MEASUREMENTS AND PHOTOS.

Taking many photographs

 I don't always have the luxury of measuring and taking photographs of my clients. Often the photographs are provided by a client and the subject matter is not available. I took some measurements of Eben and John and spent a few minutes in the drizzle and cold to try and get some action shots.  When ever I'm doing this and think, "that is enough photographs, " I remember that I can never have too many photographs.  Linda, John's wife, will be sending me some more photographs of John at a different age as we have decided to sculpt John at a younger age.  

While taking measurements of Eben he decided to became a bit more intimate than I would have liked and gave me a very wet kiss. I felt like Lucy from Charlie Brown and the expression in this video pretty much sums it up.  

looking at the gait and the stance. 

Love hands

GETTING TO KNOW MY SUBJECT

Images of dogs that are gone but thought of fondly,
 and recognitions look over a dog who love and now have
a challenge of helping the blind to see. 

After arriving to Dallas, John and Linda took me to their home.  I love visiting a subjects home. I have always said, "you really don't know someone until you run your finger along their bookshelves."

John and Linda with their daughter Jessica and dog_____ .
I have thought of this photo often as I think of the many memories they have had. 

This type of interaction though brief is important. While trying not to be intrusive and asking permission to take photographs I try to absorb a life time of memories.   I often wish I could be alone in these spaces to run my finger along the shelves and envision a past.  These pictures remind me of another commission of a former professor at my undergraduate college in Vermont and visiting Richard Hathaway's home, or spending time in his office.  

I'm absorbing the life of a man, trying to find his personality and spirit and let that come through the clay. 

A face cast of John intrigues me.
I have a book about casting faces
of famous people so the blind
can "see" their faces. I cast faces
and hands, as well as digitally scan
them. My favorite personal possession
 is the casts of my mom's and dad's hands. 

Pictures of John with family, friends, and a president. 

Had I more time I would have run my finger along this shelf. 

REVIEWING THE SPACE FOR THE SCULPTURE

John posing in the area where the sculpture will be place
under a water color Texas evening sky.

The Texas sky streaked into watercolor purples and the wind bit through my poncho as we explored the area where the sculpture celebrating a man, a journey and possibilities would be placed.  The Heritage center and the Heritage Museum is located at 6455 Page Street Frisco, Texas 75034.  "The mission of the Frisco Heritage Museum is to collect, preserve, study, interpret, exhibit, and stimulate appreciation for and knowledge of the history and culture of Frisco, Texas and the North Texas region to all the people of the region and to the visitors attracted to the area"

The sculpture of John Turner will be walking by the old school house.

John and his dog Ebon standing in the area
where the sculpture will be placed. 

Left to right- Sculptor Bridgette Mongeon
The Patrons of this project Linda and David Griffin
John Turner and his wife Linda Turner and Ebon

The Heritage Center 

A VISIT

I knew I had to take time away from Wonderland, and visit Shirley and David. I looked forward to the opportunity of meeting John Turner. A date was set, and on January 5^th, I made a quick trip from my Houston, studio to fly to Dallas and then drive over to Frisco, Texas to see sculpture was to be placed.

GETTING TO KNOW A SUBJECT

To meet a subject in person is so very important and really a luxury in my creative journey. I work on many different types of projects. People are my favorite thing to sculpt, along with dogs and especially children. Though, over the last few years, more people have been calling me “the cat lady” after creating the panther for Prairie View A & M and the Grambling tiger for Grambling State University, Louisiana. But many of my subjects I never meet. This is either because they are far away or they are deceased.  This is a wonderful treat to be able to meet John. 

John and his wife Linda met me at the airport. To my surprise they walked up to me inside the airport  Now, for many people that may not seem like anything special, but for me it was a treat. I have traveled often and my hometown is not Houston, though I have lived here over 35 years. When I would fly home in years gone by, I remember how people could greet you at the gate. I remember my mom waiting anxiously to greet me with my baby girl, or my sister and brother waiting for hugs. It occurred to me, that over the years, with the extra security and people not going down to the gate, that things have gotten very lax and when traveling and visiting used to be a treat, the process has become impersonal.  Many times in my travels, I find myself taking taxis, or maybe waiting at the curb for family to drive by, open their door and I jump in before some guy in a yellow vest shouts at us and waves us off. So seeing these friendly faces greet me with a hug, meant more to me than I even realized at the time.  It was the perfect way to start this adventure.