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sculpture display bases

updated wed 22 mar 06

 

Ann Baker on sun 19 mar 06


Anyone have a good resource for sculpture bases? Either wood or stone?
Anything I've found is really expensive, I'll make my own if you've got
tips for that too.

Frank Colson on sun 19 mar 06


Marble bases:: Any size, and any quantity, or custom made- Go to UniMarble
at: www.marblebases.com

Frank Colson
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ann Baker"
To:
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2006 8:16 PM
Subject: sculpture display bases


> Anyone have a good resource for sculpture bases? Either wood or stone?
> Anything I've found is really expensive, I'll make my own if you've got
> tips for that too.
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
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melpots@pclink.com.

Ed Huml on mon 20 mar 06


----- Original Message -----
From: "Ann Baker"
To:
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2006 8:16 PM
Subject: sculpture display bases

> Anyone have a good resource for sculpture bases? Either wood or stone?
> Anything I've found is really expensive, I'll make my own if you've got
> tips for that too.


I used to do this for a living after college. We could
make something basic look really nice, even a
spoon. (Think about how a museum displays their objects.)

I worked in everything from 1/4" steel bases for a
minimal look up to Brazilian Rosewood with a tung
oil finish. We also used 1/2" plexi spray painted black,
or soft maple/poplar painted also. The most important
thing is to highlight your sculpture and not distract from
it. The point is what would complement your work best
is what to use. You could even make a ceramic base!
Think of an upside down bowl or box.

If your piece has a small bottom or is top heavy then
consider being able to glue a steel rod into the base
that slides up into your sculpture (don't glue your work).
The hole can be done before or after the work is made.
5 minute epoxy works great for this.

Last bit of advice is to put felt over the whole bottom
of your base. Looks professional, which you are, and
protects that expensive table it will go on.

Feel free to contact me off list for more pointers.

Good luck,
Ed Huml
BRUCA
BAy Ridge Union Center for the Arts

Vince Pitelka on mon 20 mar 06


As a general rule, if a sculpture base attracts any attention at all, then
it becomes part of the sculpture, drawing attention away from your work. If
you are proud of the work you have done and want the viewer or customer to
focus on the work, make the base as neutral and featureless as possible. In
my opinion, bases made of marble or other stone with visible surface grain
are inappropriate for one-of-a-kind sculpture. They are appropriate for
mass produced reproductions and trophies. Avoid wood bases with visible
grain for the same reason. A fine piece of stone or wood is a beautiful
thing, and should not be used in such a way that it detracts from the
sculpture.

If you want to use stone, pick a completely featureless stone with a matt
finish. To make your own bases, start with blocks of tight, fine-grain
hardwood, paint with primer and multiple coats of sanding sealer, sanding
between coats until all trace of wood grain is gone. Finish-coat with a
durable matt or satin black or gray enamel, drying thoroughly before
mounting the sculpture and exhibiting or offering for sale.
Good luck -
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/

Johnson, Dennis (AYKA) on tue 21 mar 06


"As a general rule"=0D


Dennis L. Johnson
Manufacturing Engineering
Material Review Board
Smiths Aerospace

-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Vince
Pitelka
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2006 7:20 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: sculpture display bases

As a general rule, if a sculpture base attracts any attention at all,
then it becomes part of the sculpture, drawing attention away from your
work. If you are proud of the work you have done and want the viewer or
customer to focus on the work, make the base as neutral and featureless
as possible. In my opinion, bases made of marble or other stone with
visible surface grain are inappropriate for one-of-a-kind sculpture.
They are appropriate for mass produced reproductions and trophies.
Avoid wood bases with visible grain for the same reason. A fine piece
of stone or wood is a beautiful thing, and should not be used in such a
way that it detracts from the sculpture.

If you want to use stone, pick a completely featureless stone with a
matt finish. To make your own bases, start with blocks of tight,
fine-grain hardwood, paint with primer and multiple coats of sanding
sealer, sanding between coats until all trace of wood grain is gone.
Finish-coat with a durable matt or satin black or gray enamel, drying
thoroughly before mounting the sculpture and exhibiting or offering for
sale.
Good luck -
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111 vpitelka@dtccom.net,
wpitelka@tntech.edu http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/

________________________________________________________________________
______
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org

You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/

Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.

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