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Detail
of wing
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I've
always been attracted to a wing when it is in the recovery
position. This is when it's the least productive and most
vulnerable, yet here can be found a grace and beauty that
exist nowhere else.
The Recovery Stroke is actually a life-sized wing
inspired by Grainger's Pintails
sculpture. More recently cast in solid sterling silver, this
sculpture resonates with people experiencing an illness or
loss of a loved one.
The
Recovery Stroke is one of Grainger's limited
edition sculptures. You may also view a printable
brochure of the limited editions if you wish.
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Recovery Stroke
Bronze, 22" High
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"My
grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect
in weakness."
—
2 Corinthians 12:9
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ARTIST'S
DISCUSSION
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A
few years ago, some friends at the Medical University
of South Carolina in Charleston helped to lend
an intriguing and much more powerful dimension
to the sculpture than what I had initially conceived.
As
a result of support and encouragement from the
Joanna Foundation, I was able to create an eight-foot
tall version of the Recovery Stroke that will
be installed at MUSC in 2006.
The
first task in creating this sculpture was to
scale up each component of the above 18"
Recovery Stroke sculpture. This was done
using a computer scanner, a computer-aided-design
program and a router.
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Next,
I added detail to each feather, the same as
what I do to my traditional wood sculptures.
I made joints for each feather to slide into
the body of the wing.
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A major
milestone was the assembly of all the feathers
onto the wing. Standing next to me is Rob
Beaty, who along with his brother Paul has
assisted me enormously with the logistics
and details of this project, as well as
providing the technological expertise that
made this project possible.
From this
stage, each of the feathers will be detailed
further. Finally everything will be sent
to a foundry in New York state to be molded
and cast.
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I
am in our casting vendor's facility here,
working with (and learning much from)
an expert patinist to get the correct
color on the wing.
To
see the completed 8' Recovery Stroke,
see the article in the March 2005
Wildlife
Art Magazine.
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