M7 Side Four Glamor Shot

[joe mendel]

For the first few weeks of the 2020 pandemic, I had tried to comprehend the increasingly ominous COVID news from New York City in ways that would not keep me separated from my piece of mind.  I hardly ventured outside for the first few weeks.  After that time, I took to driving fifteen minutes to my workshop for late night hours when I was certain to not encounter people.

Given this unexpected time to be creative, I thought to honor this free time by making this sculpture incorporate a timepiece.  As bad news dominated the days, it was hard to not reflect on my life, and the things in my past and present that occupy my time.  I kept the people, places and things I missed present in my mind through this project.

I devised a specific idea for the overall structure of the clock tower.  I then formulated a design which would look architecturally pleasing, but also told a story inside of the clock design and within many of its elements.  When people visit my gallery and workshop, I am often asked if I sign my work.  Clients see a personally signed piece of woodworking as having a sign of a crafts person’s pride, and it also adds a providence to the piece.

This kinetic sculpture has multiple signatures and significant milestones that are uniquely about my life.  This clock is in part a biographical representation of my life.  The places where I have lived are commemorated, the birth of my twin sons is celebrated, and my love of baseball and my favorite team is well symbolized.  My name appears cryptically in a variety of places and methods; this is my “signature” piece.

Using an orb to pass through places I have been, and little symbols of my life seem quite appropriate.  Since I was incredibly young, my preferred toy as a child was various types of balls.  In my life I have thrown, kicked, blocked, rolled, dunked, hit with a bat, used as a projectile, and spiked balls of every size and shape.  Using a spherical shape and my woodworking abilities is a great combination for this biographical piece.

[JohnG]

I’m enjoying seeing the progression of this, but I sure do wish they were all in one thread. I went back to find a previous pic but after looking at a few different threads I gave up.

[joe mendel]

On 1/30/2022 at 4:25 PM, JohnG said:

I’m enjoying seeing the progression of this, but I sure do wish they were all in one thread. I went back to find a previous pic but after looking at a few different threads I gave up.

I thought having one long thread would be even harder to follow.   Each of these post each contain ten to 24 photos.   I am surprised that I have not exceeded some quota.  This is a hard project to describe, photograph, and to explain.  I am trying to pass along some [hopefully] useful information which some else could use to inspire themselves, and possibly find a way to use some of my methodology in one of their creations.

I hope that I am be useful and not overwhelming the forum.  I would be willing to answer any questions you, or anyone, may have in regards to any aspect of the construction of this or any of my past posts.

 

[JohnG]

There are many project journals with several dozens of photos. I might be alone but one thread is much easier to follow than 10. 

Carry on unless one of the mods or more people say they want a single thread

[Chet]

On 1/30/2022 at 2:50 PM, JohnG said:

I might be alone but one thread is much easier to follow than 10. 

I would have liked it all in one thread also.  It has been a little confusing to follow.

[Dave H]

Joe It's your thread do what you want brother. I'm enjoying the hell out of this clock of all clock threads that I have looked at. There was a guy in Newport  Oregon I was driving down the coast from Washington state and in this little artist community in Newport this one shop had all these wooden clocks some of them were all wooden gears that made up the structure of the clocks. Some had ball bearings that traveled through chutes, dropping through holes. I was fascinated with this gentleman's work and spent a couple hours just ogling this guys work he came over and talked to me about some of his pieces and was a very interesting guy, and quite entertaining. Your work would put this guys work to shame! I for one can hardly wait to see more from you at whatever pace you choose. Thank you for sharing.

[h3nry]

I was once told that when weaving a blanket the Navajo Indians believed that the soul of the craftsman was woven into the fabric, and if a perfect creation was produced, it would remain trapped there forever ... so a small imperfection was deliberately included to let the soul escape ...

Joe, your soul is certainly captured right into the fabric of this piece ... please tell us that you're hiding from us even the tiniest imperfection in it somewhere.

[Mark J]

I always leave several "exits" in every piece I make.  

(I really gotta remember this story next time someone notices one of my exits).  

[joe mendel]

On 1/30/2022 at 6:31 PM, Chet said:

I would have liked it all in one thread also.  It has been a little confusing to follow.

I have taken your obvious constructive criticism into considerations, and I do appreciate the feedback.  A main part of the reason for sharing all these pictures and text is to try to show part of my mental processes that went into this plan.  In my own head as it was being designed and built was to think of each side as a pathway which all originate from the same geometric central point. 

I have been showing each side as a top-to-bottom linear explanation.  I look at the project in terms of line segments.  The SIDE ONE album of pictures in my thinking is line segment A – B (each post), and the point of origin as point C (Archimedes Screw).  My full-size plan view drawings of each level hold a PIE SLICE of each of the six areas as where my challenges take place.

All my documentation, penned and photographic, has been categorized as six distinct, yet interconnected subsets of the larger whole.  I guess since that is the way I have been thinking about it since day one, I never thought about its representation in any other manner.   I tend to think, and problem solve in a linear process in most of my daily life. 

As confusing as it may be to some viewers to see these pictures as a moving functional contraption, it was much more difficult [for me] to develop a plan and an explanation in my own mind’s eye as the invention was becoming a tangible component.

Thanks again for your suggestion.

[Mark J]

Looking forward to the 5th and 6th glamor shots.