#30: mentor, collaborator: aging with substance.

As a guy who claims to be self-taught, I've had a number of mentors.  A dirty, hot, noisy business like the foundry would seem to be populated with rough folk, reticent, even cranky.  Generally, I have found the opposite. I'll pause in a day and swap recipes with a guy dressed in protective gear, face covered in smoke and grime. I'll discuss wine favourites with a fellow who probably didn't finish grade 10. 

When I showed interest in foundry ideas many years ago, the local foundry owners and workers seemed all too happy to help. I was just a starving woodcarver who wanted to cast stuff. Before I knew it, I was in the foundry world, carving various objects for casting in the memorial and giftware field. Every project I brought in for casting would bounce back at me for modification. It was a long journey, learning to prepare three dimensional work for casting. Still, I was a woodcarver with two hungry kids, a guy with one small gig. It was learn or go and work at Home Depot.

I was sort of raised in the business by the original owner of Riverside Brass, right across from my studio in the late 70s. Subsequent owner/managers have been great mentor/collaborators. 

About 10 years ago I was approached by Artcast to mentor a young sculptor from St. John's Newfoundland. He had created his own project, found his own funding, and was looking for a way to cast this large piece in bronze. Artcast thought he might benefit with a  little help creating the master pattern. Morgan MacDonald arrived in January and spent much of the winter in my studio.

The rower is a life-sized figure with an oar riding a metaphorical wave, commemorating the regatta at Quidi Vidi Lake in St. John's. Here he is in my studio, a piece of dowel standing in for the oar.

Morgan turned out to be an amazing anatomist. I had little to suggest in the way of improvements. As I remember, he just worked steadily away, learning my tricks with styrofoam and wax, but mostly bashing away on his own. My studio was big enough that I could do my other work around him.

It is typical of a sculptor to remove various parts for detailing, especially the head. It's just more comfortable to lop off the head, sit in a good chair and get the facial details right. A glob of hot wax will join the whole thing up again.

There are some good photos of the casting in process at Artcast, and some shots of the unveiling here on Morgan's site.

Morgan has become quite a creative force in Newfoundland, establishing his own art foundry and finding a steady number of good projects.

This piece sits close enough to the water to almost be part of the surface. At some point recently it was partially submerged, making it practically row for its life.

It's been fun, working with other artists. It was always a challenge working with assistants, as I don't have the policeman gene. If helpers were going to survive in my studio, they would have to love working alone, coming and going according to the workload and the challenges of the day. I liked the teaching part. So, now I just teach for fun, and work alone. It's better for business!

Still, I think I've added to the creative community a little and hope to do more. There is always hope that those that follow will do things with less struggle, fewer mistakes.