Installation :Day 1

I must admit; transporting a two ton slab of Kilkenny with a big hole in it to Cobtree has kept me awake a few nights! Every detail of the move has to be considered and fortunately there was no need for a ‘Plan B’. I’ve been spending more time on the stone at the workshop over the last week, as much of my emphasis has been on carving the other sculptures. I felt the need to get to know the stone! every inch, scratch, fossil and edge!! I may have even pleaded with it at one stage to be nice to me!! We loaded up in the morning and it was all pinned, fixed and bedded down by 12 noon without any drama, thanks to Mick, Alan, Michael and Tom. The Cob leaf seat was also installed and I was happy with how it looked as well as how it felt to sit on. I finally decided on a very tactile reflective polished finish on its surfaces, which I hope will encourage any passerby to touch the stone while they sit down.The large slab will also be polished but not to the same degree as the seat, I just want to bring out the wonderful soft blue colour, which will help define the inner edge of the leaf cut out. While I’m spending the next few days doing this I will be using the quiet time to contemplate on a title for the work. It has to be right; something that not only suggests the process of carving with modern and traditional tools in stone working but also referencing the ever changing landscape through the window / portal. I know the title will just be the name I refer to the sculpture, as I’m sure the public will quickly come to refer to it as something less pretentious!!

L is for Llama

Letter cutting the names of animals for the base stone of the 'Zebra Rock' sculpture. 

From the Dealers Vault

Reclining Nude Figure 1928 - Frank Dobson

http://www.mascallsgallery.org

I finally made it to an exhibition that was showing at Mascall's Gallery, Paddock Wood - titled 'Dealers' Vaults'. The gallery is just up the road from my studio, but it is always the way when something is right on your door step, you just never seem to get around to it. The work brought together some big name artists such as Armitage, Chadwick, Caro and Dobson, all of whom had been working in a variety of materials from bronze to terracotta. I was also really pleased to discover another bronze from F.E. McWilliam who is from the same town in N.Ireland as myself. McWilliam was definitely a great inspiration for me as a student, studying art in N. Ireland and I was extremely lucky a few years ago to be selected to take part in several exhibitions at the new F.E. McWilliam Gallery, Banbridge.   

I came away from this show, not only having a desire to create some sculptures in bronze again but I also left with a strong desire to explore the human form in my work. There has always been a 'love - hate' relationship for me with the idea of working with the human form. However, the urge is starting to become so strong now and I don't know how long I can resist getting a block of stone and allowing this urge to take over! 

A Day on Zebra Rock

A Day on Zebra Rock from JASON MULLIGAN on Vimeo.

To follow the production of the Cobtree Sculptures visit the site - http://thecobtreesculpture.blogspot.co.uk/

The Sculptor and the Film Maker

Stills from the days shoot at the workshop with Sam Creamer

I met up with ‘Cameraman Sam Creamer’ today at the studio to help me document the progress of the Cobtree Commission. The intention is to create a 5 min short, focusing on the work I’ve been carrying out for Maidstone Borough Council. It wasn’t one of the best days for filming at the workshop, as the weather as usual was wet, dark and gloomy! The footage did however set the scene of how working conditions have been for the last two months!! Sam managed to get some great cut-away shots and close ups of the tools and the stone. He has a real eye for detail and what works on the screen. I am looking forward to seeing the final edited version. When all the work gets installed into the park I hope to get Sam back to film all the sculptures in situ, by that time hopefully the weather would have improved. 

Time for Reflection! Part II

Test Sample!

Before starting the water effect carving on the front of the sculpture I wanted to make a sample piece to determine my pattern. When I've been studying the images and sketches I've produced of the river's flow, it always appears that there is so much movement and shadow on what is a very shallow surface. Looking so closely at the undulating waves starts to blur my vision and it plays with my decision making process with where to start! My intention is to focus on the idea that where one ripple breaks another one is formed, this way I can create a natural rhythmical pattern up the stone.