The first year of this prairie patch, here at Fossil Gardens, was filled with struggle. Lots of casualties from the heat. But the cooler temperatures have created a new energy in the plants. More blooms have resulted. This view of the garden looks to the east.
A couple of years ago, I worked on some cool metal designs for a local clothing boutique called Ragz. As the store grew — and rearranged — it was time to create some more metal accents. These photos show the ends of their work tables. I wrapped them with old corrugated steel (nicely aged) and metal strips. A large gap between the tables was a problem. So, we decided to create a metal screen. The screen is made from a variety of metal pieces and shapes. It gives the shop a handmade feel, just like the clothes they make and sell.
The back end of the table has a similar cladding and screen.
Put the last coat of shiny red paint on this bed project today. This bed frame is custom made to fit an extra-long mattress. The headboard and footboard are bolted to the frame rails. For added support a removable metal bar spans the frame. Strength and simplicity ruled the design for this project. I hope it provides a great place to sleep.
Bright red enamel paint covers the headboard. Glossy black coats the rails. I left the nuts, bolts and washers exposed. I think they look better that way.
The latest sculpture from Fossil Forge emerged on a humid and cloudy day. This is called Anxiety-Bot. The sculpture is a response piece to another sculpture we have been working on for the Art for Arthritis foundation. Each summer, local artists are paired with children who struggle with arthritis. A child and I created a special piece (I will post photos soon) that is her expression. The body language and personality of the Anxiety-Bot reflect the upcoming departure of a child from the home. The fears, uncertainties and separation are depicted. Anxiety-Bot is made from a variety of metals, including found objects and recycled materials. Red shards of glass fill the torso. Green eyes stare wide open. This sculpture stands almost six-feet tall and is comfortable inside or outside.
Lots of goldfinches have been actively plucking seeds from the purple coneflowers. Bright flashes dart high and low among the flowers. I have seen both males and females. This goldfinch was pretty bold. I was able to get to within a few feet before it shot off.
For several day, the cup plants have been popping. Their bright yellow flowers staring at the sun. Each time I look, they are being visited by an assortment of bees, bugs and flies. The plants have sturdy square stems. Their unusual leaves grow around the stem creating an area for water to collect. No water today, it has been a dry week. But it didn't stop this milkweed bug from having a look.
Finished the hand sculpture this weekend. The piece is crafted around 24 handprints, representing one family. Each print is hand cut from steel. The tricky part is composing all of them. Lots of designs and redesigns, until I find a composition that works. Colorful orange and green glass accent each corner. The entire sculpture has a lightly brushed finished. This artwork will be inside, so the natural steel finish will last.
I have a couple of projects working at the moment. The hand sculpture piece is coming together nicely. These are fun to compose with all the handprints. Have a lot to finish on this one. But I like how it is coming together. Leigha's Art for Arthritis sculpture is chugging along. I finished the mortarboard base and worked on the flowers. I can see the finish line on this one.
The corners of the hand sculpture will be capped with these sockets and a beautiful piece of glass.
This photo shows the start of the composition of hands.
Probably not the most comfortable mortarboard. But it works for a sculpture base.
Measuring, cutting and welding are the main steps in building a frame for the hand sculpture project. I am using one-inch square tube. The exposed ends will be capped.
Fossil Gardens is settling into the hot session of summer. This weekend, temperatures danced around 100. The plants and insects were busy doing their plant and insect things. The back corner of the original prairie garden (planted 2005) is maturing nicely. Coneflower, big bluestem, rudbeckia, milkweed and my favorite: cup plant (in the foreground) are doing well. The hot temps are no bother. Lots of pollinators in action. I have observed a variety of bees, wasps, flies and butterflies visiting the flowers. The small house structure (in the background) is called a bee house. It is meant to provide nesting sites for native wood-boring bees, which are crucial pollinators.
Working (alongside Leigha again) this summer to make a special sculpture for the annual Art for Arthritis auction. This piece is a couple of months in the making. Today was blistering hot in the shop, over 100 degrees. And that was before we fired up the forge! Needless to say, we worked up a sweat. Leigha helped me muscle some parts together. I'll assemble the remaining pieces this week. Check back for the finished sculpture. And news about the auction!
Started a new project today. This will be a really cool wall-mounted hand sculpture. Lots of cutting of steel. The weather was beautiful, cool and rainy. Felt like working all day.
One of the goals, here at Fossil Gardens, is to restore the ecosystem that once dominated this area. This region of west central Missouri was defined by the prairie. A savannah-like setting was found in Lee's Summit. Groupings of huge black walnut, hackberry and bur oak sheltered a rich biological garden beneath their limbs. Picture rolling prairie grasses with islands of trees dotting the landscape. This photo shows the first few months growth of grasses and forbs.
I was able to take a couple of photos yesterday of the praying mantis sculpture in its garden home. Still need to get back over there when the light is better, but here is a new shot.
Put the finishing touches on the big metal mantis yesterday. This bug is made from a variety of metals, both new and recycled. The mantis stands more than six-feet tall. The sculpture is headed to a garden, here in Lee's Summit. When it is in place, I will post some more photos.
The creature is beginning the get some personality. I finished the face and head. Now, I just have to wait until the glass eyes firm up in the glue.
The sculpture is standing tall on four legs. Right now, the piece is about five feet tall, minus the head.
The sculpture continues to take shape. The frame is complete. And now I am adding the wing structures.
Been working on a pretty cool sculpture this week. Here is the start. Can you guess what it will be? Hint: It’s a beneficial insect.
This has been a busy week in and out of the shop. On Wednesday, I installed the stair railings at a private residence. These matched the deck railings that were installed last week. This was a tricky project. Lots of angles. Different angles. The rails are made from 1 1/2 inch square tube. The pickets are 1 inch strips of steel. The client wanted the pickets to match the look of their existing deck furniture. The entire project is coated with a bronze enamel paint. Very tough against the elements. Here are a few shots of the piece.
This section of stair rail is steeper than the other. Each ground post is set in concrete.
