Sculpture
Lights, Camera, Action!
Lighting a sculpture is very important. Unfortunately there was nothing in the budget for lighting of Norma so we are trying to work with the lighting that is there. We have two spots on the wall that we have been vacillating between. So we had a late night rendevous and took some photographs.
This is the documentation of Sculptor Bridgette Mongeon who created the Norma Zenteno Sculpture and Kippy for Zenteno Spirit and Barrio Dogs. You can find the process blog for this project at http://normasculpture.blogspot.com/
At The Foundry
The casting of John Turner is actually featured on Bridgette Mongeon’s main website. Check out
Preparing to Sculpt
Making a Mold
The Wax
Casting and Metal
Delivery and Installation
Also: This is a sculpture created of John Turner for the city of Frisco. The entire project is documented on a project blog at https://johnturnersculpture.blogspot.com/
What you are seeing here actually happened weeks ago.
WAXES: In each rubber mold wax is poured or brushed. The wax is not solid but it is hollow. The pieces will be cast this way and put together in metal.
THE DIP: After the foundry makes the waxes they are dipped into a slurry mixture and coated with sand. This makes a ceramic shell both inside and out. This process is not captured on this blog.
THE POUR: The wax is burned out of the shell and molten bronze is poured into each of the pieces. This process is often referred to as the “lost wax method of bronze casting.”
CHASING:
There is still much to do. Each shell must be broken off of the bronze, the metal is then cleaned and each of the pieces will be welded together.
WELDING:
It is a little horrific seeing John and the dog cast about and in pieces. The weld marks look horrible as well, but the foundry workers are artists and can blend each of the welds seamlessly. On April 27, I’ll be headed to the foundry to “check the metal.” I’ll go over everything and circles any areas that I feel need attention.
This is a sculpture created of John Turner for the city of Frisco. The entire project is documented on a project blog at https://johnturnersculpture.blogspot.com/
Mold Making- John Goes To Pieces
These last few weeks have been very busy, here in the studio and then at the foundry. You saw how we were cutting up John in various sections. Now it is time to make a mold. Each section has a seam, or seams. Then rubber is painted over the entire piece, section by section. After 4 layers of rubber, plaster has been added. This is all a part of the foundry process. The final rubber molds are cleaned and sent to the foundry.
This is a sculpture created of John Turner for the city of Frisco. The entire project is documented on a project blog at https://johnturnersculpture.blogspot.com/
It Is All About The Family, Friends And… Food
If you read my previous post you will begin to understand that the connections that I have and that are made to those friends and relatives of my subject are crucial to infusing life into the sculpture.
If there is anything that can make this sculpture “sing,” pun intended, it is getting to know and hearing the stories of Norma. That is where you as the reader come in. You know Norma, you have experiences with Norma, share, tell, teach me who she is, and slowly I begin to feel and see Norma. Then I see it happen over and over again, that passion is transferred to the clay and in the end… to the viewer.
Here is one thing I learned yesterday- Norma was all about family. I should have known that. I mean she played music with her family. But yesterday I felt it. And in doing so, it was as if Norma was right there behind my shoulder introducing me to everyone.
Plans were made to go to the proposed site and take some photo reference of Angie, Norma’s daughter posing as Norma in Norma’s clothes. Somehow that got lost in the translation of the day, and instead the entire family Norma’s brothers Ernie, Bobby and Javier, long with his wife Gloria, Norma’s son Miles and his girl friend jackie and Norma’s Daughter Angie and her boyfriend Chris all met at the place where the sculpture will one day reside. Even Norma’s mom Elsa Zenteno came.
Sculptor Bridgette Mongeon, Chris (Angie’s boyfriend),
Ernie Zenteno, Gloria Zenteno, Javier Zenteno, Bobby Zenteno,
Elsa Zenteno (Mama Z)
Those not shown, but there earlier in the day. Miles Towns Zenteno
(Norma’s youngest son, who got the music genes) Jacki Davis (Miles girlfriend)
Instead of being there for a photo sitting to take reference for the sculpture, the family all shared their thoughts about the placement, pose and outfit that Norma should be wearing. There were a lot of ideas shared, and when thinking about it— they were shared with huge smiles and a great deal of excitement that was infectious. Somehow, I think Norma was probably that way—infectious in her charm, livelihood and presence. One of the brothers mentioned their playing and said something like there is no longer a … not sure the term he used, but when he said it a flood of pictures came to my mind. What was missing in this family band —the lead singer, the one that got the attention, that sparked the crowd on, flirted with the music and her brothers to bring a crescendo of intensity and involvement from both audience and musicians. I never had the opportunity of knowing Norma. Right now I am sorry I never got to see her live in her element, with her family, creating. I am sure it was something to experience.
We rescheduled the photo sitting for another day. The family has work to do, in that we we need to see the placement of the sculpture at night. This means that the family will have to go and stage the piece to see what it will look like under the lighting that is already there. They will take some photos and send them to me. Then, we did what close families do- we went and ate. I was so thrilled to be invited.
There is something about sitting down to a meal with the family for which I am creating a piece of art. Believe it or not, in my long career of creating sculpture, especially posthumous sculpture, I rarely get to do this. Many people I don’t even meet as they live in New England, or Alaska or another state. I am loving that the Zenteno family is here and so inviting. I may often appear quiet at the table, yes even after a margaritta, but I’m absorbing everything and thinking.
Norma’s mom shares a story of Norma when she was little and how she thought she would run faster than someone who road their bike. She tied herself to the bike to prove it and came home all torn up. She smiled, the smile of a mom remembering. I looked at Moma Z and felt her love for her daughter, her strength involved in raising such a large family of boys and one girl- Norma- the oldest. The endearing nature of the entire family toward Norma, and of total strangers that I have been introduced to. Many who meet me and hear about the sculpture project same Norma’s name, with that same family sparkle. This… this family, and friends, and love I can feel and inspires my muse. How can I possibly infuse it into the clay, it is more than I have felt in any of my posthumous commissions. OK Norma, I’ll need some assistance here.
More to come:
Please contribute and share the news of this project. With your help we can make this happen. For more information about donations please visit the Norma Zenteno Sculpture Page.
This is the documentation of Sculptor Bridgette Mongeon who created the Norma Zenteno Sculpture and Kippy for Zenteno Spirit and Barrio Dogs. You can find the process blog for this project at http://normasculpture.blogspot.com/
The Opening Of Evelyn’s Park
April 22nd was Earth day but this year in 2017 it was also the long awaited opening of Evelyn’s Park Conservancy in Bellaire, Texas. We had hoped the sculpture “Move One Place On” would be installed before the opening, but it is delayed at the foundry. We did have one metal piece – the dormouse, that will sit on the table. We also brought some of the hidden objects and talked to everyone about the sculpture that is schedule to arrive in November- we think- we are still waiting for a new confirmation from the foundry. This is the spot where the table and characters will be- one the Corner of Bellaire Blvd and Mulberry Lane. Keep watching on this blog or the Finding Alice Facebook page for more information.
Getting To Know Norma
Today was an exciting day as I met with the family of Norma Zenteno. I’ll soon be starting a sculpture of Norma for the family. The sculpture is of a young Norma playing guitar while a dog looks on. The family will be placing this sculpture at the Brown Foundation Plaza on Harrisburg in Houston’s East End. The sculpture honors Norma and the work of Barrio Dogs.
The family and I sat together and talked about the scheduling details, fundraising and contracts, then parted, but at the last minuteI asked if I could see the place where the family was installing her.
Let me back up a bit, If you don’t know my work, I am known for quite a few things in the fine art field. I often incorporate digital technology in my traditional process as I talk about in my last book, I love sculpting children, For a while there everyone referred to me as “the cat girl” because I created the Prairie View Panther for Prairie View University and the very large Grambling Tiger for Grambling State University. I guess recently people know me for the monumental sculpture of Alice in Wonderland’s Mad Hatter Tea party which will be installed in November and can be seen on both the Facebook page and the website.
I am also known for my sculptures of deceased loved one. For many, this may sound like a very macabre thing to do, but I love it. A few years back Texas Country Reporter created a segment on this portion of my art. I love developing a relationship with the deceased; I love helping families and individuals come together around the likeness of a loved one that I create. I love giving recognition to an individual and honoring their life through my art.I have written much about this process of sculpting deceased loved ones, and one day I hope to publish a book about it.
In walking this one path of my creative journey, I have found that there are some incredible things that happen. It has been a while since I created a life-size sculpture of a deceased loved one. I had almost forgotten about the connections and unusual occurrences that happen when beginning this creative process. It is strange, unusual, wonderful and incredibly inspirational.
That is what happened today. On the way to the destination for the sculpture, I began to get a “feel” for a part of the sculpture. There is a thing that happens during these types of commissions that I can only describe as a “knowing.” Though it has happened over and over again with countless posthumous commissions, it never ceases to excite me. In the case of Norma, it is like she is walking beside me, causing things to happen or showing me how things should go. She solidifies our connection and is in the details, and slowly I get to know her and develop a relationship with her even though we have never met.
I’m delighted with what transpired today. I can’t wait for our next meeting when we prepare some photo reference for the project. The family will be a part of this sitting, a loved one is taking her place wearing clothes similar to Norma’s so that I can get a feel for this. I love this. In creating posthumous sculpture, I have found that those sculptures that have the most life are those that have a strong emotional connection brought on by the interaction and sharing by those who knew and loved the subject. Somehow, their energy and love is fused within the clay. It is very exciting. I can’t wait for the up and coming sitting. I’ll share that soon. In the meantime. I have a new friend. She is not on this earth, but I’m having a great time getting to know her, and watching the light in the eyes of her family as we bond.
Feel free to help to infuse this sculpture. Share your stories to help me bond with Norma. These stories, help me to connect to Norma. Your love and memories are transferred to the clay and bring Norma to life. The Zenteno family has set up a website to begin to receive donations for this sculpture. Thank you for being a part of the creative process.
This is the documentation of Sculptor Bridgette Mongeon who created the Norma Zenteno Sculpture and Kippy for Zenteno Spirit and Barrio Dogs. You can find the process blog for this project at http://normasculpture.blogspot.com/
Local Press About Alice
Much thanks to the Buzz Magazine for the wonderful article. Thank you Jodan Maziner Steinfeld.
The Mold Making Process- John Goes To Pieces
Anyone unfamiliar with the bronze casting process pretty much freaks out when they see this part. We go to great lengths to get the sculpture prefect and then we have to cut it up all over again. How do I do that? With a reciprocating saw, knives and anything I can. The many pieces are seamed up using playing cards. Some things like the dog, I will cut apart later. We did the mold of the top of the dog, flipped him and this allowed me to add detail on his belly without standing on my head to do it. The mold making process is a long one. Usually t he foundry does this process, but here at B. Mongeon Sculpture Designs Studios we do it ourselves.
This is a sculpture created of John Turner for the city of Frisco. The entire project is documented on a project blog at https://johnturnersculpture.blogspot.com/
Approval Of The Sculpture Of John Turner
This is the halfway point of this process. I know it feels like we have done a lot with the sculpture already. The milestone comes with the approval. I love when a client comes to the studio and sees a sculpture for the first time. There was a bit of work that we did on the sculpture of John after this point, and the dog changed considerably, but overall it was a great approval process. The client was pleased and we are on to the next part of the process. The mold making of John and his dog.
John was standing there when she walked back in.
This is a sculpture created of John Turner for the city of Frisco. The entire project is documented on a project blog at https://johnturnersculpture.blogspot.com/
Moving Forward- The Dog
Along with these I had
about 10 movies of walking dogs.
The difficulty about creating a blog that documents the progress of a sculpture is that when you are knee deep in creating the sculpture you have very little time for blogging. So here we go, backdating some of these posts and letting you know the progress.
You can never have enough reference. It is something I say often in my life as a sculptor. I spent hours learning about seeing eye dogs, talking to the Seeing Eye in New Jersey, watching video of how a dog walks. I studied the anatomy of a walking dog and reviewed many movies. There were changes and modifications that we made after approval and I pulled the love of dogs, the love of some specific dogs and the love for seeing eye dogs into one clay sculpture that would be made into a bronze. This was no easy task. This dog probably had a little of my own love and loss. While creating it my family suffered a horrible tragedy. My daughter and son in law’s house burned down and their family dog, Sam was lost. Sam was a rescue dog that I fostered for years before they adopted her. So as I labored over this dog, I thought about Sam. Lots of love went into this dog. Here are some photographs of the progress of creating John’s dog.
sculpting means a little bit of acrobatics.
This is a sculpture created of John Turner for the city of Frisco. The entire project is documented on a project blog at https://johnturnersculpture.blogspot.com/
carve, add clay, step back cut something off, move it, add clay.
This is what I do all day long.
the dog, adding clay, carving foam, moving
limbs. This is my sculptor’s dance.
and John’s hand must line up.
on the floor, it feel good to sit in a chair and work.
This is a sculpture created of John Turner for the city of Frisco. The entire project is documented on a project blog at https://johnturnersculpture.blogspot.com/