TRANSFORMATIONS
TRANSFORMATIONS is an ongoing, long-term project inspired by folk tales of the world. Before commencing the sculptural work I launched into research to fine tune the theme. I selected highly unusual stories in which admirable qualities of ‘character,’ demonstrated by one or more of the protagonists, eventually precipitated in a dramatic ‘transformation’ (from animal or mineral into human or vice-versa). By the time I’d finished my research I’d chosen over 30 stories -15 of them have made the short list.
Once I’d settled on specific stories, the next question I needed to answer was, “What part of each tale should I depict?” I felt that the best approach was to portray critical, key moments in the story or the actual transformation scene itself.
My overall goal with this project has been to reflect common threads of human need, desire, goodness and virtue. These traits, found in every culture throughout the world, help define and unite humanity and without their expression we degenerate and devolve.
The relentless cycle of life and its continual state of flux provides the opportunity and challenge for all people, in lesser or greater degree, to learn, evolve, transform and transcend their corporal selves. In short, life is about transformation.
Dar Churcher March 2011
A WORK IN PROGRESS
THE SNAIL CHOJA
When completed, the
sculpture will depict a transformation
scene from a Japanese folktale.
The main character is a snail, a much-loved son born to human parents. In paying homage to the Water Deity the snail is unexpectedly transformed into a man.
Piety, gratitude and humility are rewarded.
Please scroll down to see the components of this sculpture.
DAR’S ‘TO DO’ NOTES
SNAIL SHELL
- Complete painting
- Wax or varnish exterior and interior surfaces
- Paper pulp, wire, acrylics
- length: 14", 36cm
- Remove reinforcing steel pins between L & R fingers to separate hands
- Prime and paint all surfaces - match skin tone with paint used on face
- Apply matte varnish
- polymer clay length of hands: 3.5”, 9 cm
- Complete modeling then bake head in oven
- Make mould of head and cast in light material
- Paint cast version of head
- Apply matte and semi-gloss varnish
- polymer clay height: 5”, 13 cm
ARMS
- Remove fabric sleeves temporarily used for photographic reference
- Attach hands to arms using pre-installed metal keys and epoxy
- Model sleeves in clay using reference photos for the drapery
- Cast each sleeve with paper pulp and when dry, cut in 2 or more sections
- Assemble and attach cast sleeves over arms, covering seam where hands join
- Fill and sand seams of sleeves
- Make paper template of underbelly for felt cut out
- Prime & paint surfaces of body and sleeves
- Attach the shell to the body:
secure wire/springs on metal hooks (built into the rim of the interior), extend through the body and anchor together on armature of underbelly at the base - Caulk the join between shell and body with silicone then paint
- Using paper template, cut felt (match colour of body) and glue to underbelly. Protect felt with plastic until sculpture is completed
- Attach the head, redefine collars if necessary, and fill and paint seams
- Touch up all seams throughout the body
- Varnish all surfaces with second coat
- paper pulp, wire
- length: 36” , 91 cm
The SNAIL CHOJA in the process of creation and Dar in her studio
Photo credit: Ray St. Arnaud www.raymondstarnaud.com