concrete cloth

A few months ago I came across the website for the UK-based company, Concrete Canvas, and naturally I was floored by what I found. The possibilities for this material are immense, and I am particularly drawn to it for the potential it holds for sculptural purposes.

The material has a range of civil engineering applications including ditch lining, erosion control, flooring and flood defenses. It's most well-known application is the company's "concrete canvas shelters," which are are rapidly deployable hardened shelters that require only water and air for construction. The website describes this fascinating material as easy to use, rapid, flexible, strong, durable, waterproof, and fireproof. If you ask me, it sounds too good to be true! I'm guessing it must be outrageously expensive...

But I really really REALLY want some!!! I have ideas of outdoor sculptures for which concrete cloth would be absolutely perfect! There's got to be a way I can make some of this material myself... somehow. I need big sheets of it... really big sheets. hmmmmm. See below how other folks are using concrete cloth for innovative purposes....

desend ascend descend again

Our final assignment in Jarod's 'Public Art' class was to create and construct an "immersive environment" of sorts. I was initially thrilled, because this is the type of sculpture I've been so excited about recently, but I figured it's time for something new.... so in attempts to challenge myself and create a new type of "immersive environment," I have come up with this.

Basically, it's a model for something I'll probably never make. But a girl can dream, right? Perhaps it's entirely ridiculous and overly ambitious, but I'd love to be able to do something like this at Franconia Sculpture Park this summerrrrrr. Who knows?! The actual piece would be constructed of steel rebar and covered in concrete. The soft underbelly would (likely) be carpet padding manipulated in the manner I've done several times in the past, but sprayed with a white paint and protective weatherproof coating. I love the idea that it could be strong enough for people to climb on it... a sort of "stone mountain." Yet it's soft and inviting enough for folks to hang out underneath, have a picnic, whatever.

April 2010

model made of brazed steel wire, rockite, and tissue paper
approximately 2.5' x 2' x 1.5'

Thumbkin Maquette

The CofC sculpture department has been lucky enough to score four $500 public art commissions for its students this semester. A competition will be held among all advanced students who will each submit a public art proposal, complete with budgets, drawings, and 3-D models. My proposal is geared towards the City of North Charleston's commission, for which the parameters are relatively boundless. Since it commands quite a bit of space, I would love for this piece to be able to live among the other large-scale sculptures at Riverfront Park.

This proposed installation is comprised of seven massive concrete thumbs, each depicting various stages of progressive motion. Crawling like an inchworm, the thumb comes to life as an object all its own. He becomes a character in his very own story. To further this concept of personification, the thumbs will be scaled up to human-size. No longer are they appendages, but bodies of their own. Those familiar with the childhood nursery rhyme “Where is Thumbkin?” should know that this song has served as a great source of inspiration for this body work.

February 2010

painted cast plaster thumbs, model grass, wood, wire
approximately 24" wide x 4" tall x 6" deep

Where is Thumbkin?

This is the first of my Thumbkin series... I hope to do many more! I was inspired by the childhood song by the same title. It currently resides in the College of Charleston's Sottile Sculpture Garden.

October 2008

made of cast concrete... stands roughly 3ft tall