Dolphins at Play – May/June 2006

Sometimes you just have to sit back and allow the stone to tell you where you are needed. That was the case with ‘Dolphins at Play’. The white, Colorado marble pillar was purchased at Camp Brotherhood the summer of 2005. I had just been sewn up from an abdominal hernia, and therefore required assistance loading the truck. Normally a stone will sit for a year or more before I begin sculpting. This one, along with its base, demanded I focus, and begin as soon as possible to release the dolphins. Sure enough, once I began they appeared, and began playing.

I used several techniques to present my concept. The first of four sides is simple relief, while the second side is a greater detailed relief.

Wanting something for children to enjoy, I brought a dolphin nose out of the stone for them to touch.  Sculpting began at the top where a dolphin clearly rises out of the stone in pursuit of life. The top dolphin becomes abstract as a way of dealing with its fins. Going back to the first side, I kept it a simple relief in order to preserve the stone skin and incorporate it into the piece.

I used almost all of my various tools. Removing bulk stone was accomplished with my air hammer, angle grinder, hand chisel and hammer. Shaping was accomplished with my air and electric grinders, with silicon carbide wheels and coned bits. Polishing was done by hand with 50, 400, and 1,800 grit, 2 X 3 inch diamond polishing pads. Yes, it took a lot of time!

Fastening the pillar and base together for outdoor public display was something completely new to me. I drilled two holes about a foot into the pillar with an 18 inch long, ¾ inch diameter, water core bit, which I had custom made. I then used a template to locate the two holes in the base. The base is dense black granite from India. It took three days to drill the two holes, and they were only six inches deep. I then used a knife-grade epoxy to affix the ½ inch threaded dowel inside the pillar. On the underside of the base, I drilled an inch and a half diameter hole so I could countersink the nut and washer when I attached the two pieces.

Just the other day, on Saturday, April 1st, things came together. With the help of some volunteers, we installed ‘Dolphins at Play’, and another of my sculptures for public display in Puyallup, Washington. The city required a steel plate be secured to the bottom of the base so it can be welded in place to help prevent theft. That was a fun exercise, too. After three and a half months it was good to see my dolphins rising up to play. At about six feet tall, it’s impressive. I was glad to have my dad, Bob, ride along to watch the process.

Not far away is another of my pieces. I completed ‘Form Rising’ two years ago. It stands about three feet tall, and is sculpted from a piece of Serpentine showing a wide range of color. It looks as good as the day it was finished.

If you live in or around Puyallup and are interested in seeing one or both pieces, here’s where they are.  ‘Dolphins at Play’ is located on S. Meridian in position #6 (main street side of public library lawn), a place of honor, I believe. ‘Form Rising’ is at position #19, at the entrance of the train station. They will be on display for one year, and are for sale through the city. The city of Puyallup has a website, www.artsdowntown.org , but it probably hasn’t been updated yet with this year’s sculptures.

After working so long on my kitchen remodel, it’s great to be sculpting again. All is well, here on the Western Front, despite everything else (smile).