Below are photos of my work in progress as of August, 2008. This project is the largest and most complex opportunity I have had. I am creating a time line of that is created in Adobe Illustrator, then put through CAD, then on to being cut from aluminum and steel.
I spent 3 months just gathering information and researching company history. This time line will consist of 9 panels. So far, to date, 8 panels are in place. Each panel takes over 50 hours or more of drawing and "tweaking". Each panel is cut with a plasma laser from aluminum. Some steel is also used. Then each piece is ground and powder coated. I also add the holes for the screws to each piece to be sure a stud is found before sending it to Jay, and then Jay prints a full size template to place on the wall and drills the holes.
Jay Hisel of Big River Forge in Lansing, Iowa is responsible for the excellent workmanship of cutting, powder coating and traveling to the plant with each piece carefully protected to prevent scratching. Jay, with the help of his son, Jesse, unravel the "puzzle pieces" and hang the art while I watch and help whenever a third set of hands are needed. My husband, Andy, helps too when a really tall guy is needed! http://www.bigriverforge.com/
I am very grateful to have this experience! Also, added to our "crew" is Stacy Harms of Clarksville, Iowa. sharms@netins.net Some of the very small parts of the timeline cannot be cut by laser so I am having vinyl cut for those areas. Stacy came to the rescue a few days before the last installation of two panels by working with me on the best way to get my files converted for her computer program so she could cut them and have them ready within 2 days! Jay had lost his vinyl cutter about that time and we needed the pieces before they went on the wall. Thank you Stacy and Jay!!! You are great people to work with!
I feel blessed by the good Lord above to have met all the people involved! Updated photos in progress!
The "frame" area is 42" by 81", life size of what the metal will be. I spent over 40 hours in hand cutting this with an Exacto knife in quarter inch foam board. Then spray painted each piece to resemble metal. Everything is glued together. The parts list was printed off my printer and pieced together and glued to the foam board. The entire piece or pieces are hung on the wall with 3M velcro removable tape. This is the raw metal after cutting with the plasma laser, then ground. Jay made color samples for me to choose which areas to be clear coated or in color.
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Each piece is carefully stacked, padded while bringing it from Lansing, then we lay all the pieces along the wall.
Next, the template is placed on the wall, studs are double checked and all measurements are also checked and rechecked for height from floor and distance from the previous panel. Each panel has parts that will overlap onto the next panel.
Jesse is drilling the pre-marked holes.
He is a very quiet and skilled young man of 16. He is going to have a fantastic resume before college even!
(One more panel is yet to be installed. 8 of 9 are on the wall at this time.)
Recent drawing of office building.
All photos and art are copyright protected.