Jeff Bates, Fruita, CO
Sculpture 1 : Meridian
Media: recycled steel, stainless and chrome
Dimensions: 65"x65"x21"
$7000
Since I was just a kid, I marveled at the large loud birds flying at heights almost out of human view. The Sandhill crane is one of the oldest species of bird that is still with us. Maybe that is why the remind of dinosaurs when I see them standing out in a field. For me the Sandhill Crane signals fall and spring each year as they ride the thermals somehow in both directions. I finally got a chance to make a sculpture honoring a bird I have watched each year, for all of my life. If they were quiet, most would never see them, but they are also one of the loudest birds around as well. For this sculpture I chose recycled stainless steel, and some motorcycle and bicycle parts as well. The scene I created tells a story of a sand hill crane standing in the wetlands at sunset. I typically use welded steel and this project is no different. This time I got to use a little more color.