Public Art Commission Progress

Greetings, thanks for your patience with my posts! I have been busy with a few gallery shows, a Cookie Jar Show at Lilly's Cookies, and today I am spending the day recovering from another great showing at the Fiesta Arts Fair on the grounds of the Southwest School of Art and Craft.

Last week Sara Boyd (my awesome, better than could ever hope for assistant) and I started really diving into the public art project for the Mulberry Bridge going into Brackenridge park. Here are some pics of the progress. This week we should finish up the vertical pieces and begin the sixteen, 2x6' panels that will go on both the inside and outside of the bridge.

By building supports we are able to accomplish 2 things: 1: build two panels per table, and 2: the slope makes it easier to envision what it will look like when it is installed vertically on the guardrails. 

When building murals, traditionally artists have stapled burlap onto sloped walls to make sure the clay stays on the board. I have tried that, but don't like how hard it is to remove the cut tiles from the burlap. When pulling the clay off the support when leatherhard  it is almost impossible not to bend the tile, (which could lead to warping in the drying and firing). For that reason, I tried something new this year, beads of silicone on the board, then a generous rubbing of vegetable oil. It worked great!!! When the slabs of wet clay were pressed onto the board the silicone created little ridges that "grabbed" the clay and prevented it from sliding off. When the time came to remove it, they just pulled right off, no problem (due to the releasing qualities of the oil). The oil will burn off in the bisque. 

5 down, 4 to go!
Will post again with the progress at the end of the week, promise!
Diana