Here are two projects I did with the community making large whale sculptures of an Orca and a Humpback whale click on thumbnails to see larger image
In 1990 the Pratt Museum asked me to direct a project that would involve students at the Homer Community College. It would be educational in nature, we would study Orca Whales and also create a realistic half scale model of one.
The whale was built in the Homer High School wood shop using their space and tools and would eventually be hung in the commons. The dimensions ended up being around 12 feet long and about 3 feet in diameter.
25 students , both adults and teens participated as assemblers, formers and painters while I designed and planned the work progress. We finished the project in six weeks and hung the whale with steel cables in the commons where it remains today.
As a volunteer at our local Assisted Living I held many art class sessions and helped the residents create a number of display pieces. This Humpback Whale and calf was the most elaborate and advanced.
It is made with a cardboard and stick frame, stuffed with newspaper and then covered with paper mache. A final coat of paper pulp was added and sanded to a smooth finish. It was painted with acrylics to achieve realistic markings.
This piece is only 40" long and is suspended by small steel cables from the cieling of the dining area at Friendship Terrace in Homer. It was a satisfying and fun experience.
