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I
recently completed a public commission for the City Of Nelson, BC, in
which I designed, constructed and installed a 30 panel sculptural bridge
railing running 135 feet. The theme of the design focused upon
what has crossed the creek over the last century, resulting in a
meandering array of regionally reclaimed wheels and cogs. As
with any large scale
project I have worked on, throughout the rigours of production, designs
outside the work in progress are revealed. I find myself in a unique
position: the designs I have accumulated focus upon the massive quantity
of by-product generated from the bridge railing commission. I have over
400 cast iron frameworks from the cross-sectional cuts of brake
rotors/drums; buckets filled with the cut-offs of mining, forestry,
agricultural, automobile, and bicycle components; and an exact
silhouette in 10 gauge perforated sheet metal of the entire run of the
sidewalk-side of the sculptural core. As a self
described bottom feeder, working man, day dreamer, the notion of
further processing the by-product generated from materials already once
reclaimed, appeals to me on many levels. It speaks volumes in terms of
sustainability, a theme that is consistent throughout my work in the
visual arts. Preliminary design work has resulted in numerous design
possibilities of varying scale, complexity and application; the first of
which is this
numbered series of small
sculpture titled
by-product.
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