Sculptor Adapts Construction
     Material for Expression of Form

        A physics major, turned sculptor, has learned to create large concrete-shell artworks by borrowing techniques from the construction industry.  One of those techniques visually enhances his sculpture by adding a color variable to the finished shape.
        He discovered this medium while seeking a solution to the high cost of large outdoor sculpture and the logistical problems encountered with large stone and cast pieces.   Michael Don Fess, while living in Shreveport, Louisiana figured out how to eliminate most of the weight and almost all of the non-art cost generally associated with public sculpture.

Some of the Non-Artist Costs . . .
   1. Foundations to support tons
   2. Site repair of construction damage
   3. Stone selection and shipping costs
   4. Foundry expense if bronze
   5. Hauling and site-crane expense

These Materials Cost Less . . .
        Concrete is durable and this mixture is less expensive to form using his techniques. The raw materials are also less expensive than much of the other material traditionally used in large, heavy, outdoor sculpture.
        With his technique, he also utilizes the exterior reinforced shell as the primary structural component, thereby eliminating the need for the added weight of interior steel armatures.
        He shapes construction-grade expanded polystyrene with a variety of tools, then applies a coat of a special- formula, cement-based product that is readily available from many construction supply houses.
        While that coating is wet, he trowels a fiberglass mesh into the cement in order to reinforce the layer when it cures. The size of his sculpture dictates the thickness and number of layers he uses for a proper, long-lasting structure.

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Technique and skill is everything. . .
        He then coats the final shape with a coat of one of many especially formulated acrylic-textures available from the same construction supply sources.
        That final coat, which is what you see, waterproofs the sculpture and can be purchased in almost any color and texture, or combinations.
         With this type medium, as in most material, poor workmanship results in sculpture that will not last.

Additional information . . .
         Other photos using this medium can be found at the Red River Sculpture Society WEBSITE . . . and thanks to telecommunication advancements, these photos can now be viewed directly from mobile phones!

        For questions on this subject, you may CONTACT
                       Michael Don Fess, RRSS Chairman.