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Had a residency at Demopolis High. Helped the theater department create a massive backdrop for the Fall play, 'Treasure Island'. |
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Drama teacher and director, Jody Tartt tracked down and hauled in this 20'x30' heavy muslin canvas. We starched it and primed it on the classroom floor. |
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Called in the big guns, Jeff and Dan, two local pros, to assist in the raising of the canvas. I wanted it wrinkle-free and taut in order to apply the paint as if on a vertical wall. |
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Took awhile but we figured it out. Had to run pipes along the sides. |
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Lashed and bungee corded the top. |
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Ninth graders nailed down the base at intervals of about 14 inches. |
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Love to see kids working it out and getting it done. |
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Slowly, carefully raised the canvas to maximum height. |
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Raising it was scary because you're at the mercy of an electronic lift. With the fabric nailed to the floor we expected rips and tears but it turned out great. |
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Borrowed a tall scaffold from Mr. Jones. These youngsters helped assemble it but only I will actually use it. |
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Too risky having kids scurrying up and down this thing. So if anyone is to suffer great injury or death it will have to be me. |
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Ain't gonna lie. Often as I'm on scaffolds and ladders, I am not a fan of heights. The wooden platforms here sorta freaked me out. Didn't seem sturdy enough for my delicate constitution.
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Mr.
Jones and his construction crew were kind enough to add some
reinforcement. It was all good from there. I took to that scaffold like a
squirrel to a tree. |
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The students did all the research. they gathered the reference images and set the visual tone. I guided them through some conceptual drawings and how to present ideas through the most basic sketches. |
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I did a series of design sketches based on student reference materials, collages and drawings. We commiserated, debated and voted on the final backdrop design, agreeing on a few modifications. |
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The final design is digitally projected onto the canvas. |
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Everyone shares in the tracing of the projected line drawing. |
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Even Jody Tartt got in on the action, shimmying up the tall ladder to hit some high spots. I caught her from the vantage point of the scaffold. |
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We followed the line tracing with some base colors. |
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I like my base colors somewhat insane, sometimes garish, a little random even. I think this sorta adds to the depth and richness of the finishing coats and overlays. |
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Needed an extra hand one day. Chef Abdoul is a Picasso in the kitchen so I figured that would translate to the canvas. It's about a respect for detail more than anything else and being real comfortable working with the hands. |
Most southern food derives from Africa. Part of Abdoul's mission in Alabama is to form a culinary dialog between African and Southern cuisines. I kinda dig this conversation between Abdoul and Jody cuz it's all about that bridge.
The backdrop reached completion. Everybody seemed pleased with the results. I enjoyed the whole process of creating it. Especially collaborating with Jody and her great students.
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I wasn't around to get some full production shots including actors and the set built by the theater class. But it looked quite good all together. Excellent quality. |