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Concrete Abstract Modern Artist Contemporary Sculpture > click image to enlarge
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" Concrete Sculpture" 1989-1990 c
As a Modern Artist with all my Modern Sculpture I start out with drawings, plans, and models before actually going into the production of any Outdoor Monumental Sculpture. It is to expensive and time consuming to be spontaneous when creating Contemporary Abstract Sculpture, mistakes prove costly in time and money. Working in Concrete is one of the most complex Modern Contemporary Sculpture mediums to work with due to the many steps involved. Molds, Reinforcement, Pouring, and Finishing Flaws adds up to a lot of steps and labor compared to working in Metal Sculpture. First a interior rebar skeleton must be fitted into wooden molds which break away in at least 3 sections on these Abstract Modern Sculpture to allow the Mold to release without damage. Next the mold must be fitted and attached to a Cor 10 Steel base using silicone on the mold seams of the mold and base connections to avoid leaking which causes flaws in the finish of the Contemporary Sculpture. The interior rebar must be welded to fit perfectly leaving at least 1.5 inches of space between the rebar and mold to avoid the concrete cracking on the Abstract Sculpture. Less than 1.5 inches in the thickness of the concrete around rebar on Contemporary Sculpture will cause cracking when introduced to the elements being a Outdoor Sculpture. The natural process of expansion and contraction from outdoor environmental conditions will prove fatal with less than 1.5 inches of concrete around the rebar. Cracks will appear and once moisture is introduced to the steel inside its like cancer and the rust will eventually destroy the Modern Sculpture from the inside out. These pieces shown on this page were studies done in aluminium and concrete on a steel pedestal. They where around 12 inches tall without the pedestal. On the pedestal they stood around 6.5 feet tall for easy viewing and a interesting installation. These Monumental Sculpture studies were built in a differently than the actual Abstract Modern Sculpture. They were first cut out from aluminium in 4 facets and tack welded to the base with pegs centered on the bottom that fit into holes on the pedestals to secure them and allow the Abstract Concrete Sculpture to revolved by hand revealing all the different views once installed. They were done in Expanded Cement which is used for mounting bolts for architectural applications and sets up fast with a high tensile strength and the ability to hold up with thin dimensions. Expanded Cement was the perfect medium for Modern Concrete Sculpture studies of this size. These are 6 models out of a dozen different configurations I experimented with and were excellent tools for making adjustments before actually going into production with full scale Contemporary Sculptures. Preliminary preparation is critical to avoiding mistakes on finished Abstract Sculpture. |