SHINGU!

For several months now, I've been running an ongoing experiment/art project with my good buddy Gary. The story of the origins of how we got to this point in the Shingu Strategy is long, funny and worth telling, but I'll save that for another time.

What I'll mention now is that I had sent a book about the Japanese sculptor Shingu to Gary to let the elements in Hawaii work their magic. He left it outside in the wet environs of Kauai for many weeks and then sent it to me in Salt Lake City. It was in pretty hammered shape by the time I got it but I took it to the next level.

I don't normally "alter" books but… as I said, this is a spare copy and the back story demanded something be done…

Above, you can see it as it was upon arrival from Hawaii to SLC a few months ago (March of this year), still in it's wrapper from Gary and covered in spring snow.

Once I unwrapped it, I could see that it was slightly moldy, water-logged and a bit worse for wear, but mostly intact and still colorful:

 

 


Let's just say it needed some help. Hydrochloric acid always moves things along nicely:

Not to mention a months-long soak in rusty water and acid in my driveway:

After all of this, plus some quality time on my picnic table on my back deck, we are starting to see some interesting results for sure. Not sure what's next for our buddy Shingu, or how I'll ultimately use it, but… just like in French cooking, nothing will go to waste!

Here is a cool shot of the state of the cover:

And the state of the the few spreads that aren't currently stuck together:

Golden Rectangle with Spiral...

I recently built a small golden rectangle piece that is kind of fun. Not sure if it's finished yet or whether it will maybe be incorporated into another project down the road… Above you can see where I'm cutting pieces of pre-curved steel to fit into each of the internal golden rectangles. Below is the finished (or not?) piece.

And here's a rust on paper deal I did with it before adding the spiral. Nice overlay shadow being cast by the open dodecahedron outside my shop:

Butchgate™… Like Watergate but COMPLETELY Different!

Finished a gate for my buddy Butch Adams recently. Mostly his design with some input from me and then we worked together to finish it. Came out pretty well (IMNSHO) and looks really good in place at his place.

By the way, if you need a VERY experienced and talented photographer for anything, Butch is your man! You can find out more about his photography work HERE.

End of an Era… July 10, 2014

'Nuff said…

Bifurcation III Is Now in Place and Available (GYSOT!)

Looking east through the shop and Bifurcation III.

Next time you're downtown in SLC, stop by Josh Wheatly's new location (formerly Urban Vintage on Broadway) just behind the Green Ant. In his window on 200 East, you can see Bifurcation III in all it's glory. I've got a few other pieces for sale there as well (thanks, Josh!) and so does HE ;-). As I've mentioned before—a beautiful space with amazing objects to embellish and enrich your life.

Once you visit Josh and Ron, drop over to Ken Sanders for some rare book action and then I recommend a brat and fries at Ty Burrell's (and others') BEER BAR on 200 South. Brendan Kawakami is a miracle worker! Check out this REVIEW from the City Home Collective crew. Couldn't have said it any better myself. My favorite fries in UT (except for maybe the fries at the Wasatch State Park Golf Course clubhouse grill …).

"Bifurcation III" Is Almost Done!

The shadow knows it's bifurcated, eh? (Josh, no peeking!)

This is Bifurcation III in its pre-rusted state, casting a long shadow in the driveway of Compound II. It has been a fair amount of work and I'm glad the grind of grinding/sanding is finally done!

Obviously, it's the third in a series of similar pieces. Bifurcation I was in the first show I was ever in, The Heavy Metal Show at the now extinct Unknown Gallery. Bifurcation II is weathering proudly in a good friend's girlfriend's back yard. SUPER proud to have it there. Number III has a plan which will be revealed after it has come to fruition.

Anyway, here are a few more detail shots, including the rusting underway…

New Climbing Gym = New Counter Tops!

A week ago today, Jim Knight and I installed the new counter tops at Momentum Millcreek. The new gym is slated to open on April 15th so we got them installed just under the wire. It took about twice as long as expected to edge-treat, darken, surface treat and glue down all six pieces (7 hours or so), but the results were well worth it. (As my Mom joked, I suspect they'll last until the next millennium, at least in some form…)

I've been working with Jeff Pedersen (and Jim) for nearly 15 years now… from The Quarry to Momentum I to Momentum II. It's been an honor and a pleasure to be involved all this time and to see he and his business partners continue to expand and grow. This new gym is going to ROCK (pun intended… maybe I should've said it's going to PLASTIC!).

By the way, I want to give a big shout-out to Jim at Wasatch Laser Processing for doing such beautiful laser cutting and getting great steel to cut in the first place. BEST laser work I've seen in the SLC area in my many years of doing this kind of work (Critical Laser in Linden is also very good but a bit too far away for regular work). Anyway, everything was perfect and the price was right.