This project stems from my interest in creating art that uses natural objects found around our home. In this case, I selected bamboo from our grove and cut it to fit the design I had sketched out. My intent was to create a series of five sculptures that evoked the places that ladders of your imagination help you get to. Sometimes, these places are out of this universe! I wanted a durable paint, so with the help of my partner who is a muralist who definitely knows his paints and colors, we selected four Rustoleum colors. I started with Universal Pure Gold for the vertical structural pieces and Universal Cardinal Red for some of the "rungs". The new spray gun cans are perfect for painting unusual shapes and surfaces. Because of the look I wanted to achieve, I also used American Accents in Peacock and Green Apple for some of the other horizontal pieces. RustOleum paints provide the perfect highligh and dramatic effect for the natural bamboo shapes and leaf joints. Plus, the paints retain their color and provide a needed protective coat for the bamboo. The sculptures were installed in a business office front window in Martinsburg, WV as part of the ArtBerkeley show. After the show, I intend to install them in my garden!
