Open Bowls 2010
I wanted to post a report from the first installment of the Open Bowls component of the Planters On and Off the Ground Show at the Longhouse Reserve in East Hampton NY. It was a big success and should only be more of a spectacle moving forward. I say that because I got the feeling from John Danzer, the juror, that bigger was better. I have never shied away from increasing the scale of my work and I already have ideas for next year.
Here are my planters and some of the highlights of construction. (that is code for disasters that threatened to derail my efforts)
I presented three planters.
The first two are meant to be displayed together. They are about 85% clones of each other and create a nice dialogue when placed in a garden as a pair
The bulk of the variation comes in the woodwork. The sweeping curves and facets of the Sapele core are very different and encourage the viewer to circle each planter and then comare one to the other.
The concrete also has variation from one to the other but they are not as dramatically different as the woodworking. I designed the concrete to feel different from every angle so the owner could rotate them to achieve the movement they need for that moment in their home or garden.
The concrete is cast in two sections. The plywood box below has been filled with concrete, cured and flipped over ready to be taken apart. The center core is like a section of a pyramid and should have just popped out with a bit of encouragement. Do you get the sense that it did not quite go according to plan?
It required more than just a bit of encouragement with a BIG hammer and a pair of pry bars. Somehow the rest of the form survived so I rebuilt the core in sections that would allow for it to come out in a series of pieces.
The other planter I made has the presence that I now think is deserving of the Open Bowls portion of the exhibition.
The planter measured almost four feet across.
The Sapele petals were connected to a massive concrete core. I respect that the show was about empty planters but I really want to see this one with plants. I imagine that a composition of low plants would be just as successful as an arrangement of very tall plants. I think this could be my most original and versatile planter to date.
I just wanted to point out the detail in the concrete as it will soon be making an appearance in my series of outdoor benches. The detail creates an asymmetrical step in the concrete that creates a deep shadow detail. Not only that but the specifics of creation allow me to vary this detail from one casting to the next. This detail adds a level of variation to my concrete work that should help take my next few benches to new places.
OK I had to see what this planter looked like with these two little seedlings. I am already looking forward to next year!
Open Bowls/Planters On and Off The Ground 2010
I will be participating in the new “Open Bowls” section of the third installment of the Planters On and Off the Ground show at the Longhouse Reserve in East Hampton NY.
The new category is for people like myself whose specialty is creating the original vessel. I look forward to seeing the work of the other artists.
Planters On and Off The Ground / Open Bowls
Longhouse Reserve in East Hampton NY
Opening reception on Saturday June 26 5:30PM
LongHouse Reserve 2010 Season
Outdoor Bench #2 at The LongHouse Reserve
May 1 – October 9, 2010
Rites of Spring season opening reception: 2-5pm May 1 2010 (open to the public and a great introduction to the LongHouse)
The longhouse is open to the public on Wednesday and Saturday through the end of June. July and August see the days extended to Wednesday through Saturday. In both cases the hours are 2pm-5pm
The LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton NY is about to open for the 2010 season. I am delighted to have Outdoor Bench #2 in the magnificent gardens for another year. Below is the last picture I took of the installation last year. I got the impression that the bench will be in a new location this year. I cant wait to see where they want it!
Update: Bench #4 from Bench Series #2 is now at the Longhouse!
