Proposal Video: By Bushel and By Bull
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One of my inspirations for this project stems from In honor of Mayor Gibbs and his Brahman cattle, the proposed monolithic abstract sculpture will act as a landmark and reminder of the excellence Mayor Gibbs placed on everything that he set his heart to.
Mayor Gibbs's passion for Brahman cattle, which earned him high marks in breeding and supplying some of the best Brahman in the country. In fact, the mayor had a famous bull, "Aikley the 8th," also known as "Buffalo." This Brahman bull, "Buffalo," with his large rhomboid muscle hump and drooping ears, serves as my inspiration. “Buffalo” will be created from CorTen weathering steel, rising over fourteen feet tall. This massive abstraction of a Brahman will not only reflect aesthetics found in my sculptural work but also include distinct features of the Brahman, such as the large hump towering over, the triangular drooping ears, and long face. Placed on a stone pedestal, “Buffalo” will stand as a symbol of the highest quality and excellence. While “Buffalo” will act as the centerpiece to honor the history of the Gibbs Ranch; I have chosen perennial ryegrass or crested dogtail grass to tie into the agriculture, plant, and soil science of the University’s program. Drawing from the plant’s form I will fabricate giant bushels, again, in CorTen steel. These bushels will be made up of numerous steel shoots growing upward, and at the top of each shoot, one will find the distinctive inflorescence shape. Three of these large bushels in total, rising over ten feet tall, will balance the overall composition. I am open to exploring other types of feed or grain that is grown and studied by the students. Each bushel could be a different plant. |