[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] it all started with fire I was a drawing
it all started with fire I was a drawing
it all started with fire I was a drawing and painting major at the University of
and painting major at the University of
and painting major at the University of Southern Mississippi when one day I
Southern Mississippi when one day I
Southern Mississippi when one day I stumbled into the sculpture studio and
stumbled into the sculpture studio and
stumbled into the sculpture studio and it was amazing there were sparks
it was amazing there were sparks
it was amazing there were sparks shooting across the room that was metal
shooting across the room that was metal
shooting across the room that was metal everywhere and you could hear the roar
everywhere and you could hear the roar
everywhere and you could hear the roar of a blast furnace in the corner a few
of a blast furnace in the corner a few
of a blast furnace in the corner a few minutes later a couple of guys came out
minutes later a couple of guys came out
minutes later a couple of guys came out all dressed in leather and began pouring
all dressed in leather and began pouring
all dressed in leather and began pouring molten bronze into molds made out of
molten bronze into molds made out of
molten bronze into molds made out of sand and I knew sculpture would be my
sand and I knew sculpture would be my
sand and I knew sculpture would be my path I started making large-scale
path I started making large-scale
path I started making large-scale outdoor works and I continued doing that
outdoor works and I continued doing that
outdoor works and I continued doing that through grad school by the end of it had
through grad school by the end of it had
through grad school by the end of it had dozens of works some in countries like
dozens of works some in countries like
dozens of works some in countries like Finland and Latvia then it was time for
Finland and Latvia then it was time for
Finland and Latvia then it was time for me to go out into the world and it was a
me to go out into the world and it was a
me to go out into the world and it was a scary place for an artist but with a lot
scary place for an artist but with a lot
scary place for an artist but with a lot of diligence hard work and some luck I
of diligence hard work and some luck I
of diligence hard work and some luck I landed a public art Commission now
landed a public art Commission now
landed a public art Commission now public art was a little different from
public art was a little different from
public art was a little different from the art that I’ve been doing before
the art that I’ve been doing before
the art that I’ve been doing before because there was kind of already an
because there was kind of already an
because there was kind of already an idea client knew what they wanted the
idea client knew what they wanted the
idea client knew what they wanted the art to be about I’m thinking this is
art to be about I’m thinking this is
art to be about I’m thinking this is great because one of the largest
great because one of the largest
great because one of the largest challenges for me was deciding what idea
challenges for me was deciding what idea
challenges for me was deciding what idea was important enough to invest all of
was important enough to invest all of
was important enough to invest all of the energy and time and effort it took
the energy and time and effort it took
the energy and time and effort it took to create a large-scale work of art that
to create a large-scale work of art that
to create a large-scale work of art that part was done it was my task as an
part was done it was my task as an
part was done it was my task as an artist to interpret that idea and
artist to interpret that idea and
artist to interpret that idea and translate it into three-dimensional art
translate it into three-dimensional art
translate it into three-dimensional art this is linkage a commission from the
this is linkage a commission from the
this is linkage a commission from the Carter Development Group in conjunction
Carter Development Group in conjunction
Carter Development Group in conjunction with Marta the goal of this work was to
with Marta the goal of this work was to
with Marta the goal of this work was to represent how people and communities are
represent how people and communities are
represent how people and communities are connected through public transit so I
connected through public transit so I
connected through public transit so I designed this form with these aluminum
designed this form with these aluminum
designed this form with these aluminum plates that weave in and out and these
plates that weave in and out and these
plates that weave in and out and these copper plates that roll up and down so
copper plates that roll up and down so
copper plates that roll up and down so I’ve taken the idea of public trains and
I’ve taken the idea of public trains and
I’ve taken the idea of public trains and buses that weave in and out of
buses that weave in and out of
buses that weave in and out of neighborhoods
neighborhoods
neighborhoods and over a landscape and I’ve translated
and over a landscape and I’ve translated
and over a landscape and I’ve translated that idea into this form public art can
that idea into this form public art can
that idea into this form public art can be a powerful tool for community pride
be a powerful tool for community pride
be a powerful tool for community pride in fact oftentimes community members are
in fact oftentimes community members are
in fact oftentimes community members are invited to help in the design of the
invited to help in the design of the
invited to help in the design of the project this is anchored sale before I
project this is anchored sale before I
project this is anchored sale before I started designing this work for South
started designing this work for South
started designing this work for South Bend Park I wanted to meet some people
Bend Park I wanted to meet some people
Bend Park I wanted to meet some people in the community because I wanted to
in the community because I wanted to
in the community because I wanted to know what was important to them about
know what was important to them about
know what was important to them about their neighborhood and why was it
their neighborhood and why was it
their neighborhood and why was it special some of the things we talked
special some of the things we talked
special some of the things we talked about were how people in the
about were how people in the
about were how people in the neighborhood were deeply rooted and they
neighborhood were deeply rooted and they
neighborhood were deeply rooted and they kept using that term rooted and so I
kept using that term rooted and so I
kept using that term rooted and so I decided to implement that into the work
decided to implement that into the work
decided to implement that into the work I designed this intricate root system at
I designed this intricate root system at
I designed this intricate root system at the base of the sculpture that’s
the base of the sculpture that’s
the base of the sculpture that’s interactive and people can hang out
interactive and people can hang out
interactive and people can hang out there and climb on the work another
there and climb on the work another
there and climb on the work another thing we talked about was how the
thing we talked about was how the
thing we talked about was how the community was changing and it was
community was changing and it was
community was changing and it was important for them to honor the history
important for them to honor the history
important for them to honor the history of the community as well as embrace the
of the community as well as embrace the
of the community as well as embrace the future so I designed this kinetic
future so I designed this kinetic
future so I designed this kinetic element at the top of the work with a
element at the top of the work with a
element at the top of the work with a granite stone counterweight that weight
granite stone counterweight that weight
granite stone counterweight that weight represents the heavy historical
represents the heavy historical
represents the heavy historical significance of the community its
significance of the community its
significance of the community its juxtaposed by this shining aluminum sale
juxtaposed by this shining aluminum sale
juxtaposed by this shining aluminum sale the sale cut from aluminum in the shape
the sale cut from aluminum in the shape
the sale cut from aluminum in the shape of South Bend Park represents the bright
of South Bend Park represents the bright
of South Bend Park represents the bright future of the neighborhood these two
future of the neighborhood these two
future of the neighborhood these two elements exist in a delicate balance
elements exist in a delicate balance
elements exist in a delicate balance physically as well as conceptually let’s
physically as well as conceptually let’s
physically as well as conceptually let’s get serious for a minute public art is
get serious for a minute public art is
get serious for a minute public art is fun this is Spider walk commissioned by
fun this is Spider walk commissioned by
fun this is Spider walk commissioned by the city of Sandy Springs for a playable
the city of Sandy Springs for a playable
the city of Sandy Springs for a playable art park a park full of interactive
art park a park full of interactive
art park a park full of interactive climb above playable sculpture I was
climb above playable sculpture I was
climb above playable sculpture I was asked to design something that would be
asked to design something that would be
asked to design something that would be climb about but safe and fun so
climb about but safe and fun so
climb about but safe and fun so naturally for my subject matter
naturally for my subject matter
naturally for my subject matter I chose something terrifying I thought
I chose something terrifying I thought
I chose something terrifying I thought it would be great to start with
it would be great to start with
it would be great to start with something that’s generally considered to
something that’s generally considered to
something that’s generally considered to be really scary and present it in a way
be really scary and present it in a way
be really scary and present it in a way that was inviting and colorful sometimes
that was inviting and colorful sometimes
that was inviting and colorful sometimes I get the opportunity to spread the love
I get the opportunity to spread the love
I get the opportunity to spread the love of art I had a chance to talk to some
of art I had a chance to talk to some
of art I had a chance to talk to some kids about my sculpture and of course
kids about my sculpture and of course
kids about my sculpture and of course the spider was a big hit it’s critical
the spider was a big hit it’s critical
the spider was a big hit it’s critical to expose people to art because it’s a
to expose people to art because it’s a
to expose people to art because it’s a powerful tool of inspiration it promotes
powerful tool of inspiration it promotes
powerful tool of inspiration it promotes open-mindedness and can dissolve the
open-mindedness and can dissolve the
open-mindedness and can dissolve the parameters of conventional thinking
sometimes public art is used to indicate
sometimes public art is used to indicate the significance the historical
the significance the historical
the significance the historical significance of a place this is a
significance of a place this is a
significance of a place this is a commission from the Atlanta BeltLine now
commission from the Atlanta BeltLine now
commission from the Atlanta BeltLine now if you don’t know the Atlanta BeltLine
if you don’t know the Atlanta BeltLine
if you don’t know the Atlanta BeltLine it’s a network of public parks multi-use
it’s a network of public parks multi-use
it’s a network of public parks multi-use trails and transit along a 22 mile
trails and transit along a 22 mile
trails and transit along a 22 mile railroad corridor that circles downtown
railroad corridor that circles downtown
railroad corridor that circles downtown Atlanta the goal of this this work was
Atlanta the goal of this this work was
Atlanta the goal of this this work was to create a sculpture using actual
to create a sculpture using actual
to create a sculpture using actual railroad steel pulled from the Atlanta
railroad steel pulled from the Atlanta
railroad steel pulled from the Atlanta BeltLine which would symbolize the
BeltLine which would symbolize the
BeltLine which would symbolize the historical significance of the railroad
historical significance of the railroad
historical significance of the railroad and its impact on the development of the
and its impact on the development of the
and its impact on the development of the city the question for me was what’s it
city the question for me was what’s it
city the question for me was what’s it going to look like what form will it
going to look like what form will it
going to look like what form will it take so I started digging through the
take so I started digging through the
take so I started digging through the history of the Atlanta Railroad and I
history of the Atlanta Railroad and I
history of the Atlanta Railroad and I found this image of Union Station now
found this image of Union Station now
found this image of Union Station now I’m a big fan of classical Greek and
I’m a big fan of classical Greek and
I’m a big fan of classical Greek and Roman architecture so I was intrigued by
Roman architecture so I was intrigued by
Roman architecture so I was intrigued by this image right away as I kept digging
this image right away as I kept digging
this image right away as I kept digging around I found this picture of Union
around I found this picture of Union
around I found this picture of Union Station as it was being demolished now
Station as it was being demolished now
Station as it was being demolished now this was a striking image for me because
this was a striking image for me because
this was a striking image for me because it was as if the architectural signature
it was as if the architectural signature
it was as if the architectural signature of Union Station
of Union Station
of Union Station was somehow prized it was being allowed
was somehow prized it was being allowed
was somehow prized it was being allowed to survive as long as possible so I
to survive as long as possible so I
to survive as long as possible so I wanted the architectural signature that
wanted the architectural signature that
wanted the architectural signature that classical architecture signature of
classical architecture signature of
classical architecture signature of Union Station to survive through the
Union Station to survive through the
Union Station to survive through the piece so I brought it back this is
piece so I brought it back this is
piece so I brought it back this is 10,000 pounds of railroad track spikes
10,000 pounds of railroad track spikes
10,000 pounds of railroad track spikes anchors and other artifacts forged in a
anchors and other artifacts forged in a
anchors and other artifacts forged in a to a 20-foot 22-foot tall corinthian
to a 20-foot 22-foot tall corinthian
to a 20-foot 22-foot tall corinthian column finally the herd this is a work
column finally the herd this is a work
column finally the herd this is a work of public art but it was not a
of public art but it was not a
of public art but it was not a commissioned I decided to make this work
commissioned I decided to make this work
commissioned I decided to make this work because I had an idea that I thought was
because I had an idea that I thought was
because I had an idea that I thought was worth sharing I had an idea that I
worth sharing I had an idea that I
worth sharing I had an idea that I thought was worth the time and energy it
thought was worth the time and energy it
thought was worth the time and energy it took to create a work of art and that
took to create a work of art and that
took to create a work of art and that idea is this as human beings we have a
idea is this as human beings we have a
idea is this as human beings we have a tendency to get really focused in on
tendency to get really focused in on
tendency to get really focused in on things like work social culture material
things like work social culture material
things like work social culture material stuff and before you know it we can’t
stuff and before you know it we can’t
stuff and before you know it we can’t see in front of us for very far we’re
see in front of us for very far we’re
see in front of us for very far we’re like a herd of goats with our heads down
like a herd of goats with our heads down
like a herd of goats with our heads down to the ground and that’s all we can see
to the ground and that’s all we can see
to the ground and that’s all we can see but this goat reminds us to lift our
but this goat reminds us to lift our
but this goat reminds us to lift our head up look around at your world and
head up look around at your world and
head up look around at your world and enjoy all of the things that it has to
enjoy all of the things that it has to
enjoy all of the things that it has to offer especially art thank you
offer especially art thank you
offer especially art thank you [Applause]
”
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