THE WALL PROJECT

The Boys are back in town!

2010-09-17T07:38:00.000-07:00

Today is a a beautiful sunny day and my three favorite bros are back! Dave, Brian and Tyler are all here laying the "Whole Wall Pathway Recognition Bricks". What a perfect day!

Meet my new friend Harpo! He Rocks!

2010-01-18T15:53:00.000-08:00

Meet Harpo the Septarian of the Hills! We have a lot in common, both being hard, good looking and all. Harpo is a septarian concretion. He hangs out with his friend Von, who brought him by for a visit today. He liked my miners and posed with Von in front of them. Harpo has his own blog too!
If you get a chance check out Harpo's travels at: http://kansasrocksfoundation.blogspot.com

Can you turn up the heat?

2009-12-31T09:56:00.000-08:00

Danae Pick loves my sunflowers but not our cold weather! David & Danae Pick, who are here visiting their grandparents, Ed & Marian Pick, are braving the cold weather to check me out! Our current 14 degrees is a bit colder than what they are used to in Port Saint Lacie, Florida. They were great sports, but decided not to play "I Spy" too long. Come back and see me soon!

Happy New Year!

Don't let a little snow keep you from stopping by!

2009-12-30T11:10:00.000-08:00

A little winter weather didn't stop my three new friends from Cedar Rapids, Iowa from playing "I Spy" with me this morning! They even informed me that this weather was nothing compared to Iowa! :-)
While it was too cold to find more than one butterfly and one bee, they have vowed to come back for another visit when it is warmer out. So far their favorite items on my wall are the sunflowers and the cottonwood tree.

Snow, Snow, Snow!

2009-12-15T11:21:00.000-08:00

It is currently a balmy 9 degrees out this fine afternoon! It has been one week since we received 15" of snow and the boys still look as if they are standing knee deep in snow. Could someone turn the heat up now?

You never know who might show up at the wall!

2009-12-01T12:46:00.000-08:00

It was the day before Thanksgiving and the weather was clear. I was just hanging around when who should appear?
This rowdy bunch named after a snake,
Of this I wasn't sure what to make!
After a few moments of shooting the breeze,
An exceptional group of Explorers it was easy to see.
Thank you for stopping you made my day,
please stop again when you're out this way!

Check out this Salina Journal Story!

2009-09-24T07:35:00.000-07:00

http://www.salina.com/news/story/concordia-ribbon-cutting-92209

Stop By For A Visit!

2009-09-23T05:04:00.000-07:00

The Whole Wall is visited by hundreds of people each week. Have you stopped by yet? Can you name the figures shown in this passenger car?

Invitation

2009-08-11T09:34:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars! You are invited to the dedication of the Whole Wall Mural on Saturday, September 26, 2009. The dedication will take place following the Fall Fest Parade which begins at 10:00 a.m. in downtown Concordia.

Beginning Installation of the Metal Cap

2009-07-02T13:08:00.000-07:00

Geisler's are here putting wood on the top of the Whole Wall Mural. A metal cap will be placed over the wood.

Finishing The Wall

2009-07-02T12:54:00.000-07:00

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Dust, mortar, metal, wood chips, and a few sparks have been flying around the Wall the last few days. Dennis Fleming has been finishing off around the
east door to the building. Today he power washed around the entrance and
just a few minutes ago he gave us the thumbs up to unlock the door.
Tomorrow we might be able to even park in the parking lot!

2009-06-08T12:41:00.000-07:00

There is still too much equipment and construction materials in the way to take a picture of the Whole Wall Mural in one shot, but we couldn't resist showing a side view.

The Train

2009-06-08T12:38:00.000-07:00

The masons just finished removing the scaffolding and power washing in front of the final section.
The train is breathtaking!

The Last Brick

2009-06-08T12:20:00.001-07:00

Friday, June 5, 2009 - A small crowd began to gather around 1:35 p.m. on Friday afternoon as word spread that the wall was near completion. At approximately 1:55 p.m., as David Fleming, Fleming Masonry Construction, placed the last sculpted brick, the crowd cheered.

Meet the Masons

2009-06-03T09:54:00.000-07:00

It seems like only last week that mason David Fleming, owner, Fleming Masonry Construction, and Brian Blase, mason, met with the Cloud County Historical Society, and Eric Johnson from Campbell & Johnson prior to beginning the installation. Since April 10, 2009, there have been amazing changes to the Cloud County Museum Annex building at 6th & Lincoln.

DAVID FLEMING
When David Fleming, Culver, Kansas, was first approached to submit a bid for the Whole Wall Mural project he was a bit apprehensive. Fleming, who is a former Concordian, (CHS graduate, Class of 1972) was not sure how the project would work, so he set out to study up on brick murals. Soon he was so intrigued he decided to submit a bid. The rest is soon to be history.
David Fleming has been laying bricks since 1975. He started out learning the trade in Topeka and has worked all over the States of Kansas and Nebraska. Fleming is very well known in these parts for quality masonry. Those who have worked with him say he works at such a fast pace it is a bit daunting at first. He takes such pride in his work and is very meticulous, that everyone else strives to follow his lead. Fleming and his crew have worked on many buildings in the area including Concordia Elementary.

BRIAN BLASE
Brian Blase has worked with Fleming Masonry Construction since 1995. A former Sylvan Grove native, Brian met his wife, Renee, at Cloud County Community College. They currently live in Salina with their four year old son. Brian has worked on many projects around the area, including Concordia Elementary. It is very obvious Brian enjoys his work as spectators often catch him smiling. It is very interesting to watch David and Brian work together. Often they are slinging mortar at the same time in a sing song rhythm much like dancing.

TYLER KUHN
Tyler Kuhn, Minneapolis, Kansas, has worked as a Brick Tender for Fleming Masonry Construction for the past three years. His job is make sure the masons never run out of supplies. He keeps a close eye on the mortar and begins mixing as soon as he sees the supply is getting low. He also cuts bricks, helps build the scaffolding and assists in bricklaying. Often David and Brian move so quickly Tyler is practically running to keep up.

Final Days of Installation

2009-06-03T09:36:00.001-07:00

There is only a bit of white left showing on the wall this morning. Soon the masons will be done. Peeking out behind the scaffolding is the train. Spectators can hardly wait to get an unobstructed view.

How Much is This Wall?

2009-05-25T13:04:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you have heard various numbers bandied about as to the cost of the Whole Wall Brick Mural Project. One proposal at the time of artist selection came in at $350,000. Current retail pricing would put this project at $500,000 plus tax. To our knowledge, it is the largest single brick mural in the United States.

The artist, Catharine Magel, has been working on this project for at least 5 years. The carving phase took 2 years, 2007-2008 and now in the third year is to be completed this June 2009. The Cloud County community has contributed over half the cost of the project in volunteered time, services, and materials.

To date: monies applied to this commission:
Artist to design and carve the project $70,000
With installation supervision: 6 weeks $9,000
Mason contract to install the mural: $40,000
________
Total: $116,000

High Noon on the Wall

2009-05-24T21:38:00.000-07:00

Contemplating the Mural over Coffee

2009-05-24T21:19:00.000-07:00

Catbarine reviews the nearing completion of the Wall

FYI:Volunteer Hours for The Whole Wall Project

2009-05-24T18:47:00.000-07:00

THE WHOLE WALL PROJECT: 2300 sq/ft approx 94 ft of the wall is 14'4" high/ the last 40' is 21'+ tall/ minus the approx 56 sq ft doorway area

BRICK: Mark Collette at Cloud Ceramics kept up with all the brick production, scheduled delivery and pickup, and drilling of the carved pieces after they came back to the plant. I think Mark and a couple of their guys drilled approx 45,000 holes to aid in the drying of the brick pieces before firing. It took three days to drill out the 7 palettes of carved pieces returned to the brick yard each week. He indicated they wore out one drill press and a good dozen 2' augur bits on the project.
He said Cloud Ceramics had 2000 man hours in labor at the completion of carving date 4/08 @ $15/hr= $30,000

Brick supplied: approx 7000 brick/shims/drilling/drying/firing/

palletizing/storage/delivery( I'll use the difference subtracting their labor from the $20/sq ft that I pay in Seattle from the $46K....$16,000)
Easel: Cloud Ceramics also built/supplied at their expense the 8' x 20' easel assembled at CCCC for the project . Mark's guess on 2 days, 2 guys time/materials $1000
Shipping & Delivery: Cloud Ceramics trucked the green brick to the studio, picked up the carved brick, and the 6000#s of clay removed in the process of carving each week $1000
Mural Storage: for the panel since carving completion in April 2008/ 1 year@ $1000
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Various Sculpture Brick Pricing Comparisons:
Pricing charged for brick to be sculptured before the artist begins carving. Sculpture bricks are moved an average of 9-11 times before they are installed in the wall, so, very labor intensive.
Seattle Brick from Mutual Materials at $20/ sq ft = $46,667 ( includes brick, drying, firing, storage, packaging to ship)
Nebraska's Endicott Clay Products at $90/ sq ft for double deep brick = $210,000( includes brick,lay up /take down with numbering, drying,firing,storage,invoicing, packaging for shipment
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THE STUDIO @ CCCC Art Dept: Volunteer space for a year( I think Catharine began in Feb 07- Apr 08....studio space, heat, light, phone and computer, fax, water, restrooms, and interesting people...maybe $400/mo) approx $4800

----------------------------------------------------
VOLUNTEER HELP at Cloud County Community College Studio:
Project of 17 Layup Sections

Barbara Steven's College Crew Layup:
Ave 6 people x 4 hrs x $7/hr wage(minimum according to Dave Walker paid at the college) = $168 x 17 sections = $2856 Labor
Dana Brewer's Takedown Crew;
Ave 10 people(included 2 artists/ pricing not in contract) x 6 hrs x $7/hr wage x 17 sections = $7140
Dave Walker's Supervision /General Guy Friday/ Supply requisition/Toolmaking/ Cleanup at CCCC/ beyond his regular duties at the school: 200 hrs @ $7/hr = $1400
Aline Luecke's Daily Photo Documentation: 1 hr @ $10/hr x 7 weekdays x 17 sections during carving phase = $1190 (doesn't count web work/emailing progress pix)
Tammy Britt's & Aline's Daily Photo Documentation and Blog update for 6 weeks during installation $1000
Disassembly of carving easel at CCCC and storage: $500
Volunteer Apprentice Labor: (all helpers averaging $7/hr min wage x 20 hrs/week x ave 24 weeks) = $3360
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MUSEUM Artist in Residence, 117 E 7th St, Concordia,KS: Although project took a year span to complete the carving, artists were there for about 6 months and for the 1-2 months for the current installation. Rent and utilities/ just a guess $300/mo x 7 = $2100 (feel free to update if you have a better assessment).
------------------------------------------------

WORKSHOPS & PRESENTATIONS:
Catharine charges $500/day for lectures/workshops + travel expenses
Mara charges $500/day + travel expenses for workshops
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Catharine's School Group Tour at CCCC 07
CCCC Evening Presentation Update/ Mara 10/07
Concordia and Clyde High School presentations/Mara 10/07
Pottery Demo Workshop /Mara 07
6+ Coffee and Cookie Community Thurs Evenings with Guest Carver Opps 07-08
10+ Guest Apprentice Opportunities(as little time as 30 minutes to hours/days/weeks (Aline Luecke, Barbara Stevens, Lisa Guerra, Sam Deal (although totally blind), Carol Urban, Richard and Phylis Cyphers, Dave Walker, Marinella Hemenway, Jennifer Tashkent,Mark Morgan, Scott and Lori Halfhide, Jim Bourne, and a number of others I have yet to recall. Please remind us if you helped carve.)
6+ Tours of Work in Progress with hands on Carving/ Concordia High students/Clyde High School students as "the Skyrakers"/ Cat Scratch Video Shoot/Others
2 Radio/TV Interviews
CCCC Cook Auditorium Slide Show for 300 all area students on Working Artists' Career and Business + Workshop: Catharine and Mara

Catharine and Mara have donated small animal mold designs and whole brick figure prototypes that can be made to generate income from donations

Average 6 major lectures/workshops @ $500 each= $3000

--------------------------------------------------

ARTISTS EXPENSES SUPPLIED:
Meals/House supplies /Catharine $1000
Meals/Supplies /Mara $1000
Other Sculptors in 07 /Meals/Transportation $1500
Transportation,car and gas/ Catharine $3000
Flights to/ from Seattle,WA/ Mara $1000
Blog/ www.thewallproject.com
Own insurances
Computer DSL to the house $315
Cell phones: Mara @15/mo $90 Catharine $300
Personal carving tools: Mara/$400 Catharine/$300

Amount volunteered so far....$85,251 to $246,251 pre tax, depending on comparative brick company pricing.

Feel free to add anything I forget!

Community Foundation Donates Funds For Whole Wall

2009-05-21T09:36:00.000-07:00

Thursday, May 21, 2009: This morning the Community Foundation presented a check to the Cloud County Historical Society Museum for $7500 toward the Whole Wall Project. Catharine & Mara both were present to witness the presentation.

Tribute to Cloud Ceramics

2009-05-21T07:10:00.000-07:00

This photo shows only a small portion of the "Tribute to Cloud Ceramics" depicted on the Whole Wall. The Whole Wall Project would not have been possible without the generous support, donations, labor, and oversight of Cloud Ceramics. During the three years the projects has been underway Cloud Ceramics' commitment to the project has been exceptional. They have worked tirelessly to make sure the production, firing, packaging and delivery of the bricks has gone smoothly. Many times they have gone above and beyond to make the project possible.

Nearing Completion

2009-05-21T07:02:00.000-07:00

Monday, May 18, 2009: While scaffolding, fencing, stacks of bricks, and other equipment block the view of the Whole Wall, spectators can still get a great view of many of the scenes as they unfold. Great weather has helped move the project along much quickly than anyone imagined.

Concordia Elementary Third Graders Visit the Wall

2009-05-14T09:53:00.000-07:00

This week the Concordia Elementary third graders are visiting the Whole Wall. While Lisa Guerra, Cloud County Museum curator, was speaking to them about the wall, they all lined up to touch the wall. The girls compared their hand size to the pioneer woman's hand while the boys each took turns picking the nose of the miners.

How often to you get to touch a work of art?

Thursday, May 14, 2009

This morning the sunflowers greeted us upon arrival. As the scaffolding is moved the dramatic entrance to the museum is being revealed.

The Future home of the Whole Wall is quickly becoming the present!

2009-05-13T07:19:00.000-07:00

Even with the rain the wall is going up very quickly. Soon the "Future Home of the Whole Wall" will disappear and the "Whole Wall" will become the present.

While they may not appreciate the comparison, watching David and Brian work together is like watching a well practiced dance. Without words they work side by side. The onlooker becomes hypnotized with the rhythm in which these two scoop and toss the mortar onto the row of bricks. Moments later one realizes that another row of bricks are in place and the puzzle has just grown. How did that happen so quickly?

Where have all the bricks gone?

2009-05-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

The garage is empty. All the bricks are out.
And just look at the progress!

2009-05-07T11:36:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, May 6 - Peltier's were called to add an additional 3" to the metal overhang over the east door. The previous ledge was not wide enough for the bricks.

2009-05-07T10:03:00.000-07:00

Monday, May 4, 2009 - Mortar was flying so fast today Mara could hardly keep up! Bob Schrieber, who has worked with both Dave and Brian on other jobs, was recruited to help. Bob was thrilled to be able to lay a couple of bricks. Bob says he "... may not be as fast as I was in my younger days," but he still enjoys working with the guys and seeing the finished product. Onlookers were wondering how he could still move after being down on his knees for so long.

Sampler Festival Weekend A Success!

2009-05-07T09:54:00.000-07:00

Friday, May 1 everyone worked "full throttle" to complete the windmill and move the scaffold. By Saturday morning an unobstructed view of the buildings, plane and windmill was revealed. Thousands of visitors drove by during the Festival to get a view of the work in progress. On Saturday and Sunday the Museum was open extra hours to allow visitors to stop by and meet Mara and the guys.

How Mara feels about the rain:

2009-04-30T19:13:00.000-07:00

#@*# rain! It's a "keep the coffee coming" day!

2009-04-30T19:06:00.000-07:00

Finally the rain let up and the guys went back to work. Unfortunately within a couple of hours the rain started again and everyone rushed to get the tarps back up.

2009-04-30T09:36:00.000-07:00

Thursday morning the rain is still pouring but it looks like it will let us soon!

Rain, Rain, Go Away.....

2009-04-29T10:13:00.000-07:00

No work on the wall today as it is raining off and on.

2009-04-28T20:12:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, April 28: Monday was a rainy day so the pressure is on today to get as much done as possible before the rain starts again.

Brick tender, Tyler Kuhn, was really hopping today making sure the masons had a steady supply of mortar.
By noon most of the buildings depicted in the mural were completed. It is incredible to see all the detail and be able to recognize the local landmarks.
By late afternoon Mara lingered alone to finish the fine details. Will tomorrow be the day the plane begins to take shape?

2009-04-27T05:01:00.000-07:00

Friday, April 24, 2009: The weather is beautiful and the bricks and mortar seem to be flying. Scaffolding is now in place on the south corner of the wall. Catharine and Mara called in two of the original sculpting volunteers to assist in working the mortar.

2009-04-23T07:51:00.000-07:00

April 22, 2009 - Work ended early on Wednesday due to running out of mortar color. Even so, the wall is beginning to really take shape.

Catharine & Mara Arrive!

2009-04-23T07:28:00.000-07:00

April 21, 2009 Catharine & Mara have arrived in Concordia to oversee the installation of the Whole Wall Project. They will spend the next few weeks working very closely with the masons. It is very important the mortar does not interfere with the flow of the carvings while still providing stability. Catharine & Mara will be working on the mortar and assist in brick placement. The masons appreciate the "extra eyes" to insure that each brick is placed correctly. This is one giant puzzle that no one wants to have to change after the mortar is dry!

2009-04-23T07:25:00.000-07:00

April 16, 2009 - The Wall is really taking shape.

2009-04-23T07:16:00.000-07:00

April 14, 2009 ended the day with huge shoes. On lookers were sure they had to be the shoes of a giant. Many visited the Museum Annex to view the drawing of the Whole Wall and were amazed to see the shoes actually belong to a woman.

Seeing the bricks lined up on the pallets is amazing. Each one is marked and numbered so the masons know where they are to be placed. Even then, it must be difficult to know the bottom from the top.

The Work Begins

2009-04-23T07:08:00.000-07:00

On Monday, April 13 the foundation was set and the first actual bricks were set. At the end of the day the backside of the building (off the alley) was shaping up.

2009-04-22T16:20:00.000-07:00

On April 10, 2009 the first load of sand and concrete arrived.

The Installation Preparation

2009-04-22T16:07:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, April 7, 2009 the rain let up and the City of Concordia installed the snow fence around the building and parking lot. The forklift and some of the bricks arrived. The excitement began to build.

Mason Picked to Install The Whole Wall Project

2009-01-26T18:18:00.000-08:00

Brick By The Number$

2008-09-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

We need your help to get The Whole Wall up on the wall!

Over four years ago, Cloud County and Concordia citizens began collaborating on one of the largest art projects ever undertaken as a group. They have done a spectacular job. The artists completed the carving earlier this Spring.

Cloud Ceramics, the brick manufacturing plant, has done a marvelous job of firing this project, all 2300 sq ft of it. Mark Collette, out at the plant, has managed to keep up with all these pieces, even laying them out at the plant for our viewing pleasure. He has that artistic knack of being able to sight select among nearly 6900 brick where each piece goes.

The Cloud County Historical Museum is now taking donations to cover the more than expected cost of installing this half a block of artwork depicting Cloud County's History. It's expected this wall will be a large draw for tourism through the area, especially for events such as the Sampler Festival. So far, in kind donations have kept the actual monies spent to one fifth of it's real value in dollars.

History is what you make it! Be a real Kansas Pioneer! Any thing you can do to help is more than appreciated.

It's a Relief

2008-05-30T09:36:00.000-07:00

As you may have guessed, the artists are complete in the carving phase and wait with bated breath for the go on the mystical installation to come! Meanwhile, some of our onlooking assistants have begun their own brick carving...kudos to you!

Laying Up Brick Murals

2008-04-08T12:02:00.000-07:00

Mara did an installation in Charlotte,NC with a couple masons,Colley and Willie,brothers-in-law for 60 years! These 8' x 15' pieces were all the double size sculpture brick and used colored mortar......

The Whole Wall Cowcatcher

2008-04-03T17:33:00.001-07:00

We've been back the better part of a week and somehow carving...the train is coming into view. Certainly have had a lot of stops with everybody coming to view the final stages of our working on this part of the project. Phylis and Dick Cyphers have been helping us dig our way down the tracks to the station. Made good headway today even with the distraction of setting up for our talks on making a living as working artists....

For you that haven't ever thought about it...about 1% of American artists make over $25,000./per year. That's about 6-12,000 artists in every field of endeavor. That's actors, dancers, writers, poets, graphic artists, painters, and us sculptors,of course.

KAKE TV and presentations

2008-04-02T12:07:00.000-07:00

Today we were interviewed and filmed by KAKE channel 10 Wichita about the whole wall project.
This will be aired on Sunday, April 6th, at 10 PM on Channel 10/ Wichita(Channel 6 in Concordia).. Tune in or be tuned out. Or is it be there or be square? We hope you will tune in and see us carving on the tube.

This Friday April 4th we will both be doing presentations on our past projects for college and high school students in the cook theatre at the Cloud County Community College campus. We invite everyone and all to come join in the fun. 9:30 to 10:30 AM.
A fun day working , carving and visiting......

HOW TO INSTALL A BRICK MURAL

2008-03-22T09:13:00.000-07:00

Brick color on the mural for The Whole Wall Project:
Cloud Ceramic's Crimson Dark Ironspot

Mortar Mix: (three bag batch)
1 Bag Design Mix 80# ( 3 bags / mix usually )
1 ½ # Davis Color Black + 1/2# Davis Color Dk. Brown #6059

1/3 bottle dry block / 3 bag batch—caution/ makes the mortar wetter
( dry block helps waterproof the mortar & retain the color /makes it easier to cut and clean).
Make sure the panel is secured / it would take months to get recarved brick back to you.
Panel is numbered from lower left corner on the top of the bed:
brick a-1/ a-2/a-3/a-4 thru a-12. Second course b-1/ b-2 / b-3….. + Roman # section ie III etc.
Lay at least the first palette out on the floor dry…. It’s important to see if all the pieces are turned the right way.
Lay the first course dry in the frame to figure the joint size needed: ¼ to 3/8 size joint is recommended.

Keep joints full of mortar….after it stiffens (about every 3 to 6 courses), cut flush with the flow of the design.
Put in wall ties every three courses.
Stand back frequently to see if everything is lined up.
When finished, brush dry.

Mason to clean panel after it sets and cures. Apply a sealer like Fabrikem to give it extra protection ( 1 Gal. /125 sq. Ft. mist on with a Hudson sprayer.

Making Tracks,Trestles,& Cowcatcher

2008-03-15T19:53:00.000-07:00

Brick Carving Accessorizing

2008-03-14T15:49:00.000-07:00

This is the assorted carving set that is the basis for any up and coming brick sculptor. Raiding a fine chef's kitchen or farrier's work barn is also a good place to start in accessorizing one's work bag.Pick out a pair or two of the hot new Croc shoes and you are to die for the Spring season!

Back on Project

2008-03-13T19:02:00.001-07:00

We are back in Concordia, Kansas to finish the last 20'x20' of the Wall Mural. This week it's the train engine we have to carve.Get back to the house...we have heat, light, and Aline has left a beautiful bouquet of yellow daffodils on the dining table to greet our return.

Enter your idea to name THE WALL PROJECT for the Cloud County Historical Society Museum......the best entry will get a prize! Join in the opportunity to add your mark in the Cloud County community's history.NAME THE WALL PROJECT in your comments below!

Monday at the CCCC Art Dept. Studio: Slow start with a tidy up of the studio. Barbara Stevens ran in to welcome us back. Surveyed the new batch of brick on the easel. Where's the hose? Where's the nozzle? Panel needs an extra course across the top....do we remember how to do this?

Jet lag/travel exhaustion...need a lunch...El Puerto's comes to mind. We happen to spot Dana Brewer coming in...he fills us in on the color changes and suggests we might want to see what is making everybody happy on the deal since the firing. Decide to vere off to Cloud Ceramics right after lunch to review the new flashed color on the panel. Mark Colette comes zooming up on his forklift to say hi.

The Review: The new brick color enhanced by flashing, solves the firing irregularities that have come about in the long process of the carving schedule. Mark points out a few brick we need to carve to fill in between expansion joints on the sunflower section. That'll be a Friday after lunch deal. We'll bring our carving tools...Mark will have fresh brick for us to work on right outside.The doorway and sunflowers we carved on the last trip are all laid out. Wow!

Now,back to the studio...finally we resolve ourselves to a startup and begin scraping the excess shims from the panel surface. Dave Walker comes in after his work in time to help lay up the final course across the top. We stretch out the paper sketch across the top of the panel....fit it on the wall so the tracks line up with the previous section. An hour of tracing...an hour or two of redrawing on the clay with a carpenter's pencil. Away with the paper, a good hosing, finally ,to resoften the surface for carving. Lucky us, this is the best clay for tolerating drying and rewetting so many times. Where to begin?... it's 8 PM...yes, tomorrow!

Tuesday: Make adjustments on the tracks and cow catcher. Start defining the curve, decide to add the roadbed for the tracks...add brush along the bottom with a variety of creatures.

Wednesday: Endless roadbed grading..cattleguard rehashing and brush cutting. Dick and Phylis Cyphers came by to do some deep digging with us in the afternoon. Stopped at 8 and decided the $1.99 Wednesday QFC country fried steak special was too good to pass up. Hauled in to order and deja vu, Dick and Phylis were sitting there enjoying the same ambiance at a $1.99 delicious!

Thursday: Out the gate slow this morning...working the cattle guard in a confused state. Decided a break carving Brick Mouse was in order while Catharine helped put on the tail. Brick Mouse is the mascot responsible for things that go awry in the studio. More on her escapades later. Catharine working the coal car wheels along the top left side of the panel.

Aline Luecke whizzed in for her usual pictoral photo journal update for the Historical Museum archives. Lunch again at El Puertos...I am so hungry I could eat my way through town.

Barely back to the Art Bldg when Catharine got an SOS call from Mark. Come by the brick yard to help figure out a section that was not quite lining up on one edge. Somebody, like brick mouse, misnumbered the brickman's coveralls. Got the puzzle realigned...whew! We revieiwed tomorrow's options on the small number of brick needing to be recarved.

Did I say Mark and crew had another fifty feet of mural laid out on the ground? Even I was amazed(that's the word) to see fifty of brick mural stretching east and then west of me in the field alongside the brick plant! He showed us the flashing that will eventually be the new color for the full length of the mural. For the first time I spotted the sycamore tree with all the kids under and in it. It did actually all fit together !!!

Friday: Yep,back to carving train parts this morning...me on the cow catcher...Catharine on the coal car wheels. What can I say, it's a lot like raking the yard for a week. After the Numero Uno lunch at El Puerto's, off to Cloud Ceramics to recarve the little miscreants that didn't stay where we needed them. Mark Collette and his assistant, Daren, had the side brick set up adjutting the new we had to cut. Daren helped slice away the preliminaries....then to it. We had four different areas to redo, all totalled 32 new pieces. Mark stayed to help number and palettize the fresh cuts to be drilled next week. Two thirty to after 4:30...we are pooped and our carving day has yet to really begin. Another coffee round at Mickie D's and a sandwich. We're back at the studio now on swing shift...hoping it won't be the graveyard shift!

Saturday: Got it going at ten...Dick and Phylis Cyphers on team to help. Can't remember how the day went, except ,finally got those engine wheels carved by nighttime. Carol Urban worked on the engine barrel with Catharine....on and on we scraped. Time out for a pizza delivery on a late lunch, then back to it. I finished the lower brush with additions of various wildlife...bunny,bird with eggs in a nest, and a couple ground squirrels tucked up in the branches. I put Phylis on carving another brick mouse up at the sink counter. Ten oclock, we were done but for a few touch ups....phew!!

Sunday: Tidied up the engine with the crew. Phylis and Dick brushed off the extra crumbs fallen everywhere. One o'clock, the take down gang moseyed in. We helped Dave Walker get ready on the set up, then away to finish packing, and off to the Salina Airport to get me on Easter Break in Texas.

FLASH FIRED

2008-03-13T08:31:00.000-07:00

The Blade Empire / March 7th , 2008 Flash Fired

A portion of the whole wall, depicting sunflowers, has been flash fired, and is at Cloud Ceramics, awaitingtransport to the Cloud County Historical Museum Annex. Catharine Magel and her assistant, Mara smith,are nearly finished carving the 140 foot long brick mural. ( Blade photo by Jessica LeDuc)

Sculpting of the Whole Wall nearing completion

Completion date for the Whole Wall Project in Concordia is set for April 5. The wall will be a three dimensional 140 foot longby approximately 20 foot high sculpted brick mural covering The Cloud County Historical Museum Annex East exterior wall which faces highway 81.The mural depicts key development events and rural cultural elements of Cloud County’s history from the founding in the 1860s to the present day.The artist, Catharine Magel and her assistant, Mara Smith, will be sculpting at the Cloud County Community College Art room March 10-14, March 17- 22, and March 31-April 5.Bricks for the wall are being flash fired at Cloud Ceramics. Ben Retter, assistant general manager said, throughout the whole wall project, Cloud Ceramics has continuously searched for opportunities to create a finished product with more than just curb appeal.“ This ‘WOW’ factor is primarily influenced by the incredible detail in the sculpting done by Catharine and her team.” Retter said, “ However after reviewing the mural brick that have been fired thus far, we felt that we could contribute substantially to the finished look of the wall by incorporating sheen and luster with the mural brick. Reduction firing or “flashing” these bricks will deepen the color and bring out the luster and sheen that complements the depth and detail of the carved bricks themselves. Many Smaller brick sculptures and carvings use flashed brickcolors for this very reason. This process will not have any impact on the timeline for the project and will result in an even more impressive” Whole Wall”.

The Why of THE WHOLE WALL PROJECT

2008-03-12T08:22:00.000-07:00

My intent with this mural has been to find a universal theme within the history of Cloud County through its visual and actual history. This theme will relate to all viewers allowing a personal connection and interpretation between the viewer and the work. The planting of seeds has relationship to the past, present, and future, acting as a metaphor for hope, allowing the piece to remain timeless. Upon my visit to this area, I found the healing qualities of the land reflected in people who live there. This is significant to include in the work. The friendships and good relations that came out of the prison environment at the POW Camp speaks of our humanity as a whole and our ability to work together for the good of all even during times of war.
The strength we have, as humans to solve problems in times of need are evident as well in the running of the Orphan Train.
There are many clues in the work that hint at these universal ideals. The few I mentioned are the most prominent and other images back up these thoughts.
My interest with the brick mural project is to tap into the community’s intrinsic creativity, history, and culture in an attempt to produce a work of art that is accessible and has meaning for the public. I also see the potential to engage numerous community members in the creative process.
Participation helps build unity into community and can give voice to the community members. Without artistic voice, community grows silent. As we all create together and process, we bring together a new familiarity with the places we live in and with ourselves. This kind of Collective Collaboration enhances the vitality of a work of art and the community it serves. Written as part of the original proposal, by Catharine Magel

THE WALL

2008-02-29T09:42:00.001-08:00

2008-02-27T09:24:00.000-08:00

TheWhole Wall

By Tim Unruh
Salina Journal

CONCORDIA -- Using mostly handmade tools, Catharine Magel, Mara Smith and a legion of local volunteers are shaping tons of "green" bricks into a work of art for Cloud County.
Their shaving, gouging and slicing of 6,400 unfired bricks is the first step in creating a 140-foot mural that will depict the development of Concordia and Cloud County.

"It's one big giant puzzle," said Magel, 51, St. Louis.
She was commissioned last year by the Cloud County Historical Society to create what's called the Whole Wall Project. The artwork will cover the east wall of the Cloud County Museum Annex in downtown Concordia.
"I see it as a statement of our history and our values," said Dana Brewer, an attorney who is president of the historical society board.
From a studio at the Cloud County Community College art department, Magel and her assistant, Smith, a brick carver on the project, are creating art one brick at a time. The carving began nearly a year ago and should be completed next month. Once all sections are fired in the Cloud Ceramics kiln, the wall will be constructed and attached to the building.
The historical society will seek bids from brick masons and hopes to complete the $350,000 project by late summer.
About $110,000 has been raised through donations and fundraisers such as the sale of locally made quilts and personalized bricks for benches at the mural site. In-kind contributions, such as the special tools used to carve the bricks, have been received as well.
Local scenes depicted
"I think people are going to be amazed when they see it," Brewer said of the project, planning for which was begun four years ago.
He expects the wall to be a lure for tourists.
"We see it as a means to get them to take the next step to see other museums and attractions in the county," Brewer said.
Included in the mural are local scenes such as St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Nazareth Motherhouse, the Republican River bridge, Miltonvale Wesleyan College Administration Bldg., the Brown Grand Theatre, a bi-plane owned by aviator Charlie Blosser, Orphan Train riders and Minersville, which was a camp of coal miners in the late 1800s. The historical society plans a narrative to explain each element.
Magel spent weeks researching local history and meeting with project organizers before making her first sketch. Collaboration with project committee members brought about some additions to the mural after it was started, such as the guard house of the World War II German prisoner of war camp near Concordia.
The mural is arranged not chronologically, but as a visual flow that Magel describes as a "rhythmic line, like a graceful kind of feeling within all of the activity."
The bricks have been donated by Cloud Ceramics, which made them from soil taken from deposits of Dakota clay in the Concordia area. The bricks are 8 inches deep to allow depth in the carving.
Cloud Ceramics also donated the transportation of the bricks, which must go to and from the college art department, to the kiln, and into storage to await construction. The company built a 22-foot by 10-foot easel where the green bricks -- wet and soft enough to carve -- are stacked. As each section is completed, those bricks are removed from the easel, numbered and placed on pallets for the journey to the kiln.
The project is important to Cloud Ceramics, which has made bricks at Concordia since 1946 and today employs 70 people.
"A standard issue brick manufacturing company could not pull off a project of this scope," said Ben Retter, general manager. "We have a fantastic group of tenured employees. They have a strong understanding of the drying and firing process."
Without the brick company's help, he said, the project might have been too expensive to pursue.
"A project of this size and scope is really an expensive undertaking -- several hundred thousand dollars if you have it bid," Retter said. "When we heard the historical society wanted to do this, we wanted to do it locally."
The Whole Wall Project is viewed as more than something that will dress up Concordia. Barbara Stevens, head of the art department at the community college, said the project has been priceless for her students, and enrollment is up this year.
"I've had all of my students drop in on them to see them carve and see the progression of each section," Stevens said. "We've had some high schools come in and they've let the kids carve with the artists."
The college art department has invited 30 high schools to tour its studios and the brick plant in late January.
Stevens said she hopes to build an apprenticeship program with Cloud Ceramics "to show parents in this rural area that there is an avenue for students interested in ceramics to make a living off of this." And she plans to apply for grants to start an artist-in-residence program to demonstrate and teach brick sculpture at the college.
Mara Smith sees that as a reasonable goal, and hopes young people can be attracted to the art form.
Brick carving offers jobs for about 60 people in the western world, she said, "and most of us are in AARP."

Reporter Tim Unruh can be reached at 822-1419 or by e-mail at tunruh@salina.com.

2008-02-26T19:05:00.000-08:00

Free Counter

Getting Ready

2008-02-26T10:38:00.000-08:00

Dear Toto;
I have 10 more rosettes to cast in concrete and a five foot high winged lion to complete before my anticipated flight to Kansas(just about two weeks hence). It's been a slow dark winter and now it's light enough to see the mountains in the east, snowtipped in their scintillating brilliance....even Mt. Rainier is out of the clouds. I am back from the solstice of the dark...ready to fly!

The Kansas Krew awaits....

The Wall Project

2008-02-26T09:38:00.000-08:00

Concordia,KS: The Wall Project:
Sculptural vignettes from Cloud County Kansas history carved in brick for the Cloud County Historical Society Museum.

Internationally known artist Catharine Magel of St. Louis,Mo. was commissioned for this community project. Carving began in early 2007 after nearly four years of planning. Brick Sculptor,Mara Smith of Seattle,WA was brought into this adventure in October 2007.

These two will be carving the last twenty by twenty feet section starting March 9,2008. Stop by to see our progress or help with the carving!