"The Weight Of Water"
"The Weight Of Water"

Commission for Cascade Lake Roundabout, Rochester Minnesota 2024

Creating "Water" with Glass
Creating "Water" with Glass

For the Feather/Oars which are 20ft (H)

"The Weight Of Water"
"The Weight Of Water"

Initial sketch.

"Hope is the thing with feathers." Emily Dickinson

Painting With Glass
Painting With Glass

From The Paul Wissmach Co. American -made beauty for over 120 years.

First piece is laid in the frame
First piece is laid in the frame
Each Feather/Oar is unique
Each Feather/Oar is unique

All made by hand with detail to be "read" up close and from afar.

Everything has to be numbered
Everything has to be numbered

Over 150 2ft x ft pieces will be fired.

Placement
Placement

A giant puzzle of color

Precise Measurements
Precise Measurements

Each tine must be cut to the exact length and welded in place. Since the feathers are all unique, every piece must be measured and drilled by hand.

Fused Glass
Fused Glass

Creates a depth of field that is remarkable, and takes a lot of material. A new shipment is ordered.

Arrived!
Arrived!

Nearly 1400 pounds of glass in two shipments arrives from Paden City W. Virginia in perfect condition. Great job team!

Handle With Care
Handle With Care

"Exceptional beauty," the tag should also say.

First Day of Fall
First Day of Fall

And we're busy bees.

Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel

Each bar must be bent or cut into tines for the feather.

Bending process
Bending process

Can be fun with our assistant Ash.

Boat takes shape
Boat takes shape
Eight Feather Oars
Eight Feather Oars

Awaiting glass

Four feathers
Four feathers

are made. Four more to go.

Dynamic shades
Dynamic shades

Each piece is handmade.

In The Sunlight
In The Sunlight

½ of one.

Public Artist/Random Shooting
Public Artist/Random Shooting

A nearby death reminds the Studio how important it is to celebrate the lives of communities, like Rochester, with joy.

Final Kiln Fire
Final Kiln Fire

We have now, officially, finished the glass. There’s hundreds of panels, each one unique.

Studio Tree
Studio Tree

Shades us in warm light

The site
The site

The City has laid the foundation at Cascade Park. It overlooks the lake.

Beautiful
Beautiful

These concrete “footings” are made exactly to order. It is a thing of beauty.

Measuring
Measuring

Every bolt must be exactly in the correct place

Template
Template

We are now ready for the instal. Everything is perfect.

Feathers finished
Feathers finished

Studio Pup oversees all final Steel work.

Bigger than you think!
Bigger than you think!
IMG_3908 2.JPG
Polishing the Stainless
Polishing the Stainless
The Finished Feathers
The Finished Feathers

20 ft, of which 13ft is glass

Trimming the glass
Trimming the glass

Takes a steady hand

Fitting each piece
Fitting each piece
Final Prep
Final Prep

Each father has to be prepped for installation with hundred of “tines” to hold the glass.

Nearly time to Install
Nearly time to Install

More later