Sculpture and Art For Public and Private Places By Joseph Drury

CURRENT PUBLIC ART PROJECTS

"Waterfall V" is the model for a multi-colored Powder Coat Steel Relief Sculpture. I was one of two finalists commissioned by the City Of Eugene to complete our proposals for the 5' x 12' high relief sculpture panel at the downtown overpark. This Sculpture is to be completed next spring.

I have proposed a final design for "Waterfall V":

This sculpture is a panel relief that Suggests a waterfall cascading from the Overpark Elevator in downtown Eugene. The 5' x 12' relief sculpture is created from multi colored weather and vandal proof powdercoated steel elements bolted and rivited together to a powdercoated steel frame bolted to the recessed wall at the base of the north elevation.

Elements extend and overlay from the base panel to form a composite piece that may be suggestive of a high mountain waterfall, or a non-objective pattern of flashing secondary colors.

Some of the elements high on the piece may have a limited a mobility that will allow them to interact with wind and water, thereby reflecting sunlight and the night-lights from the street.

I am happy to work with the architect and contractor to ensure that this sculpture exibits a high level of permanence, appropriate clearance, safety, and vandal resistance.

Detailed proposal for the "Waterfall V" Sculpture Relief:

This is a 5' x 12' Relief Sculpture for the Art Project at the Overpark, Eugene, Oregon

The 5' x 12' relief sculpture is created from multi-colored weather and vandal resistant powdercoated steel elements riveted and bolted together to a steel frame which is bolted to the recessed wall at the base of the north elevation.

Elements extend and are overlaid from the base panel to form a composite piece that may be suggestive of a high mountain waterfall, or a non-objective pattern of flashing secondary colors.

Some of the elements high on the piece may have a limited a mobility that will allow them to interact with wind and water, and street traffic vibrations thereby reflecting sunlight and the night-lights from the street.

Concept and construction - detail description.

My concept is to develop a relief sculpture which is at once abstract and supra real. Building on recent work in the "Waterfall" series, I am now developing exterior color forms that extend earlier ideas.

"Waterfall V" towers over a passing viewer with strong columns which lift up and away from the exterior wall to a point above the viewer.

From the street the view allows a better understanding of the supra real perspective at work.

From across the street the viewer becomes more involved with the bright color contrasts in an otherwise rather dark corridor. From above the view becomes again more of an abstract.

1) Design drawings

My computer design and rendering of this sculpture has allowed me to work with shape and color possibilities, scaling and modeling through many variations to best envision how the completed work will appear from many angles. In this process, I then broke out the individual components to develop scaled working drawings and construction plans for cutting, powdercoating, and fabrication.

Building a scaled model allowed me to consider changes in detail and to revise the design based on observations and new ideas I developed during the cutting and model construction.

2) Construction plans indicating color, dimensions, scale, depth

Construction plans indicate how the powdercoat color application is to be applied. Each piece will have 2 colors applied with the dominant color as base. The colors are broadly blended across the surfaces. A black matt powder coat finish is applied on the back side of each piece to completely protect all surfaces.

Plans indicate how each element is to be sized and cut for construction, and how the relief depth is to be scaled from 2" at the the bottom of sculpture to 28" at a hight of about 10'.

3) Scale Model

The scale model is built to explore how the the separate elements will fit together, and allow viewing from many locations around the sculpture.

4) Materials, method of attachment, vandel-resistant features

This sculpture will be constructed from 12 and 16 gage steel plate laser and shear cut to to the required forms. All edges will be faired out to eliminate any sharp edges. Each element will be attached to the base plate with stainless steel bolts welded to the the inside surface of the plates, then bolted through the base plate with aircraft lock nuts, and washers.

All lock nuts are inaccessible to the public once installation is complete. Several pieces will have additional tabs that lock into adjacent elements, and blind bolts through to the base plate.

Epoxy cement will be used to chalk together any areas necessary to assure all elements are inseparable from the base elements below to a height of 8 ' above street level.

Finally, all elements are bolted and epoxy to back plate Stainless steel bolts are welded to the back surface of 5' x 12' powdercoated back plate and attached with epoxy into blind holes drilled into the elevators concrete wall. Maintenance should be limited to an occasional high pressure water powerwash. Grafiti can be removed with ordinary paint thinner.

5) Samples of materials, surface treatment, and colors

Powdercoating was chosen as a surface treatment because of the wide color variation and flexibility possible, and because the surface provides extreme durability. Polyester exterior grade powdercoat will be used throughout.

Background Information about the Powdercoat Surface

Information on powdercoating provided by and IPC, and TS Industries at their Websites.

A) What Is Powder Coating?

Since its introduction in North America almost 40 years ago, powder coating has become the fastest growing finishing technology, currently representing over 10 percent of the total industrial finishing market.

Finishing engineers for a countless array of products have switched from liquid finishing to powder coating as a way to produce a high quality and durable finish while maximizing production, cutting costs, improving efficiency, and complying with increasingly stringent environmental regulations.

B) Reasons for use as a sculpture surface

Powder coated surfaces resist corrosion, abrasion, fading, impact and reaction to extreme weather conditions. In addition, powder coating offers a virtually unlimited array of color selections and finishes. From hot pink to jet black; from smooth surface to wrinkled textures, and everything in between.

C) How does it work?

Powder coating is a dry finishing process, using finely ground particles of pigment and resin these particles are electrostatically charged and sprayed onto a part to be coated. The coating process can be done manually or automatically with a wide variety of available equipment.
The parts to be coated are electrically grounded so that the charged powder particles projected at them adhere to the parts and are held there until melted and fused into a smooth coating in the curing oven. The result is a uniform, durable, high quality finish that is also environmentally friendly.

D) Why use powdercoat?

The architectural and building market powder coats aluminum extrusions used on frames for windows and doors, and modular furniture. Because of the excellent durability of powder coatings, many highway and building projects use powder coating on light poles, guard rails, posts, and fencing.
Powder coatings provide a wide range of performance properties, offering excellent resistance to corrosion, heat, impact, abrasion, fading from sunlight, and extreme weather.

Color Selection is virtually unlimited with high and low gloss, metallic and clear finishes available. Texture selections range from smooth surfaces to a wrinkled or matte finish, and rough textures designed for hiding surface imperfections. Powder coatings are attractive and durable in both thin or thick film applications to suit the particular requirements of the job.

There are two types of powder coatings.
1) Thermoplastic powder coatings will repeatedly melt when subjected to heat and solidify when cooled, and are especially well suited for thick film applications capable of extreme performance requirements.
2) Thermosetting powder coatings are the most commonly used, undergo an irreversible chemical change during the curing process, and will not soften back to the liquid phase when reheated. Various types of thermosetting resins are available to achieve the desired physical, electrical, chemical, and decorative properties.

The most significant material breakthrough has been the development of engineered resin systems designed to meet the diverse and specific needs of the metal finishing industry. Epoxy resins were used almost exclusively during the early years of thermosetting powder coating and are still in broad use today.

Powder coating suppliers have developed and tailor-formulated hundreds of different types of powders to fit a variety of needs.

E) The Powder Coating Procedure: The industry currently has the capability of powder coating materials up to 5' wide by 6'6" high by 13' in length with a weight limit of 150 pounds per foot.

I will be supervising , and assisting in the custom color process for this sculpture. First, the sculpture is hung on the conveyor and is taken through a five-step washing system where both pH and TDS levels are checked manually.
Components, depending upon base material, will be carefully cleaned using a mixture of mild to aggressively granular media. The process begins with a hard sanding process to create surface "bite" assuring adhesion and consistent powder flow.

A pre-baking cycle purges trapped moisture, oils and gasses that cause surface contamination.
Using a high temperature silicone media, all machined, threaded or "mating" surfaces are carefully masked after the pre-baking cycle. This is followed by an additional chemical cleaning step, completing the preparation process.

Next the parts are coated using a special electrostatic spray gun that is charged with 30,000 - 90,000 volts. This process applies the powder in a smooth and even coating.

Once coated, the parts are cured in our convection style oven at approximately 375 degrees.

After curing the parts are removed from the oven and allowed to cool at which time parts are individually packaged in plastic bags and made ready for pick up. Powdercoating usually requires approximately 7 working days for most jobs.

After the piece has been sealed to protect against rusting, it is sent through an infrared catalytic convection oven for drying. The powder coating booth is surrounded by an environmental room maintained at 80 degrees Fahrenheit and free from any contaminants.

After the powder is applied, the materials are carried to a cure oven where the powder liquefies and bonds. A periodic quality control check occurs to ensure proper curing temperatures and coating thickness.

After a cool down period, the materials are removed from the conveyor and packaged per customer specifications, then shipped.

Powder coating is an environmentally friendly alternative to wet painting. The industry uses state of the art equipment, including a five-stage wash system and infrared ovens, as well as automatic and manual paint guns.

"Two Archways" Span walkway and vibrate in wind"

I currently explore the effects of water and light through  sculpture, painting, and photography. In my most recent sculpture series in process  (see WATERFALL I, II, OUTSIDE ART 95, 96, and WETLANDS, At 5th Annual le Salon Des Re'fuse's) I strive to evoke the wonder I feel while standing beside rapid rivers, mountain waterfalls, and while viewing roiling clouds reflected in still water. Celtic imagery is also an influence in some of my work.
I use essential elements that project this primal wonder. My work combines water, sound, stone, aluminum, Mylar, bronze, copper, and Plexiglas. The works are models for 5 to 36 foot architectural sculpture for public places. I use solar, water, and wind power when possible in my sculpture.

I am also working on several carved wood pieces. This allows me to get back to working from the raw log in a more traditional way.

Public sculpture by Joseph Drury is now available

Inquire at the Alder Gallery 541 - 342-6411

 

JDRURY@NKU.EDUReturn to Joe Drury Home Page