Tree: One mold, One casting
Cire Perdue, Limited Edition of 10 Please contact for shipping quote When the cool night air ushers in the beginning of the fall, for some trees, this is the time to burst into a myriad of fantastic colors. Of all the deciduous species that often comprise a serious bonsai collection, the Trident maple (Acer Buergerianum) is a showstopper. Colors can range from bright yellows and gold to various orange hues and blushing reds depending on the variation. However, all Trident maples exhibit the easily identifiable three-pronged leaf. During this time of year, they demand that you take notice. Perhaps in a symbolic sense, this is why I decided to make this tree my first work in sculpture and thus, it is my way of standing out amongst the other trees in the forest. I have worked for the last ten years to be able to make this tree. It has become the embodiment of my doubts and fears, difficult periods marked with frustration and bitter setbacks but also the best days of triumph and fortunate accidents, joy and accomplishment. This tree was to decide my future as an artist. It was a true test of my mold design, various materials, techniques, and most importantly the casting process. Nobody knew with any certainty if a casting of this complexity was even possible and the stakes for me couldn’t have been higher. I poured everything I had into this tree to find out. Like Cellini's famous recount of his Perseus; fingers were most definitely crossed. After a few trying days of silence, one of the foundry owners gave me a call and let me know that not only did it cast, but the casting was in nearly perfect condition! I remember grinning so much at that moment I could barely speak. He said to me—“Matt, every few minutes, I keep going back there and nobody’s doing any work. Nothing’s getting done. I have to keep running everybody off. They’re all just standing around looking at your tree. ” Here's a secret; cross your fingers on your left hand and place them at the foot of the tree. Trust me, I knew how difficult it was going to be at the very start.
Fingers Crossed
|
|