Hi all, I just got back from the Iowa West Public Art Networking Conference in Council Bluffs Iowa. Over all is was pretty good(especially considering Iowa West footed most of the bill, entrance was $25 per person). I got to meet a lot of artists and people associated with public art, but would have liked a little more time to question the artists and administrators about working up to larger installation pieces and the processes involved. We did get to meet Jun Kaneko, ceramic installations artist, and tour his studios which were amazing, and we got to see them installing Jonathyn Borofsky's 30' tall Molecule Man. I watched them weld 2-1/2" thick aluminum plates together using a Mig setup on a trolly and a crazy occilating machine that vibrated the piece as it was welding. The fabricator called it Pulse Puddle Welding, and said that it created a stress free weld. I hope to learn more about it. If they have it again next year I definitely suggest those that are interested attend.

The reason for this post is to tell people about the big name public art explosion that is happening in Council Bluffs. In the past few years this middle sized town(250,000 people) has installed two Brower Hatcher installations, three of Deborah Masuoka rabbit heads, three aluminum sculptures by William King, a 30' aluminum Molecule Man by Johathyn Borofsky, a giant Dungo installation by Jun Kaneko, and they are just finalizing two 60' towers by none other than Albert Paley. All in the past few years!!! If you have the time i recommend looking up all of these artists if you are unfamiliar with them, they do amazing work, and if your in the area of Council Bluffs, swing by the conference center and look at the sculptures.

On an interesting side note, most of the "silver" metal sculptures were made out of aluminum over stainless steel and they required a wax treatment once a year. I didn't get much of a reason other than weight, but found it a bit strange considering the all of the warnings I've heard about aluminum oxidizing and turning white. I will definitely reconsider it's use in the future.

Jake

Jake Balcom
Mettle Design
Lincoln, NE