Pretending

Let's pretend that I actually posted weeks ago about how the whale went up and that the show opening was great even though I barely had time to even shower and that the night was awesome and involved booze.  Let's also pretend that I've been posting oodles of photos on the progress of the whale decaying and explaining how the eye mysteriously held on allowing my whale to still appear alive and that people have been coming to see it.  Here is a link to the photo album that really does exists that shows the whale over the past few weeks.
 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=619367&id=501635715&l=2b39f0df41

Now that you we've spent some time in the land of make believe where Lindsay can keep up with a blog, I can write about what is happening currently.  I was prompted to finally return to my blog because today was the last day for me to spend at the studio with the whale on the wall.  Tomorrow, it starts coming down.  There have been a few visitors in the past days who made a specific stop just to see the whale before disassembly, which is really flattering.  A professor from NKU who teaches a class on Melville and the Arts was on such visitor.  We had a long discussion on the subject of Moby Dick (even though I have never read it), and he is extremely involved in the New Bedford whaling museum in MA.  There is a possible exciting connection there, and this marked just one fantastic conversation that was sparked by this project.

So tomorrow, sadly, the deconstruction begins.  We won't get into the mixed emotion of it all.  Tuesday, the frame moves to the Dolphin Room at the studio for temporary storage.  Yes there is a room called the Dolphin Room...very fitting for my whale.

Eileen Swims with the Whale

Here it is.  For some reason the I couldn't upload it on the last post.  Eileen demonstrates a size comparison.

Tail Tuesday and More

The 'frame' is done!  I have frame in quotes because I think it is too pretty to be just an undercarriage. 

To recap a bit, yesterday was Tail Tuesday which marked the hanging of the tail structure.  I was planning on having to use 6 or so cables from the rafters, but to my delight the construction was sturdy enough that only two were needed.  Even those cables were not 100% necessary.  It wasn't only the tail that got done yesterday, but also priming and painting panels. Tail Tuesday carried well on into the night and then slightly into Wednesday because gravity is not the friend of paper mache.  We switched gears from newspaper to canvas stapled onto the frame and over the chicken wire.  It isn't as sturdy, but it is in an area that doesn't matter.  I had hoped to get the entire tail covered in labels last night, but when I realized the only way to do so involved climbing onto a 8 foot wall when nobody else was in the studio,  Since I lack a Life Alert system, I opted to head home at 1:30.  I had a great crew helping on Tail Tuesday, and it is so nice to have people  who are able and willing to jump in to get the project completed.

The crew evaluating the tail.

Prepping the tail structure before it is installed.

Jess and Eileen covering the tail with canvas
because the paper mache did not work.

Today was adding the rest of the aluminum in between the panels.  Tony figured out how to dart it so that it would flow better between body sections.  I worked on decoupaging the tail.  This involved standing under the tail and having glue drip into my hair and onto my face and run down my arms. 

In the early afternoon, I was put in contact with Jay Bachemin, a photographer who is working with Funke Fired Arts help students get professional shots of their work.  He said that he had a small window of time available at 4 o'clock.  This meant I had less than 2 hours to get 3 sheets of aluminum put up, on which involved the dorsal fin of the whale.  Eileen and I rocked it out with me being in a slight panic.  The photos will hopefully be used to promote the project. 

Eileen priming around the body.

Anyway, the frame is finished and clay work is starting tomorrow!  I am not feeling too much pressure yet though we will see how the next step goes.  At worst, the whale is really beautiful without clay.  Stop by and check it out, hand me some clay.  This is also the last opportunity to have your name listed as a donor for the night of the show.  The money is going towards Sea Shepherd and Whaleman Foundation.