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Underground > Creation >

Large Scale Sculpture

15:41 / 12.10.06

I've got some plans cooked up for a few large outdoor temporary sculptures. I'm thinking 25 feet tall at the minimum, but no more than 35 feet. It will probably only be in place for less than two weeks. The first will be humanoid in shape, though not all of the (possible) subsquent pieces will be. What I'm looking for here is a little advice from more experienced artists/builders before I get started.

First of all, materials. I'm currently leaning towards a wire structure with a paper mache type covering with carved foam for more detailed parts (face, hands) or going all out with the foam and stack carved foam blocks to create the figure. If I use these, any suggestions for particular brands/vendors (I'm in Texas, if that matters)? Any suggestions for better materials to use?

Also, if anyone has done anything like this before, is there anything vitally important I may be overlooking?

When the design is more formally set I may return for advice on safely securing the piece to the ground so as not to crush anyone.

16:37 / 12.10.06

How permanent do you want these to be?

There was a sculptor at my old school who built large sculptures out using chickenwire mesh on I think a rebar foundation, with the "skin" made out of either concrete or plaster. They were pretty sturdy -- we'd climb on them.

(Of course, they started getting cracks in 'em after 20 years of abuse like that.)

Jack Cartlidge. You might find stuff by googling his name.

17:11 / 12.10.06

Permanence is not a big concern for this project. In fact, it will probably be required to be a short-term installation. Given the faculty climate of my college, the absolute maximum I could probably be allowed is a month. I'm also not disregarding the possibility that I won't be allowed to put it up and will have to assemble secretly during the night. No matter how long it will last, it will probably be constructed off-site in segments and then assembled on-site (I'm leaning towards foam cube construction because of this).

16:07 / 13.10.06

When the design is more formally set I may return for advice on safely securing the piece to the ground so as not to crush anyone.

Keep the physical balance of the piece in mind as you work on design. Try to work it out so that the thing pretty much stands upright on its own. I've had one or two welded steel pieces crash to the ground and maim innocent bystanders* because they weren't balanced properly. This might be less of a worry if they'll be secured or staked into the ground, but I think you should be aware of it. The less you have to rely on your anchoring scheme in this regard, the better.

*Okay, not really.