Panther- The Unveiling
What a great ceremony for the unveiling. They did a good job installing it and we are so glad it is done. I’m also elated that the school says it is female. We did not actually “show” the gender. Having it female adds some specialness to this project, you see it was all women who worked on it. Here I am with two of my girls who helped me on the piece- Shirley, and Allison. I call them my Towanda girls. Lots of female energy in the piece!
I was wondering what the sculpture would look like at night. I was a bit concerned that it was being lit from below and it really should be lit from above. I had to fight to keep the eyes the way that I sculpted them and I did so for this reason. The sculpture has intensity.
We did it! I can’t wait to hear what others think about the piece. Please feel free to send me your comments, or post to the blog. And go back to the beginning of this blog to check out the progress, from start to finish. Oh yes, If you pose with the sculpture send me your photographs and I’ll be sure to post them on the blog.
I would like to thank photographer Bill Petty for sending me these photographs.
Panther- I Found This Video Of The Dedication Of The Sculpture
Some Recent Work- The Panther
Thanks to Bill Petty for these photographs. This was installed last week, and there are lots of posts on this blog about how it was done. If you like you can also check out the Prairie View Blog set up for this project.
Prairie View Blog Will Be Updated
As many know I have been working on a huge project with a very tight deadline. I have created a bronze panther for Prairie View A & M University. Today it was installed and dedicated and the crazy schedule of working very, very long hours to make the deadline now ceases. I will be updating the blog with all of the details of the project. For more details check out the Prairie View Panther category on this blog or the clients blog at Prairie View A&M Panther Blog!
The blog for the process of the prairie View A & M panther project can be found at http://prairieviewpanther.blogspot.com
Panther Delivery
Some people take a “first glance” and an early photo opportunity. Then we make a panther fly. The panther is mounted on the pedestal. It is almost ready for the unveiling.
Panther- Packing a Cat
We wake up very early to get the panther ready for the trip to her home. After loading up the panther into the Uhaul we have a little bit of a problem getting the trailer out of the foundry. The wet ground from the previous rains make it difficult. But soon we are on our way.
Threat Against Facebook May Damage Your Reputation
By Bridgette Mongeon
PLEASE NOTE:
I respect all of my Facebook friends and do not post porn, injured animals, or violent images.
This may have to be our post every morning. You may be posting porn or killed puppies, or God knows what, and you will never know that you did it.
Because of a hacking or a virus that is now showing up on many individuals Facebook news feed, your most respected friend, parent or daughter’s news feed might be showing pictures that you would never look at. The problem is, they do not see these pictures on their feed. They have no idea what is being spread or said about them. It is that their account is a part of a malicious hacking over much of Facebook.
On November 5th, 2011, “Anonymous” made a threat agasint Facebook. It is unclear if this is activity is actually the hand of Anonymous. However, there is definitely something happening to Facebook and it is damaging the reputations of individuals.
I woke up this morning and wondered a few things
1. What did Facebook have to say about this and what were they doing?
2. How can I protect my account?
3. What should I do if I see this on my Facebook feed?
Writer Emil Protalinski from ZDNet is keeping up with what is happening and he just posted this November 15th story “Facebook confirms images of porn and violence, is investigating “
That is it? They are investigating. This is not enough; I would certainly like to know more. I like Facebook, and use it for work, education and social purposes. As a writer and an artist I spend a lot of time in my office and studio, it is nice to stay connected through this social media. Through it, I have gained and developed friendships, and business contacts and I can see what is happening with my family and stay connected. I have walked through some difficult times with my Facebook friends, but, like others, if this continues I will have to leave. I’m anxious to see how it can be resolved.
WHAT CAN I DO?
I’m not sure what I can do exactly. I’m guessing here and please note that I am. If you are like me, when you have seen the images you have looked away, scrolled quickly but terrified to click on anything about this post, incase it should “drag you into the spam.”
HERE IS MY PLAN OF ACTION
Report Each Post
I have decided to report each post.
To do this, in the corner of the post, you will see a drop down triangle, click on it and then “report as spam”
I also am going to the person’s page and posting a message to them.
“My facebook friend, I just wanted you to know that your account was apparently hacked as I just received a horrible picture of a mutilated puppy on the newsfeed with your name attached to it. I am sure you didn’t send this. I marked it as spam. I do hope you can resolve this. ”
If they are a close friend I might add, “I would like to stay in touch, when you know it is resolved, please let me know, for now, I’ll block your feed. Good luck and, by the way, here is an article I wrote about this problem, should you need some help. ‘Threat against Facebook May Damage Your Reputation.’”
I hope if I am attacked someone will show me the same curtesy instead of mumbling under their breath and deleting me.
Unsubscribe
You can also unsubscribe from that person if you wish. This is apparently in the same drop down triangle but the moment I mark it as spam the triangle disappears.
How to protect your site?
Secure Server
I have my Facebook site set on a secure server. Look at your url when you are on facebook. Does the url begin with https or http? If it is just http, then you are not secure.
To set your account to secure setting go to Account Settings – Click Security on the left top corner – click Edit next to Secure Browsing, Check box, click Save.
Watch for Spam, don’t get fooled
Don’t click on anything that is a vote on this or you must watch this video. SPAM is everywhere, be careful.
What if I am already attacked?
Here is a link to what facebook says. https://www.facebook.com/help/hacked
And this step-by-step article “Help! My Facebook Account has been Hacked” by Andy O’Donnel might help
I know many of you also consider Facebook a kind of home or meeting place. We have to protect it the best we can, as well as our reputations.
____________________________________________________
You are welcome to use this article on your facebook or blog, I encourage you to do so. I also encourage you to send it those friends who have been hacked.
OTHER ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC
Here are some other articles about this, should you want to protect yourself.
HOW TO: Avoid and Prevent Facebook Spam
March 28, 2011 by Christina Warren
Facebook users hit by hardcore porn, violence and animal abuse images
by Graham Cluley on November 15, 2011
A Thesis And Graduation
It has been nearly three years. That is how long it takes to complete a Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts degree at Goddard College in Vermont. I am just now coming off of that “writing my thesis” zone. Just waiting for the final thoughts, need to write my last paper and then it is all finalized come February 5th in Vermont.
For those of you who don’t know I kept a dual track while at Goddard. Part 1 was in Sculpting and Digital Technology—Part II was writing. I have been away, in a fog for the last few months, but I’m back!
The Coloring of a Panther
Once the sculpture is complete and approved by the artist, the foundry does one final sandblasting and then begins the patination. Patinas are created by putting chemicals on the hot bronze. Once the patination is on a coat of wax is put over the entire sculpture. The sculpture will have to be waxed on a regular basis to maintain its finish.
Piece of a Panther
Each of the many pieces of bronze must be welded together. The foundry man is a master craftsmen, he must match the texture. The artist monitors the entire process being sure everything is going together the way it should.
