandblasting drawings from the community participation workshops.
Drawing One.
Drawing Two.
Drawing Three.
Drawing Four.
Drawing Five.
More images of the drawings that are incorporated into the design will be posted as the poles are finished.
The First Images of Fabrication
The tedious start of creating sample pieces, bearing parts and support pole assembly parts. All the materials are stainless steel.Assembled bearing sample:
Support Pole parts cut with the plasma cutter then ready to be ground smooth:
Sample Cloud and Clip ready to be assembled to create the first sample:
Final Drawings Submitted
These are the final drawings and specifications for the installation submitted to the City of Aurora City Engineer and permit application. If higher resolution files are required, please contact the artist.
At the workshop
It was a great turn-out. The participants created masks for the stainless steel support poles. The masks will be used to create an impression by sandblasting the poles. Coming up in May, there will be more workshops. Hopefully you can join!!Join the Community Workshop!
Meeting with the neighborhood group in the Del Mar Area
Wednesday evening, February 17, Chandi (The Trust for Public Lands), Shannon (Denver Urban Gardens) and I gave a presentation at Del Mar Neighborhoods United monthly meeting. We gave a brief description of the approved master plan, the art process and the garden plots. There were many questions pertaining to the master plan as well as the garden plots. It is my hope that it has generated some participation for upcoming workshops. I would like to encourage community participation to contribute to the creation of the artwork.Early Beginnings of a Creative Concept
After much gestation of the drawings and concepts the high school students submitted, I felt I needed more creative input. I decided to canvas the neighborhood on foot and visit some of the local businesses and restaurants. The neighborhoods around the area do have many similarities to other locations in Denver Metro Area, but some most definitively unique qualities. It's challenging to put the unique qualities into words.In a short description, the neighborhood community is a tightly knit collection of all ages and predominantly families. The social patterns may have roots based on traditional Hispanic culture, but the dress, language and social interaction is modern and progressive. They are friendly, warm and welcoming. Their yards and homes are colorful and well-planned. There is a feeling of an independent subsistence, whereas the collection of neighbors and families foster their own livelihood and growth.
Some of key words highlighted by the students were dreams, hope and freedom. They preferred images of public art works that included references to clouds, birds, community and the natural world. They remarked that kinetic sculptures that moved with the wind would be cool to have at Nome Park.
Given all these considerations, I am proposing to create an installation of three sculptures. The installation will be kinetic. It must represent the tightly knit connection of it's residents. A canopy of sorts offers the feeling of 'home'. Using lenticular cloud images suggests dreams, hope and spiritual freedom. It must be modern and contemporary. It also must collaborate with the landscape architects' theme of "Roots" and "Farm to Table". In response, the sculpture will be the sky to the earth and root elements of the architect's creative designs. Along the course of the cloud forms, the colors will shift to suggest a storm that is passing along the same corridor as progression of the"Farm to Table" concept.
Here are some early sketches of the creative development:
Day One: High School Workshops
On December 13, 2015, we conducted four workshops with students at Aurora Central High School. It was great event to engage with young creative minds. From the workshops, I received more than a 100 drawings of conceptual designs and comments. I asked the students to include comments describing what makes them special as individuals, families, neighborhood and culture.
Here is a some highlights from the drawings made:
Here's the launch of an exciting project. Funded by The Trust for Public Land and National Endowment for the Arts, Nome Park is receiving not only a significant renovation, but an additional land grant to expand the park by 2.6 acres. The City of Aurora is a partner to the project and will oversee the construction and will ultimately accept ownership of the project's proceeds.
Beginning tomorrow, Dec. 3, 2015, I will begin my first quest to develop the art component. Not only will I be working with a host of collaborators, of whom I will introduce in future entries, I will be holding creative workshops with students at Aurora Central High School. Following tomorrow, you'll see the start of the creative development.
This will be an exceptionally fun project through engagement, interaction and collaboration. I see myself as a bridge and connection to community and expressing cultural significance.
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