Landscape does not exist in isolation, it is of course part of the cultural & environmental climate that shapes it. We envision it as we move through it. Change is naturally inevitable.
A picture – ‘landscape in the storm of discontent’
ideas – brewing.
The Underhill Children’s centre sculptural project installation comprising 3.4 m bench, gate and sculpture pole elements nears completetion.
Installation due around mid January 2009.
The above images show the gate and bench. See earlier posts for design drawings & initial work.
Below are images of the sculptural elements mounted onto the foundation blocks. These blocks are set below ground level (45 mm below a rubberised safty surface) There then exists a 30 mm finger safety gap between the bottom of the element installation and ground level.
More images comming soon.
Set up of the back rest into seat and arm rests onto the arm post then…
…test assembly.
There are now a few more line weights to trim/adjust before commencing the final assembly. Probably during next week. Key differences of the new version, it’s all subtle stuff, is the long curvature trim work on the back rests – not visible in these images. And the underside relief carving to edge detailing of the seat.
Simple carved seating block form in oak for Kinectic Sculpture viewing.
This skew form 2 seater carved form has been delivered to it’s final location to give a simple seating area to view a kinetic sculpture form within a garden setting. The block form will now have a york stone setting. The stone wedge in the image indicates the level. The york stone setting will be flush with grass level at the front, whilst a small step at the rear. This is to give a solid & level defined base surface for the ‘Cliff bloc’ seat to rest upon within the falling slope of the garden setting. The seating dish hollowing is also cut at a falling rate to the rear to add comfort to the low height block & allow rainfall run off. This peice will eventually weather to a beautiful silver grey echoing that of the brushed stainless steel sculpture.
So, here is the start of the carving & framing of a new Nimm kei chair.
Firstly, carving the basic saddle seat hollowing from the seat blank. In this instance I have used an ‘arbortech’ You can see this tool lying to the right side of the bench in the 1st couple of images. It is a rotary cutter attachment that fits to a standard angle grinder. I do from time to time still advocate the use of an ‘adze’ for seat hollowing. This is rather like a cross between a heavy gouge and an axe. In this instance I reach for the arbortech as there is much hollowing to be done, not only on the top side, the underside leading edges & scoops, plus other seat blanks to hollow.
The 2nd image above also shows the steam bent components used in arm rest & arm posts.
Next the arm posts junctions into the seat are created. After this the leg joints into the seat are made. The images show the 1st fitting of the arm posts & the drilling of the rear leg sockets. This is done with a ‘brace & bit’ – a hand operated device that allows slow, controlled & accurate – sight to ‘bevel & map’ drilling.
Fitting of front legs to follow, then invariably will come more styling, shape & magic form finding!
Meanwhile on the otherside of the workshop we’ve been busy with the concrete mixer creating the smooth cast block & disc setting for this sculptural form. Will post some images of the mould opening soon. 550 H block @ 350 sq to be placed on a flush set disc 750 dia. You can see the mock up in the images.
Yes, at long last -
So, now lots of exciting stuff posted here with images to keep you up to date with the happenings at the ‘World of chaircreative’
Here’s a sneak preview of a bench shot of the backrest of the current 8.5m long ‘Sleeping Dragon’ project.
Were taking one of these big spheres off to the craft in focus at Canterbury event this weekend, They are also part of the ‘Sleeping Dragon’ as well as loads of other new sculptural works & seating.
