Grotto #6
© 1989, Michael O'Rourke

Painted plaster, aluminum and bronze maquette
for monumental sculpture

In a full-scale installation, it is anticipated that the public would sit on the sculptures, perhaps as they have lunch. Or, they may sit under th overhangs, for the sake of shade, or to get out of the rain.. Children would undoubtedly climb on the sculptures.

The maquettes, or scales studies, for each piece are made of plaster and aluminum, both stained to suggest bronze. A small bronze figurine is added to convey scale.

The sculptures in this series are intended as large-scale outdoor sculptures, suitable for a public space. The intended final material is cast bronze.

Each composition consists of one or more large swirling masses, along with a flat rectangular plane. The plane becomes a protective roof-like element in most of the compositions.