Friday night the 6th I finished all the preliminary work on the latest rolling ball sculpture I’ve been working on, the so-called “martini” sculpture. It’s not quite finished, however. From here it goes on to the wonderfully talented Tina Hanagan who will design a custom stained wood base for it. It’s going to be awesome when it’s done.
Here are photos of the finished wire work. You can click on them for complete, larger images.
I dropped it off at Tina’s on Sunday, and was very impressed and excited to see that she had already begun work on it. Upon my last visit Tina had used some graph paper to mark the location of the feet of the sculpture along with some other significant points. Based on that information, she had already begun to draw myriad circles, triangles, and other schematic-looking designs. “Yeah,” her husband, J.J., said, “she’s been talking a lot about it. ‘Should I do something that complements it, or that’s a counterpoint? What kind of wood should I use?'” He laughed, “I suggest stuff, and then she does the opposite of that.”
Dudes, this thing is going to be so cool! I can’t wait to see what she comes up with! She has already started blogging about it based on the first visit I made, and she’s even put up some pics! Check it out!
It was kind of weird dropping it off, though. I was goofing with it, showing J.J. how it worked. We ran the marbles through it a few times, and I said, “You know, I didn’t think much of it the other night when I finished it. I just kind of shrugged my shoulders and went, ‘Well, I guess it’s done,’ and went to bed. I think I’m kind of starting to like it now.”
I’m not sure what’s up with that. I don’t dislike it at all, but it didn’t affect me right away like when I completed the first sculpture. I really can’t figure out why that might be, although finishing the second was definitely not like sticking my neck out for the first time and seeing if I was even capabled of one. I’m getting pretty jazzed now that Tina has her hands on the whole thing, though, and I think it’s really going to be outstanding once the entire piece is completed. I think I’m repeating myself there, but, well, I’m pretty stoked!
For anyone keeping track, recent sculpture music has been:
The Replacements – All Shook Down
Dusk Till Dawn – The Soundtrack
Random songs off of my playlist from Project Playlist
Way to go Tom! I am proud of your accomplishement and look forward to seeing what Tina comes up with for a base.
Thanks, Heather. I was just telling someone the other day that it was in your kitchen where I deliberated tearing out everything in my living room including the carpet and building a giant steel one, and then I went, “Hmmm…maybe I better start with a little copper one instead.”
Tina’s abilities are a fabulous addition to this project. I’m looking forward to her work as well.
This is awesome! Are you going to post action footage of this kinetic creation? And I dig how you and your friend Tina are pooling your artistic talents on this one.
Congratulations on your second accomplishment of many. I’m going to check out the music now. Fish are fryin’. I got a little glass of wine (it IS only 3:30). New tunes would go well.
Genevieve,
I have realized myself that it is kind of ironic that I’m building kinetic sculpture (sculpture that moves), but have only posted still photos! My brother just told me the other day that he would let me use his camera if I wanted to shoot some video, so I’m hoping in a few weeks that I can do a little bit of that. I would like for everyone to be able to see them in action.
Enjoy the fish fry, but shouldn’t you be saving that for Friday? It is Lent, you know!
Thanks for leaving your artwork with me. J.J. is making sure that I’m careful with it. I have to admit that it’s very therapeutic to run marbles down it while searching for inspirado.
And, I meant to ask, does it have a name? Martini Madness? No. 2? I’ll keep you posted.
Those things are crazy. You run the marbles down it, it’s done, and then you put them back up top and do it again. You know it’s going to do pretty much the same thing all over again, but you can’t help doing it just one more time…but maybe this time you’ll do them spaced far apart, or maybe two and two, or three and one, or all at once!
Yeah, it’s sort of addictive. It’s a little like watching fish, too. You just want to watch it do what it does and kind of zone out on everything else.
Doesn’t have a name yet. Not sure on that one.
Very cool finished project! I’m a bit envious since I have some difficulty finishing anything. I need to work on that. What size are those marbles? (in millimeters) Keep up the creating!