Blog

This blog traces my influences, studio practice, learning, and teaching of art.

Malden Arts Switch Boxes, Public Art in MA

History painting for Fellsmere Pond:  Black line in a cross hatch technique was used to tell the story of Elisha Converse. Converse hired Frederick Olmsted to design a pond to protect the Boston Rubber Shoe Factory from another fire.  I must buy a pair of Chuk Taylor's!  Elisha Converse's fourth cousin started the Converse shoe factory.




Restoration of My Public Art Project in Cleveland



The Corduroy Roads, one of six windscreen - benches at Settlers Landing
Sandblasted glass panel before paint application, (A. Winton & his wood body automobile in Cleveland, 1897.)

When the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority contacted me to repair some broken glass panels, I was delighted.  I was told that my public art project is very popular.  The bench - windscreens explore the history of transportation in the Cuyahoga Valley from prehistoric times to the present.  The line drawings I produced were originally photo sandblasted into 1/2" safety glass by Jerry Keller.  I sent the films, which I have in storage, back to Cleveland and Jerry sand blasted the three replacement panels. 

I used black enamel paint which was applied with a brush and squeegee.  The paint filled the sand blasted lines.  After drying overnight the glass panels were scraped with razor blades to remove the surface paint.  This process of inking and wiping is very similar to how an intaglio etching plate is prepared for printing.  


  Jerry has a gallery and studio, Keller Art Glass, in Cleveland's Little Italy.  The workshop has facilities for lots art production of experimentation.  His new idea for decorative glass guitars has been well recieved in galleries around the country.


 
  The finished panels were cleaned and then installed at the Settlers Landing Station in downtown Cleveland.  There are a few more panels to be restored.  I hope to be able to return to my home town this summer to complete the repairs.