Josh Barash is a photographer with a particularly strong eye for capturing sculpture.  The City of West Hollywood Urban Art Program hired him recently to shoot the tree form I made for them last year.

I thought I would choose one or two images to post here, as I watch leaves sprouting everywhere here in New England.  It’s going to be tough to keep it down to two.

Sharn Ure and company at Katherine Spitz Associates

http://www.katherinespitzassociates.com/index_ksa_about.php

did an amazing job making this park into a distinct, beautiful environment.

I think the tree is happy there!  I love how this image captures the lines.  I hope some pedestrians stop, lay down, and grok this.  Might be a bit much to ask.

This amazingly intricate array of welded bronze can almost vanish, depending on where you stand as you look.

Seen from up close in a field of sky, you could never miss it.

I think it works.

Many thanks to:

Beatrix Barker, Art Advisor

The City of West Hollywood.

Andrew Campbell, cultural affairs administrator

Sharn Ure, KSA Landscape Architecture

Samantha Saliter, installation Goddess

http://www.asianculturalcouncil.org/

Here’s what she said:

“Not to be missed is “Ground of Being”, a primal, evocative stone piece by Karl Saliter of Cornwall, CT, whose work appears in galleries and sculpture gardens worldwide.  Something about this piece just makes you smile.  Nearly 100 steel rods reach skyward from a base of stone to a height of three or more feet, with most well over seven feet high.  Every one of them “blooms” with a large, flat rock the size of a pancake at their apex.  To add to the whimsical presentation, in a breeze they sway lazily, calling us to enjoy the day.  While Saliter appreciates the playful quality of (some of) his works, he describes his relationship to stones as reverential.  As he creates these pieces that connote growth or motion, he sees himself as serving the stones.”

Bravo to Artscope, and many thanks to Mill Brook Gallery, and Linda Chestney!  

Wrapping it up in the studio yesterday, almost ready for a lift.

First Backhoe arrives to save the day, before being sent home: sculpture apparently too heavy. It was kind of fun watching the backhoe lifting itself up onto three wheels, trying to grab the piece.

Second backhoe, stronger, arrived shortly after.

Also got spanked.

Crane time.

I love cranes.  I love cranes and Bobcats.  Leaving from my beautiful temporary studio to the site:

Nice Site!  To flip the piece, it became important to balance it on its nose.

I hadn’t thought to build for that contingency: glad it held.

Time to head home.

http://artinplace.org/sculpture/2008/saliter_2008.html

Tonight, I received this email:

Dear Mr. Saliter,

Today my mom, my brother and I drove in our car by a awesome sculpture. We stopped and walked down a path and looked at it and inside it. Then we used it like a stage! I sang a song and my mom and brother listened, then my brother told a story to me and my mom. We wanted to stay there longer, but we had to go get lunch so we did.

I liked how you made your sculpture. It is really cool.

Did you make a hole in the rocks? If you did, how did you make the hole the right size for the bars to fit?

From,

Joe Barrese – 7 (and my brother Andrew – 5)
**dictated to mom, Eleanor Barrese**
(mom included a picture of these guys making brownies)

I was reminded why I switched my emphasis to public art three years ago.  I love making large work, and more than anything, I love people to see, feel, and enjoy it.  I’m happy to include the photo which was sent with the email.  These two gentlemen are the type of art lovers I’m looking to reach.