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Early in 1994, I fell, struck my head and lapsed into a light coma. When I woke on the ICU of a nearby hospital, the tv set in my room was on and a local news team was reporting on the then-in-construction Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum here in Cleveland. My thinking was not entirely clear when I said to myself: "I shall sculpt for them a collection of Rock and Roll acts!" |
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My doctors were afraid that I'd scrambled my brain too badly to be able to care for myself and wanted to have me committed to long-term care, but I cheated at my Probate hearing with crib notes scribbled on my hand to help me through the cognitive tests they administered. I won my release, finished a novel I'd been working on, then spent the next year on these dozen pieces. |
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Their armatures are threaded steel rods anchored to plywood bases, and they are fleshed out with a brand of powdered papier mache called Celluclay, which works like clay and hardens to the texture and consistency of wood. I fashioned platforms for them that refer to some aspect of the artists' life or music, and painted both in acrylics. Their guitars and other accessories are made of polymer clay, with wire, carved wood, costume jewelry and found objects added to create various effects. They are all built on the same scale, with the standing figures measuring 27 to 29 inches. |
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The Rock and Roll hall of Fame and Museum was NOT
interested in them, but I've gotten a lot of positive feedback showing them around town and I sold six of them at a one-man show at the Doubting Thomas gallery in 2003. Thanks to my best friend Lisa Elliott, for coming up from Cincy to be with me when my brain wuz busted. Without you, Lisa, I'd be dead or worse! |
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