Started the single Cherry!!

I finally went for it and started the single Cherry on the smaller stone !!

Monday 30th November 2009

Thursday 3rd December 2009

Saturday 5th December 2009

Half Size model

I was daunted by the size of the stone for the cherries.  Rather than just launch into the sculpture in stone, I decided to do a half scale model first.  This would enable me to figure out the best way to approach the sculpture and work out a procedure/process of how to carve the sculpture. I made up a half size block by cementing “Quinlite” blocks (lightweight very soft building blocks) together and then carving it!

I have still a way to go, but getting there slowly.

Clay Model

 

 

Stone Delivery

On Monday 2nd November the two large blocks of Kilkenny limestone arrived. It had been several weeks since I had gone to McKeon’s Quarry at Threecastles in Co. Kilkenny.  In the meantime I had been trying to find a place to carve the sculpture. The place I was hoping to work (a large dry barn with electricity) didn’t materialize. I didn’t really want to work at home as I would always be distracted by home chores.  I found another barn fairly close by but not as dry.

I also got the corners cut off the smaller stone (the single cherry) by McKeons at their yard in Stradbally in Co. Laois. They did this with a 3.0m circular saw. Unfortunately I wasn’t there to see it in action and get a few photos.

The most important thing was I had to arrange transport for the large blocks. Loading at the quarry was not a problem as McKeons would do that with their massive quarry fork truck. The problem was unloading at the other end. I estimated that the larger block weighed approximately 7.0 tonne. This would require a lifting crane (hi-ab) of at least 10 tonne capacity. The other consideration was that the truck needed to be small enough to get down the small boreen to the barn I was to work in.

So, last Monday I met the lorry at Threecastles quarry and the blocks were load on without any problem.

Dan (from the quarry) and Pat (the lorry driver) supervising loading.

All loaded up

I was very concerned that lorry would get stuck getting to and from the barn as it was situated on the far side of a grassed over yard and it had been extremely wet in the preceeding days. However, the first problem was that even though the barn was a high barn, there wasn’t enough height to unload. The lorry reversed out (without getting stuck thankfully) and the smaller stone was lifted off and telescopically placed in the middle of the barn. Unfortunately (you could say stupidly), I had forgotten to ensure the blocks be place the right way up when loading at the quarry. So, we had to turn the block.

The large block was next. The crane really struggled lifting the block, it could only lift the block close to to the crane and the cranes arm could not be extended. As a result the block could only be placed half in and half out of the barn!!

The goods news was the truck got out without getting stuck!!

The blocks in place with some bemused on-lookers

Thanks to Dan Fitzpatrick, Niall and Barry Kavanagh of McKeon Stone and Pat Rooney from Carlow Precast for the transport and unloading.

More Cherry Studies

Before I start on the actual full size stone, I need to be sure that I have the form completely worked out. So I have been doing additional sketches.

I will be undertaking a quarter size model in polystyrene and a half sized model in light weight concrete blocks.

Stone Shopping

On Wednesday 7th October, I went to Three Castles Quarry at Threecastles, Co. Kilkenny. It is apperoximately half way between Freshford and Kilkenny City. I went with a friend who is a well known and highly respected sculptor and she introduced me to the quarry manager and advised me on the best stone for carving.  We looked at the already cut blocks of stone to see if any were suitable.

There will be two parts to the scuplture, the main piece (the two joined/twinned cherries) and a separate smaller piece (the single cherry).  I estimated the measurements of a block for the larger piece would need to 1.8m x 1.3m x 1.2m and for the smaller 1.2m x 1.0m x 1.0m. We selected a number of possiblities to be priced.

Three Castles Quarry – the main quarry face with large blocks of limestone being cut from the quarry face.

The prosessing area where blocks are cut for paving slabs

Cut blocks of limestone

Possible block for the twin cherries

Possibble block for single cherry

More blocks!!

Winning Submission!!

At the begining of the summer I was informed by Wexford Co. Council Arts Department that I had won the percent for Art Commision for Cherryorchard Housing scheme. This was a great thrill for me. This is the first commission that I have won so it was tinged with slight nervousness. The letter said I had won the competition, however, it was not an offer of the commission. I had to first ensure I was tax compliant and insured and I had to agree to various conditions of Wexford Co. Council’s before the Contract could be issued and signed.

On 18th September 2009 I recieved the signed Contract. So, officially I was ready to go.

This blog is now my record of how the commission is progressing, the sculpting process and the installation process. The sculpture will be commissioned on the 30th April 2010.  I will also produce a book (mainly based on this blog) as part of the commission. Any comments are welcome especially from residents of Enniscorthy and in particular those in Cherryorchard II.

Finally, I would like to say a big thank you to Sinead Redmond and all those in the Arts Department of Wexford Co. Council.

Stone Maquette (unfinished) submitted to show general form and texture of proposed sculpture

Large Models

Large models made from corri-board

Study of Cherries

Study of the form and shape of cherries.

Getting stone for Maquette

I first went to Feleystone in Paulstown, Co. Kilkenny to price the stone for the final piece. They kindly gave me a small block of stone for the maquette. However, when I got the stone home and cleaned it, I found it was much to busy (too many fossils).  I got another block from Philip Hardings in Bagenalstown (kindly donated) which was much more suitable.

Feleystone Quarry, Paulstown, Co. Kilkenny

About to set to to carve the stone maquette