The completed larger version of Echoes took two years to complete, from the first phase of enlarging the sculpture in clay, through molding, ceramic shell, casting, and finishing the bronze.
Echoes was first born as a vision in Andrew's mind's eye in Chicago after a day of sketching at the Joffrey Ballet. After viewing their performance that evening, the vision of Echoes appeared to Andrew.
That sketch became a bronze in 2014 and was used as the maquette for the larger version of Echoes. This Echoes is an edition of 8 four have now sold.
In May of 2017 an art collector commissioned Echoes at this size. Andrew and Bill Carey used the studios' pantograph to measure the enlargement.
Once the sculpting was completed the clay model would be cut in different sections. The figure was cast in six different sections, two arms, head, upper torso, lower torso and lower legs with the feet.
Andrew applies a coat of rubber mold material to the upper torso.
The lower torso and legs with one side of the rubber completed.
Once the rubber has cured a plaster back up molds are put over it.
Andrew opens the head mold to reveal the original clay.
Wax is cast into each of the molds. These are hollow wax castings. Each one must be chased, finishing out the mold lines and any air entrapment in the surface of the wax.
The waxes are then taken into the ceramic shell room. Several coats of dipping into the slurry and applying stuccos builds the ceramic shell molds.
That wax is then melted out and the molds are checked for any cracks or faults before casting the bronze into them.
Andrew is shown here pouring the lower torso section of the Echoes.
The arm of Echoes in bronze.
Bronze chasing the feet of the large Echoes.
Different sections of the sculpture on the welding table.
Welding the figure of the large Echoes.
The body minus the head welded together on welding table.
The bronze was hoisted into the air several times in order to finish the welds and chasing.
Andrew begins forming the Mobius strip that will suspend the figure in the air. All the sections have to be hand formed with wax strips, shell molds were made, those molds were then cast and welded and chased.
The figure is hoisted into the air again for welding the sections together.
The final sections of the Mobius strip are welded on.
The completed Echoes with the Mobiust strip in the air!
Andrew heats the Mobius strip in preparation for the patina on the Mobius strip. the figure which has a different patina was wrapped in aluminum foil preventing any change to its patina.- The finished front view of Echoes.
the left side view of the Echoes.
The back view of the Echoes.
The right hand side view of the Echoes.
- The completed larger version of Echoes took two years to complete, from the first phase of enlarging the sculpture in clay, through molding, ceramic shell, casting, and finishing the bronze.
