Ridgeline
Gabriel D.
Copper sheet, Chemical Reagents (Copper Nitrate, Copper Acetate, Ammonium Chloride), Steel Rod, Pacific Madrone Wood.
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My work emerges from the intersection of art, craft and science, blurring the lines between natural processes and intention. I began with a raw copper sheet, which I sanded and cleaned with phosphoric acid. I used repoussé technique– hammering the front and back sides of the copper in order to create high points and divots. Because hammering solidifies the copper’s atomic structure, I annealed the piece by heating it to temperatures approaching 3000° Farenheit, which, after quenching, realigns the atoms and softens the metal. After multiple cycles of hammering and annealing, I used chemical reagents to create a marbled patina of blues, greens and turquoise. Next, I sanded and polished the ridges of the sculpture, creating a contrast between the patina and the raw copper. Finally, I fabricated an armature by bending and brazing steel, coating it with beeswax, and attaching this to a base of hand-finished Pacific Madrone wood.
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Creativity is the pursuit of ideas and knowledge through unconventional means. Creativity challenges me to explore the world through fresh eyes and make one-of-a-kind projects.
