Here’s a project from this April that shows some variation from my usual working process. I started this dog sculpture, but wasn’t completely happy with it. I did cut into the dog’s styrobody to inset the foam pieces that make up part of its legs. I also started with small fishing bobber eyes, but later changed them to hickory nuts.
Two shots from the river the day I made this sculpture. The ears are pieces of thick bark. I posed this work first next to a plastic gasoline container. I find a lot of these and have a collection of photos of them. I also plan to later post a series of “Collections” that I have made of other river debris. The second shot was in an area where fishermen would see it. I come across real dogs at the Falls on occassion. People do walk their animals here. I do remember being surprised once by three pit bulls running down the beach all unleashed!! They had run ahead of their masters and found me. Fortunately, they were all sweethearts, but I have had encounters with feral dogs running in packs in other woods. Oh, there was one other highlight on this day. I saw and poorly photographed an American Turkey walking along the tree line. It was the first one I had ever seen at the Falls and is a bird strangely not on the park’s checklist.
Last shot is of the revamped “Styro-Hound” at my home. I saved this piece, because I knew I could improve it and make it seem more dog-like. I switched out the ears. One is the sole of a shoe and the other is a plastic, wing from a dove hunting decoy. I also changed a few of the sticks forming its limbs. All the materials were found at the Falls. I can keep my project “pure” because so much washes up here. “Styro-Hound” variation II, was unveiled at the park’s Earth Day observance.
Artist at Exit 0 Riverblog 