Evolution of a Sculpture part 3: Blessed

Part of Wednesday was spent selecting the actual site for the sculpture in the County Park. Joe walked the area and determined from his artistic perspective where he felt the piece would be best placed.

Thursday, June 27, model Delanie Spillsbury worked with Joe, posing to give him insight into the structure of the piece. The original design called for the figure to be reaching up to pick pinenuts but discussion had determined this was not historically accurate and the design was changed to have the figure holding her child and the staff that was used to knock the pinenuts, staple of the Shoshone diet, from the pinion pine trees.

The sculpture framework was placed upright with the steel support rods stuck into the ground about 36 inches. Once the piece was upright, then Joe and Gary North could begin the heavy welding that was needed to put the pieces together. Tack welding would be used after the heavier joints were in place.

On Friday, June 28, while Delanie Spillsbury and Joe Pachak were working on the piece, a yellow and black swallowtail butterfly landed on the armature of the piece. Delanie explained this was a good sign and now the piece was blessed. The butterfly is a symbol of good luck in the Native American culture. The butterfly was seen again on Saturday and Sunday, giving a sense of well being to the work in progress.

Monday, July 1, work continues on the welding of the armature of the sculpture. Steel rod is bent into waves to define the flowing hair of the figure. Quarter inch rod is shaped into the hands and fingers of the piece.

Tuesday, July 2, the skirt on the figure is added and the shape of the head and face is defined. Indian residents from the Shoshone Tribe visit the worksite and offer information. These are younger women than the first model Delanie and they posed for sculptor Joe Pachak to adjust the figure. Once the steel rod is welded into place, the joints must be brushed with a wire brush to remove scale and rust residue from the welding. Assistant Tara Klass has welded and brushed to piece, putting in many hours. She has worn out two wire brushes cleaning the structure.

The figure takes on added form with the addition of a gathering basket and the staff that is used to knock the pinenuts from the trees. The staff is formed by two to three 3/8” rods wrapped together. The basket is formed with a rod and resembles the construction of traditional baskets formed of reeds and grasses.