Matt Kirby and I have been working on this 18′ sculpture of his design since April, this for a civic client.  It’ll be made of structural steel (powder-coated black), stainless steel, and cast glass.  To give you an indea of what goes into a piece like this, these shots were taken from a morning of appointments where I met with different subs.

 

Started at the offices of Donald Jack Engineering in North KC, since you can’t fabricate something this massive without making certain that everything passes structural requirements, that the concrete ped is adequate without being excessive, and that you’re joining the various metals in a way that won’t later cause corrosion.  Good old Dave Buck helps me sort through the details, and keeps me from making mistakes.

 

Next stop was Mid-States Supply in the East Bottoms, to see Larry at the order desk.  He advises me on the grade and schedule (thickness) that I want to work with within the confines of the engineer’s recommendations.  We overbuild everything so that each piece will withstand gale-force winds and unexpected stresses, but it’s my job to make sure we do so within budget.  That’s why you must begin with a realistic budget, then stick to it, no matter what sort of creativity you have to employ in doing so.

 

Finished the morning at Union Machine and Tool in KC, KS, where good old Geoff and his crew reviewed fabrication methods with me, how we’ll access the attaching hardware, when we’ll sandblast and paint, and whether or not the base-plate holes align with the template, which is what we’re checking in the photo.  They aligned.

I love these aspects, which are much more fun than sitting behind a desk and coordinating.  After all the freaking paperwork is done, and the 1000 emails sent, nothing beats working in the field with the artists, the trades, and the sun.

Next we’ll get the glass in, then comes final fabrication and assembly, then disassembly, then transport, then reassembly, then dedication.  When that big black drape is pulled off, and the crowd applauds, that will be a great moment for Matt.  Me?  I’ll stand in the background content in knowing that all the details were handled correctly, and that the piece will still be standing long after I’m gone.