resin
It was an experiment...to see if a mixture of resin and catalyst would be strong enough to reinforce thin recyclable-twisted paper bags. The Face (below center) was exciting to create, because it was a spontaneous add-on sculpture that was quick and rewarding to finish.
Resin is a thick liquid that needs a catalyst (hardener) to make the finished material strong and solid.
The Runner (below left) is the first sculpture I made with a mixture of black automotive putty (resin) and catalyst. Each of the four body-parts needed multiple molds. Mold-making is necessary in most cases, but sometimes I like to skip the messy clay-mold process entirely.
I did not learn of Fiberglass until three years after discovering resin. The process is the same but the fiberglass-cloth mixed with resin and catalyst give extra stability and options to the finished product.
1972 | The Runner | resin
5-sided mirrored box | 26″x20″x25″
Exhibited at the 1979 Boston Marathon Expo
1992 | Face | resin on recycled paper | 20″x13″
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1972 | The Runner
The Runner consists of a face, hand, leg/foot, and chest/arm...emphasizing the muscular energy of the human body. The four body-parts were created in clay. Then plaster molds were made and filled with black-automotive putty (polyester-resin). This durable, yet lightweight material worked well, especially when attaching the pieces to the mirrored box (above).
My goal was to simulate the motion of running and capture the anguish, dedication, and fortitude found on a runner’s face at the end of a long race. When looking-up into the 5-sided mirrored box, the viewer can see multiple reflections of the four components tumbling on top of one another…creating movement.
In 1979, I was invited to exhibit The Runner at the Boston Marathon Expo, in conjunction with their prestigious annual race. The feedback from the exhibit was gratifying and inspired me to enter the Maryland Marathon.
On December 2, 1979, I definitely felt the anguish, as I completed the 26 mile, 385 yard event, in 4 hrs. 42 min. 11 seconds, achieving my goal of under 5 hours.
1979 | Thought-Provoking Art
Baltimore Sun newspaper |
Runner’s section | 2 articles
April: Nannette Blinchikoff has a futuristic sculpture of a runner (arm, leg, hand, face) on display at the Running Center. The work was carried up to the Boston Marathon by Running Times and received very favorable reviews while on display there.
June: The Running Center featured a terrific piece of sculpture, produced by Nannette Blinchikoff, until some half-baked potato trooped into the store one day, screamed something about Zen Buddhism, and did a smash job on it.*
* The damaged sections were restored.
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1995 | Exhibition in Seoul Korea
Small Sculpture From Maryland
Gallery Art Club 21
To meet the Korean gallery’s shipping requirements (artwork needed to be lightweight and under 5 inches), I used two small molds from a 1980s bronze casting: Resilience and Deja’ Vu. Lightweight polyester-resin was the perfect material for shipping. I renamed the new sculptures for their mountainous counterparts: Half Dome and Delicate Arch, respectively.
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Resin | Mirrors | Acrylic paint | Magnetic Backs
