Aztec Bird-Fish

Creating The Aztec Bird-Fish

Above:

Title: Aztec Bird-Fish Terry Kreiter, 2010
Dims: 25 x 7 x 5 inches
Medium: Unique cast and fabricated bronze with stone base
Cast by the artist.

Above: Mayan glyph, pour stone, Michael Goard


The spark that inspired me to make this sculpture came from a gift from Michael Gourd; his contemporary version of a Mayan glyph.



Above: Open face epoxy mold with a bronze element.

I made some open faced molds from the glyph surfaces to make wax patterns in order to produce the bronze elements. These surfaces are used in the sculpture composition.

Above: Detail

Above: Drawing from book "The Aztecs: Rise and Fall of an Empire"


My method for creating sculpture is to take advantage of the inspirational spark by immediately recording the essence into my sketchbook, no matter how vague or how absurd; now it can't get away. If you are not careful the idea will leave just like the memory of a dream. I block out a few pages in my sketchbook and spend some time developing the idea by gathering up information from books, internet and conversation. I give little reverence to this information. I just want it to fuel a stream of thought and allow me to develop the ideas subconsciously with no struggle, no censoring.

Above: Working drawings on studio floor.

Above: Detail, Aztec Bird-Fish

Above: Drawing from " The Aztecs: Rise and Fall of an Empire"

Above: Detail, Aztec Bird-Fish

Above: Drawing from "The Aztecs: Rise and Fall of an Empire"

Artist Note: The above drawing turns out to be a kind of coda of the sculpture.

Above: One of the three wax patterns ready for the casting process.

Above: Wax pattern ready for investing and casting.

Terry Kreiter Website

Pop! Goes the Weasel

Sculpture created for the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art- Auction


Title: The Monkey Chased the Weasel
Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 3 inches
Medium: Unique cast and fabricated bronze
Artist note: Created for the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, 2010 Auction


Above: Early wax patterns with working drawing



Above: Drawing from Sketchbook #25

The Monkey Chased the Weasel 2010

New Collaboration: Virdeh & Kreiter

Documentation for the second collaboration

This post contains the materials; sketches, mock-ups, conceptual notes, and photos of the progress and completion of our second project.

Breugel: Triumph of Death

Below
Sketch: In reference to Breugel's "Triumph of Death." A detail from the top left corner of the painting. Fred Virdeh




Below
Title: Crippled though I was, I was no mean cyclist
Medium: Wood marquetry Dims: 6.5 x 7 x 1/4 inch (A reference from Beckett's "Molloy")
Artist: Fred Virdeh 2009



Below
Some early conceptual drawings based on the previous Fred Virdeh projects.

Sketches: Terry Kreiter 2010

below

First Project:
Terry Kreiter, and Fred Virdeh

Samuel Beckett Tables
A collaboration with furniture designer and woodworker Fred Virdeh
Wood: Fred Virdeh Metal: Terry Kreiter

For details of the Beckett Tables, see at Terry Kreiter website

NEW SCULPTURE_______ Title: Retreat

New Years Eve, 2009-2010 Jennifer, Diane, and Terry



Bronze, ready to pour at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit




Cast elements

The New Sculpture

Title: Retreat 17 x 12 x5 inches
Unique cast bronze on travertine stone





Title: Infinity Plow 12 x 15 x 7 inches
Unique cast and fabricated bronze




All drawings are from Sketchbook #25 - 2009
First conceptual drawing was created in sketchbook on August, 2009.
The drawings came from the premise that an ancient hero retreated, leaving his battle equipment behind.

First drawing: Retreat

Drawing made to establish some crude proportions, (crude because I never intended this sculpture to have any accuracy, and I suspect that it is not based on reality).

Drawings for the "strap on wings", boots and helmet

Wax patterns: wings, armor, boots and helmet

Drawing: Searching for a composition or an arrangement.

Wax pattern details

Wax patterns

I'm working to finish all wax patterns in time to cast and finish, making this sculpture my last for 2009.

Thoth For John Reily

Title: Thoth for John 2009
Dims: 8 x 4 x 4 inches
Medium: Unique cast and fabricated bronze

Thoth for John is a sculpture created to celebrate John Reily's Santa Cruz home and the artifact of Thoth which lives in his house, and the beetle who lives under the house.

Thoth: Egyptian Mythology

A moon god, the god of wisdom, justice, and writing, patron of the sciences, and messenger of Ra.

Thoth, setting on his throne


History of Thoth

, or
, or

Above: Common names for Thoth in hieroglyphics

Above: Drawings from Terry Kreiter sketchbook, #25, 2009

Beetle that lives under John's house

Margaret Michel under the spell of Thoth at John's house

Above: Portrait of Diane, Margaret, John and Terry at John's house in Santa Cruz Sept. 2009

Top to bottom: Margaret, Terry and Diane

Margaret Michel Recent Work