A. L. Kaplan

Tag: sculpture

  • My Trip to Scotland: Part 9 – Glasgow and World Con

    My Trip to Scotland: Part 9 – Glasgow and World Con

    We spent the next six days in Glasgow.

    August 8-12, 2024 was the 82nd World Science Fiction Convention which was held at the Scottish Event Campus.

    Trying out VR was really cool.

    My panels were fun. “Look! I Have Raised a Geek!” and “Why Do We Still Love Paper and Tangible Things?”

    We went on a walking tour of the bridges.

    And saw some of the many murals in the city.

    Neat buildings.

    Some sculptures

    Scottish people have a great sense of humor.

    This is a display in the Kevingrom Art Gallery and Museum.

    Also spotted this Pterosaur fossil. It looks a bit like the one I found at the Yesnaby coast. (see My Trip to Scotland: Part 5)

    The Heads by Sophy Cave

    Near the museum.

    Langoustine for Lunch.

    How often do you see pull chain bathrooms? I found two!

    Glasgow Cathedral was founded in the 1200’s as a Catholic church, but became a Protestant Kirk in 1560. Before the Protestant Reformation, the interior was beautifully painted.

    The Tardis!

    This pretty building is the City Chambers in Glasgow.

    George Square and it’s decorated sculptures.

    A pint of beer and dinner at The Citizen after a long day. The food was excellent.

  • Post 3: My Trip to Scotland: Part 3

    Post 3: My Trip to Scotland: Part 3

    A beautiful morning on August 3rd as we left our B&B in Inverness.

    The next stop was a memorial of the Scottish Clearances in Helmsdale. Between 1750 and 1860 many tenants in the Scottish highland and islands were evicted from lands they had been on for generations. (Around 70,000 people) It made way for more sheep pastors. Many of these people emigrated to Canada, America, Australia, and New Zealand.

    THE EMIGRANTS was created by Gerald Laing in 2004. And no, he is not wearing anything under his kilt except what god gave him in this anatomically correct sculpture.

    In case you can’t read Gaelic: The Emigrants: Commemorates the people of the highlands and islands of Scotland who in the face of great adversary sought freedom, home, and justice beyond theses shores. They and their descendants went forth and explored continents, built great countries and cities, and gave their enterprise and culture to the world. This is their legacy. Their voices will echo forever thro the empty straths and glens of their homeland. Unveiled by the first minister of Scotland, Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP, 23 July 2007.

    Then we grabbed lobster rolls for lunch in Dunbeath and saw Dunbeath Castle.

    The next stop was the Duncansby Head Lighthouse.

    Along the coast.

    Then it was off to John O’Groats.

    We took the Pentland Ferry to Orkney Island. The ride was nice, but as soon as we moved, all the car alarms went off. It made for a noisy ride.

    We road over several Churchill barriers build between 1940 and 1944 as naval defenses. Since 1945, these causeways have linked the Orkney Mainland to the other islands.

    The land was beautiful, flat, with no trees in sight.

    Our first night in Kirkwall, we saw St. Magnus Cathedral and the Bishop’s and Earl’s palaces.

    I liked the Orkney Museum.

    The bed and breakfast was nice. This time we were able to put the beds together.

    It was a good night for Fish and Chips at Harbour Fry.

    And in case you are wondering.

    By the water.

  • SHROUDED: Then and Now

    I created SHROUDED in June of 2020 as a memorial to those lost to Covid-19. This video shows the progression of the surrounding vegetation that is slowly covering the sculpture. As of May, 2022, Over 6.26 million people have died worldwide. 1 million in the United States.

  • SHROUDED: December 2020

    SHROUDED – December 18, 2020

    Back on June 27th, I unveiled my sculpture, SHROUDED.

    This evolving installation is dedicated to those lost to Covid-19.

    The plan is for the plants to envelope the sculpture, enrobing in in a natural shroud.

    Sadly, the death toll in the US has risen above 300,000.

    SHROUDED

    But Not Forgotten

    View the updated video here.

    #covid #video #artist #artwork #art #photography #fineart #contemporaryart #sculpture #sculptureart #installation

    STAR TOUCHED

    STAR TOUCHED

    Sometimes it’s hard to be who you are meant to be.

    Especially when your powers can get you killed.

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.

    Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble.

    Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.

    WOLF DAWN

    WOLF DAWN

    A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret

    Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.

    But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.

  • SHROUDED UPDATE 9-20-20

    Back on June 27th, I unveiled my sculpture, SHROUDED, which is dedicated to all those who lost their battle with Covid-19.

    The plan is for the plants to, over time, envelope the sculpture, enrobing in in a natural shroud. This is what it looked like then.

    Shrouded 6-27-2020

    Here is a picture from this afternoon. The plants have already begun their entwinement

    Shrouded 9-20-2020

    Sadly, the death toll in the US has risen above 199,000+.

    SHROUDED

    But Not Forgotten

    View the video of SHROUDED here.

    STAR TOUCHED

    STAR TOUCHED

    Sometimes it’s hard to be who you are meant to be.

    Especially when your powers can get you killed.

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.

    Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble.

    Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.

    WOLF DAWN

    WOLF DAWN

    A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret

    Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.

    But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.

  • SHROUDED

    20200607_115222

    Dedicated to all those who lost their battle with Covid-19.

    2020 dawned under the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic. Seven months in and we are still not out of danger. While some businesses have begun to open, many have not. Several never will. The long-range repercussions of lost lives, lost jobs, and extended isolation have yet to be felt.

    View the video of SHROUDED here.

    I started working on SHROUDED in late February.Shrouded - Painting 3

    Shrouded -painting 1The plaster core is painted with latex paint and four layer of marine polyurethane.

    20200521_162945

    20200521_164825The next step was landscaping the installation site and putting in plants.

    20200606_173546There are red and black tiles around the sculpture and ten pounds of glass stones.20200606_173540

    Over time, the plants will envelope the sculpture, enrobing in in a natural shroud.

    SHROUDED

    But Not Forgotten

     

  • ALIEN PAINTBRUSH

    “Check out the weird goop covering all the trees,” said Jimmy. “It looks like Starburst vomit.”

    “You’re disgusting,” said Rachel. “It wasn’t here yesterday.”

    Jimmy laughed. “Maybe your imaginary space aliens left it last night.”

    “The UFO was real.”

    “Sure it was.”

    “That’s enough,” said Professor Goodwin. He didn’t have the patience for their bickering.

    Every shadow in the refuge made his skin prickle, like they were being watched. This place normally teamed with wildlife, but they hadn’t seen a single bird all morning. The rest of the students clustered together as silent as the woods. Only Jimmy and Rachel seemed unaffected.

    He studied the vibrant yellow and orange growth coating the tree. “Let me collect a sample then we’ll go back to the classroom.”

    “I got it,” said Jimmy, as he yanked a handful of the stuff. A second later he collapsed.

    “That hurt,” said a strange warbling voice. “How’d you like your skin pulled off?”

    Rachel screamed and pointed at two eyes on what the professor had thought was a tree.

    “What…who…?” Professor Goodwin couldn’t seem to put two words together.

    The tree like creature poked at Jimmy’s prone form. “Your boy tried to mutilate me.”

    “Tr…tree.”

    “Yes, I’m a plant. You humans are so animal centric. The name is Michelangelo Bernini Trillian.”

    The Professor pointed a shaking finger at Jimmy. “Dead?”

    “I thought you creatures were supposed to be intelligent. He’s breathing. My natural bio-toxin just knocked him out. Now get out of my sculpture.”