You’re welcome to contact the sculptor for more details and images at artist@chinacatsunflower.net
Final Images
Fabrication Progress
Both main structures are assembled. Next is to add more branches.
Working the stainless rectangular tube into tree limbs.
Building the sections
The butterflies are shaped on the cement form then spot welded together. There are 8 sections for eight different colors. Those sections have been built and are off for powder coating.
Beginning the Form
This is going to be 36"-diameter round.
Look for Project Number TWO!
Due to be installed in early April 2021.
The Sculpture is In!
All it needs is the landscaping. Many thanks to the construction team of Boulevard 1, Sharp Shooter Boom Services and m great helpers, Ed and Robert.
Lovely Butterflies Ready For Flight
Cool things are happening!
We all love when progress is being made when it's sculpture in the end.
The installation of the uprights have been moved up by three months. So putting on the steam to get them assembled by the end of next week. I think I can get this undertaking done.
There are eight butterfly sections. They have come and gone from powder coating. The next step is to assemble the ball in full.
The Butterflies are here!
Back from Majestic Metals, the stainless steel butterflies have migrated to the studio. The mold is ready to form the 48"-sphere. Colorado native species of Copperfields, Blue Crescents and Swallowtails.
The Foundation Inserts
The steel "slip pole" foundation inserts are completed and ready for installation.
The Parts and Polish
All the parts for the three support poles have been polished. They are waiting to be ground and fitted.
The Support Poles
The first cut is the deepest. Plasma-cutting four rectangular tubes each weighing 348 pounds each into bite-size pieces. Stainless steel cuts more like play-dough, unlike mild steel that cuts like splattering pancake batter.
Sheet Metal and Butterflies
Three 10-foot x 5-foot stainless steel sheets are now in the hands of Majestic Metals. They are going to use my designs of three Colorado native species, Blue Copper, Crescent and the Swallowtail. It's fun to know I've witness these special creatures in my own garden.
Well, things happen.
I went out to check our most lovely mold. It collapsed. The process worked at 3-feet diameter sphere, but not for 4-feet.
I have begun to build a geodesic dome out of plywood and steel brackets. I will suceed! More images to come as progress rolls.
And Mortar
Early Beginnings
A mortar mold will be made for the shaping of the center butterfly ball. Here’s the beginning of such a mold. The final size will be approximately 48”-diameter.
A simple wood frame is constructed to hold a large rubber ball. The ball is inflated with the plug below to surface of the frame. Today will start the first layer of plaster and fiber. There will be a succession of 7-10 layers including wire mesh so the final form will be strong enough to support itself and the welding process. More images to come!
Preliminary Drawings
The images are web-ready and low resolution. Please contact the artist to request higher resolution files for review.
A NEW Sculpture!
There's an exciting new development in Lowry near Quebec Street and Lowry Boulevard called the MET.For the new development, a sculpture has been commissioned for the open grounds in the new community and housing district. The sculpture will have many similarities to "Balanced Butterflies", now located in the downtown Plaza in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
This page in the blog will follow the progress of the sculpture. More images and drawings to come!
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