WONDER ON BUXTON, SCULPTURE SERIES

The conceptual designs for these works were drawn with paper and pencil and then photographed and uploaded to Photoshop for further revisions and refinement. The designs were then printed out and I worked from the 2D designs to build out the form of the large-scale sculptures. I start with the general form and movement of the lines in the drawing and then arrive at the completed sculpture through a series of material additions and edits. All of the pieces are constructed using steel and concrete. I constructed all of the works on my family farm and at JTL Workshop in Grinnell, Iowa. Each sculpture is supported by an internal armature and base, which consist of painted steel, and the exterior sculptural shape and surface is constructed out of polymer-modified, fiber-reinforced concrete. I use a variety of fabrication techniques to make each of the sculptures. In brief, I utilize board molds to form the concrete, apply a wire mesh over a steel armature to build out the general form, and then apply a coat of concrete over the mesh. When necessary, I also use mortar and adhesives to stack, build on, and attach multiple parts together in order to arrive at the final sculpture.

Bundle of Balloons. Steel and concrete. 60" x 60" x 72". Wonder on Buxton. Indianola, IA. 2025