Sculpture
Bright Green Sonic Melkerson
I built this piece for the 2023 Buskerfest in Boone, NC, a new annual event produced by the Watauga Arts Council. Boone is filled with musicians—as you would imagine, many mining in the Appalachian bluegrass/old time vein, and others producing rock, experimental, opera, and avant-garde work. What a blast co-opting people at the festival to […]
Citi di Omnucular
These three chaps are made of steel and brass. I thought I was building a city, but apparently ended up with characters. Or maybe they are vehicles. Travel across this great land! Commission, private collection
Old Scratch is in Your Garden/Pod
This piece is a concatenation of two ideas—one, a narrative sculpture, a brief story in steel, and two, a conduit from the earth to the sky. I think the big idea that we miss as humans is that we think the object stops at its bounds. As a systems guy, I look at the space […]
Omnucular: Six Heavens
Omnuculars are from a morning vision of retro circus devices from the future—that is, objects from the future, sent to our past and then discovered in the present.
Tendrillophone
The Tendrillophone is a small scale time machine. My intention was to use it for forward/backward time travel, but apparently loads of problems with that. Also, the device is too small for myself and most (all?) other humans. That’s frustrating. Materials: Steel, brass, wood Height 24″ Diameter 12″
Olonium
Sculpture Steel, brass tuba parts This tuba is a dead instrument. Once played by aspiring high schoolers who dreamed of a life in Marching Band, they slowly graduated and realized the instrument would never lead to love or sex, only heartbreak and a bad back. Annually the students’ parents returned the instrument to the band […]
Mothering
Wow! I’ve been thinking about this one for a while and now it’s coming together. Sometimes it just takes starting to make something to start making something. This sculpture will be an emotional range device requiring both attention and selfishness. Rock it gently to sleep, but don’t put it down or tears, tears, tears! Select […]
Olo Triplets
I'm pleased to let you know that I received a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council. I will be welding up these Olos and placing them on Winkler's Creek Road. Take a drive by and see them. The granting organizations have asked that I include this statement: This project is funded as a cooperative venture […]
The Matron
The Matron is a robot prototype sculpture for my opera, Olo. The Matron guides Olo through this Universe (Olo is from another one, so trans-dimensional).
Shopper
The Shopper carries her binder clip handbag to the store. She is one of my robot prototypes for my upcoming opera, Olo. She’s made of cement, wood, and found materials. As I work in various materials to make my lamps, I experiment with these for less functional/more fun processes in my sculptures. Materials: Medium: Concrete […]
Driver
Driver has to GO! Vroom, vroom! This artwork is made of cement, wood, metal, and found materials (including a salt shaker!). Driver is a prototype robot for my upcoming opera, Olo. I am creating hundreds of unique sculptures to help develop characters and costumes for the performance. Your support means a lot! Sign up for […]
Hat Bot
Hat Bot is a sculpture prototype for a character in my upcoming opera — “OLO.” I am making hundreds of sculptures as a way to develop the story through the characters. The Hat Bot carries a little pail with a secret payload, a shiny metal ball. This would make a great gift, or a unique […]
Super Happy
Box of flowers. I’m working hard to get rid of my cynicism. Would make a good gift for an optimist, royalty, or someone from California. This is pretty much gonna make you happy every time you see it. Wood, glass 8″x8″x5″
Mel Brainiac
Mel Brainiac is a robot sculpture prototype for my opera, Olo. This robot CANNOT do calculations for you. It is mostly wood. This would make a nice gift for: Your nephew (if he is as smart as he says he is) Your niece (because pink brain) Maybe your brother-in-law (also thinks he’s so smart) Buy […]
Fire Flower
Fire Flower (work in progress).Fire Flower is a proposed interactive device for public spaces. It offers a sanctuary to those seeking stillness and eye candy to those seeking entertainment. Options for the surface include undulating patterns, water caustics, op art illusions of movement and depth, as well as near static, subtle color shifts reflecting the […]
Floating in Air
Black balloons floating over a field, randomly illuminated by synchronized photo flash units and soundscape. My 2016 submission to the PVCC Let There Be Light annual public show.
OMGOMGLOL
OMGOMGLOL was my piece for the 2017 Let There Be Light at the annual Piedmont Virginia Community College show. Not evident in this nighttime image is the large frame holding the lights 8 feet above the ground. The lights were attached to an old bike tire and cranked from the base by visitors to the […]
Belle
Belle is a magic girl. She does almost nothing. But if you take her mallet, you can chime the hour. Or minute. Made of wood and metal (soup ladle, bolts, aircraft grade aluminum). What is aircraft grade aluminum? This would be a perfect gift for a niece, a yoga instructor, or your father (is that […]
Olo Manifestation 15
Manifestation 15 is one of Olo’s many changes. This sculpture is a robot prototype for my opera “Olo”. This sculpture would make a nice gift for: People who like talking dogs Werewolves Other trans-dimensional beings Materials: Medium: Metal, Wood Height: 11 inches Width: 4 inches Depth: 6.5 inches
Hellbendr South
The Hellbender is a sculpture prototype of a dancing robot for my opera: Hellbendr. This darned hellbender is a manifestation of Olo in this dimension—a stripey object of affection for a sister in love, an exboyfriend with whom you are still close to, or a lawyer. She doesn’t dance yet, but will in the future. […]
Olo Manifestation 16
Olo Manifestation 16 is a fantasy sculpture. She arrives in this world to bring joy to the owner. Recommended as a gift for bachelors, prima donnas, and in-laws. She is a prototype for a dancing robot in my upcoming opera: Olo. Materials: Medium: Metal, Paper, Wood Height: 12 inches Width: 9.75 inches Depth: 4 inches
Happy Lieutenant
The Happy Lieutenant is a sculpture prototype of a dancing robot for my opera: Olo. He is a bit of a drunk (thus the lampshade). He’s made of wood, metal, a beer tab medal, a small wrench, and synthetic paper. He would make a great gift for a goofy uncle, a sibling who you are […]
Organumunagro Firma
Public installation of my favorite ratio 3:4 (3 faces, 4 lobes). I fell in love with this shape and find I can use it as a primary object, as decorative object, and as a suface treatment. Observers often see it as a flower, a propeller, and even as a chair. This sculpture funded by the […]
Ognmngo
Installation Synthetic paper, bamboo 2015 Yard Dreams public art exhibit Charlottesville, VA Description: Ognmngo is a series of cicada-like minagros set at ratios apparent to all (many). The cicadosity will become revealed on the viewers alignment with major ley lines: 15, the Twelve, and seven. Obviously, the inherent pleasure, never mind. Some of the points […]
