Double Helix, new project

[GarryRicketson]

I don't know if this really is a double helix, I think so, but if not it is based on a double helix form, I did a google search, and mostly got stuff showing DNA structure, but any way I find the form, is interesting to work with,..so ,

I started this, new project, trying to use a "double helix" in the design and form. Making it with black granite, it is going to be a bird bath, so there will be a "dish or bowl" on top, this is the pedestal in it's first stages.
I started this, "flying by the seat of my pants" so to speak, all though I did do one simple sketch, to get some idea as to where to start my cuts,etc,..but it is "free hand", no measurements of any kind were made, other then to mark centers. This will be my first real "sculpture" using granite.
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The "back side", is not shown here, but it also will have a similar "head",or face, like the front.

These are just the first stage, I just started today, had lots of fun, !

[tonofelephant]

Garry, it is hard to tell if you have a double helix or not. It appears that you have a sincle helix.

A double helix is rather easy to envision. Take a regular ladder that has two vertical uprights & a bunch of horizontal rungs. Then in your mind twist it - ergo DNA & other wonderful things. Remove the rungs & you still have a double helix but without the bothersome rungs to mess up the design.

Know a double helix like my Journey sculpture above can twist your mind around trying to get it right. This mind twisting can lead to excessive drinking & swearing at various times before you resolve the matter.

Think you are doing well with your sculpture. Bon adventure.

Carl

[scrapartoz]

Hi Garry ,
Thanks for the progress shots.
I note the carved letters on your stone blank. Was this rock recycled from a cancelled/ unsatisfactory building plaque or headstone monument?

[GarryRicketson]

Was this rock recycled from a cancelled/ unsatisfactory building plaque or headstone monument?

Yes, in fact it is, from a fairly large headstone, that was in the trash pile! where I work now, a granite monument company,...They have a lot and this was one reason he hired me, When we are not to busy with new monuments, that are ordered, I work at removing the old lettering,etc, and re-polish the stones,....

RE: Carl , (tonofelephant), Ok, thanks,, yea it is kind of a mind twister,... It seems like I would need to separate the 2 helix's, today doing more work on it, they stand out more, and could be separated, but because I plan to put a "bowl" or dish shaped piece on top,(more weight), I would be concerned about it supporting that,..perhaps a different project,...
I give need to give you credit though too,..Back when I saw your work " Journey ",...it gave me the idea, that I wanted to try something similar, so I have to say,not only did I like your piece, but it inspired me,,...Way back when I was pretty young,(13-14), one of my aunts took me to many museums, including the smithsonian, and the one in N.Y.city, ( I can't remember the name off hand now,it is famous!) anyway, it was full of art work that inspired me.

[Nelson]

Carl,

few sculptures do I find hypnotizing. Your Journey sculpture is overwhelming, the interaction between negative space and organic shape. It`s actually creative DNA replicating itself. Just imagine it in large scale, must be awesome.
In my view, it`s a "perfect" sculpture: a journey of mind and senses... congratulations!

[Robson Valley]

Looks double to me, there's a strand coming down off each side of the chin.

However, do make the strands antiparallel so that the nucleotide base pairs can match up, OK?

Gary, I'd like to try stone. If you find a minute = grocery list of tools, please.

[GarryRicketson]

Originally Posted by Robson Valley

Looks double to me, there's a strand coming down off each side of the chin.

However, do make the strands antiparallel so that the nucleotide base pairs can match up, OK?

Gary, I'd like to try stone. If you find a minute = grocery list of tools, please.

OK, well ok, but on this piece it is probably to late,..anyway , I started another thread,
on the "grocery list of tools",..
Grocery List for stone work, cutting,carving,etc.It is here on this forum,
good luck ,
from Garry

[Nelson]

Garry,

DNA is undoubtly the molecular essence of life, and the site where evolution sparks at celular level. Drawing some parallelism, your Double helix looks too static, dead DNA ??. It needs to unwind, split and replicate so the critter lives and evolves. The DNA strands are tight and reseamble more a rope... the positive side, all it`s positive: much room for evolution and excitement. Take advantage of it.

[Robson Valley]

It's all in your jeans.
Maybe it's been silenced with histones?
At that scale, I'll guess no more than 2 dozen base pairs.

Garry: Found it. Many thanks. Even found my angle grinder this AM.
Any Q, I'll put in that thread.

[GarryRicketson]

Originally Posted by Nelson

Garry,

DNA is undoubtly the molecular essence of life, and the site where evolution sparks at celular level. Drawing some parallelism, your Double helix looks too static, dead DNA ??. It needs to unwind, split and replicate so the critter lives and evolves. The DNA strands are tight and reseamble more a rope... the positive side, all it`s positive: much room for evolution and excitement. Take advantage of it.

Well, this is true, the positive side,much room for evolution and excitement,...it didn't go to far in this case, now it turned into a bird bath,...

Click the image to see more views,if you want.
But I really am not to happy with it, I liked the pedastal, better with out the "bird bath" top, so some new ideas have developed, that is the excitement,..
from Garry

[Nelson]

Originally Posted by GarryRicketson

Well, this is true, the positive side,much room for evolution and excitement,...it didn't go to far in this case, now it turned into a bird bath,...

Click the image to see more views,if you want.
But I really am not to happy with it, I liked the pedastal, better with out the "bird bath" top, so some new ideas have developed, that is the excitement,..
from Garry

Garry so that one for the birds ! lol. It`s ok, finding a practical use for an otherwise unuseful attempt. No mistakes, no learning, no evolution, NO fun.
Enjoy yourself. In case you like making related cement/faux rock stuff, along with art, visit this site if you will:

http://verticalartisans.ning.com/

[GarryRicketson]

Originally Posted by Nelson

(part of quote cut) In case you like making related cement/faux rock stuff, along with art, visit this site if you will:

http://verticalartisans.ning.com/

That's interesting, several years ago I worked for a company that did faux finishes, they hired me, after the owner saw some work I did in a house that was being restored, the owner was a "semi" millionair, very wealthy, his wife wanted one bathroom to be like Onyx, with "fake" onyx columns, tiles, etc. Unfortunatley I never took any photos, she also wanted, on one wall in the dining room, to look like a brick wall, ( because the outside was brick) the inside, sheet rock,..however the other interior wall really was a huge old brick fireplace, and the original older brick, so that,s what I did, "painted" all the onyx stuff, and the "brick" wall,..it came out pretty good, I did not know anything about "faux" stuff, nor what that meant,..so any way later when another contracter came ,and saw it he offered me a job,..but to be honest, I really didn't like it very much,.. The results can be real nice, beautiful,..but I like working with real stone better. I have been thinking though, about trying to see what I can do, with all the small pieces, of granite too, using "cement" and or epoxy resin, to "build up" some kind of figure, since we have various colours, a interesting piece of work could be accomplished,..