I've been doing some more photos and reading about entropy.

This is a shed at the bottom of my hill I believe it's been there since the 40s or 50s it has been unoccupied since the early 60s for sure although people have suck stuff in there over the years. Easier than the long trip to the dump I guess.

I have been working on this guy for a couple of weeks. Just finished yesterday with the glass

next is to install watering system, then plant the plants

Here is the progression:

Finished with grout in place.

I chose black to imitate pavement and make it look old.

The transformation was a little shocking. but I'm happy with it. I reminds me of something that might be in a subway station.I can't wait for the plants to start growing : )

I have been slammed at work rectification for me and accreditation for the school coming down at the same time!

Anyway I have been able to get some stuff done, starts and stops and disappointing for me not enough progress...never enough progress.

A lot of my time have been occupied with researching a watering system for these works.

I didn't think that plant care and how to maintain these works would become so complex! I have learned more about pumps, check valves, solenoids and fittings than I'd care to really know. Gib thankfully is a bit more versed in this area and has agreed to be my engineer.

But the first signs of spring showed up last week! Little shoots of grass growing in the 3D sculpture! Yeah! they were so cute!

Filled with hope!

I can tell the sun is getting stronger the plants in my sculptures have exploded.

This is the grass a week later...

Buoyed by the appearance of the grass and progress on the the watering systems, I have begun a new wall piece. I hope to get the plaster dry soon so I can smooth it out and start the mosaic surface.

I also have plans to work on another 3D piece. I like the idea of 3D pieces.

I think I will be altering the plants in all my sculptures right now they look a little too cultivated I want them to be more wild.

A prototype for the installation idea. I need to build a companion piece, to butt up against the grass section, so it looks more like a crack.

Grass was just added two days ago we'll have to see if it stays happy in it's new home.

Watering is still an issue, the grass is in a wire mesh and it drains pretty fast, I think I'll have to come up with a way of sealing the containment system. I might just plaster it in place.

Currently I am working on this sculpture .

It is plaster and glass-it has a cavity in the center I plan on planting grass in it.

I am trying to decide if I should grout in black or white. I'm not sure about the shape It looks kind of funny to me (not a good funny) I can't help thinking it looks like a goose.

Another view

on its side

This image shows the cavity where the grass will grow

This is an image from my sketchbook- it is where I think I want to go with my ideas of the earth sculptures.

I'm working on an idea to make this a contained living system, complete with and irrigation system, using pumps and grow lights. I'm hoping I can power all my stuff with a micro-algae that pr

oduces bio-diesel.

These are details of sections drawn large (24x20) I'm working with the images of places where nature has taken back- a few of these abstractions really intrigue me I am just working with the images now. I have a few ideas about how I am going to represent them sculpturally but am still working

out technique details

Nature:

"The thing that was here before man and will be her long after man is gone"

E.O. Wilson

distinct form man's creations

the material world and it's phenomena

Mold

Moss

Trees

Animals

Viruses

Environment

Primitive

Mud

Water

Air

Biosphere

Vapor

Gases

Fire

Coal

Wood

Smoke

Chemical

"We shall never understand the natural environment until we see it as a living organism"

Paul Brooks

Culture

These works are "think drawings" I am planning an installation involving glass, grass, and plaster or cement.

I am experimenting with mosaic glues and slumping glasses for inclusion in this work

Culture- 1. The quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, and scholarly pursuits.

2. The totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns-arts, beliefs, institutions and all other products of human work and thought.

3. Attitudes, customs and beliefs that distinguishes one group of people from another

4. Growth of microorganisms

Culture

Order

Organize

Label

Categorize

Price tag

Govern

Leaders

Subjects

Models

Beauty

Consciousness

Admiration

Context

Aesthetics

Story

Mythology

Religion

Worship

Spirit

Attitudes

Patterns

Behavior

Institution

AIB Jan 2010-Summary

I came to January’s residency with a body of work that discussed a fascination I have with the tenacity of the natural world over man’s best efforts. First was a group of drawings, which is a continuation of a daily practice I have discovered for myself while working on my MFA.

These drawings are a represented mediation on growth and time and recently I began working on velum to bring a sculptural element to these works. My intent was to draw an environment that surrounds the viewer with an image of incessant growth. Which I feel these do successfully. Though these are very attractive and accessible to many people, I think it would be difficult to force them into a thesis body of work. Perhaps I can use this work as a point of departure for forms in the work I plan on pursuing during the next semester.

Second I brought several photographs showing what I have dubbed “found sculptures.” They depict places where the human environment is overcome by the forces of nature. At all times microbes are working, but given enough dust deposited by the wind a layer of topsoil becomes a home and eventually trees burst forth. I had a variety of photos of these places where nature saw its opportunity and moved in. Although I wish to continue to document these places and allow them to continue to inform my work I will not be using photographs as an element in my thesis work.

The third work I brought were wall sculptures, these works with cracks, glass mosaic and the living grasses in them had humor and metaphor, and they married aesthetic attractiveness with the concept behind my work. They seemed to function as a contemplative objects without the label “activist work.”