<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<rss version="2.0" 
    xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
    xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
    xmlns:admin="http://webns.net/mvcb/"
    xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#"
    xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd">
	<channel>
<title>Exocubic Studio RSS</title><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index.html</link><description>What&#x27;s happening in Mark&#x27;s delusion</description><dc:language>en</dc:language><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><dc:rights>Copyright 2006 Mark Leichliter</dc:rights><dc:date>2008-08-11T15:34:53-06:00</dc:date><admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.realmacsoftware.com/" />
<admin:errorReportsTo rdf:resource="mailto:mark@exocubicstudio.com" /><sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
<sy:updateBase>2000-01-01T12:00+00:00</sy:updateBase>
<lastBuildDate>Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:43:39 -0600</lastBuildDate><item><title>Pre-School Wisdom: Water is Blue</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2008-08-11T15:34:53-06:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/7b1d16bcf92b5a4684acd0429b0d00df-42.html#unique-entry-id-42</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/7b1d16bcf92b5a4684acd0429b0d00df-42.html#unique-entry-id-42</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;Water&rdquo; is out of the oven and now has a nice blue finish.<br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/markleichliter/2754939030/" rel="external"><img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_2342" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry42_1.jpg" width="387" height="290"/></a>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Symbol Sconces</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2008-08-08T15:21:01-06:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/ff24b0a38753564fc14d1bcc6e433942-41.html#unique-entry-id-41</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/ff24b0a38753564fc14d1bcc6e433942-41.html#unique-entry-id-41</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I&rsquo;ve made some candle holders that mount on the wall (uhh - you hang &lsquo;em on a nail). They are made of 14 gauge stainless steel with a sanded matte finish. You can put one or two tea lights on the little shelf that is sandwiched between the plates.<img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_2321" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry41_1.jpg" width="384" height="216"/><br /><br />Here&rsquo;s a diagram that shows how they are constructed:<br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="Martini Sconce 3dEXPLO" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry41_2.jpg" width="378" height="411"/><br /><br />And a truly professional night shot, with a lit candle:<br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_2257" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry41_3.jpg" width="367" height="367"/>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Exocubic Studio Store now open&#x21;</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2008-08-06T11:02:15-06:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/fd86bb808bab345a1414a7cce559c07a-40.html#unique-entry-id-40</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/fd86bb808bab345a1414a7cce559c07a-40.html#unique-entry-id-40</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Notice that new link up there (on the right)? Yep, I&rsquo;ve opened an ecommerce storefront where some of my smaller works can be purchased. Go check it out!]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;Water&#x22; being sandblasted.</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2008-08-06T10:47:54-06:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/bd06d2228271381dc2df3fec0849b522-39.html#unique-entry-id-39</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/bd06d2228271381dc2df3fec0849b522-39.html#unique-entry-id-39</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[TD manufacturing in Greeley, Colorado prepping the &ldquo;Water&rdquo; piece for powder coating. Lloyd from Master Metal Works and I ran out to look it over and correct any flaws (I point out, Lloyd corrects). The metal looks really good. I&rsquo;m excited that this project is finally starting to coalesce.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markleichliter/sets/72157600816905173/" rel="external"><img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_2325" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry39_1.jpg" width="387" height="290"/></a>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>And so is Pas de Deux.</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2008-07-16T15:37:34-06:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/e8a54f07118beefa74a97d4d907b5752-38.html#unique-entry-id-38</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/e8a54f07118beefa74a97d4d907b5752-38.html#unique-entry-id-38</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_2244" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry38_1.jpg" width="392" height="523"/>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Meme is finished.</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2008-07-05T10:25:13-06:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/9f22c6f044431121e941ffbf661e54c1-37.html#unique-entry-id-37</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/9f22c6f044431121e941ffbf661e54c1-37.html#unique-entry-id-37</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<a href="http://flickr.com/photos/markleichliter/sets/72157594400580168/" rel="external"><img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_0973" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry37_1.jpg" width="396" height="594"/></a><br />Jafe Parsons got some preliminary shots to me this weekend of the finished "Meme" sculpture. Really, really pleased with this one. I think it is my best work to date - if that statement actually means anything. I oftentimes feel that my latest effort is my best; it takes a bit of time and perspective to get a true sense of how a single work fits into an oeuvre. Yet this does feel like a less tentative, bolder statement of form that is derived intrinsically and exclusively from my current process - the computer as primary tool for sculptural expression.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>What I&#x27;m doing right now.</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2008-05-26T11:05:26-06:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/1bf36d4d3963db9f9e8d2c0bc5041afe-36.html#unique-entry-id-36</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/1bf36d4d3963db9f9e8d2c0bc5041afe-36.html#unique-entry-id-36</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Assembling the "Meme" piece.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markleichliter/" rel="external"><img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_2222" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry36_1.jpg" width="387" height="290"/></a>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Number Six.</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2008-05-18T09:39:42-06:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/0c2806f864aa3c1ac8953209286c2028-35.html#unique-entry-id-35</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/0c2806f864aa3c1ac8953209286c2028-35.html#unique-entry-id-35</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<img class="imageStyle" alt=""Together" - Little Rock Installation - 09" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry35_1.jpg" width="384" height="512"/><br />Back from Little Rock, Arkansas having installed my sixth major piece of public art. None of these installations comes off without a hitch, but it seemed like this one was actually easier than some of the others - perhaps indicating that John* and I are actually learning? Personally, I was able to relax a bit more, which in turn allowed me to communicate better with our crane operator and everyone helping us. The elderly crane owner was there (in addition to the operator) and his expertise made a huge impact - but he was very soft-spoken and had the thickest Arkansas accent I'd yet encountered. It took a conscious effort on my part to pause and really talk things over with him in order to comprehend what he was advising. I think I've finally gotten mature enough to shut off the ego and do what's needed to achieve the goal. About time. Also, the Little Rock Parks and Rec guys were there to help us out, and they REALLY did. The strongest lesson I came away with was that we collectively are much more capable and wise than any of us is singularly.<br /><br />* - John Kinkade, the Executive Director of the <a href="http://www.columbinensg.com/" rel="external">National Sculptors' Guild</a> and my dear friend of 16 years. (That's him on the far right above.)<br /><br />More pictures <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markleichliter/sets/72157605108042613/" rel="external">here</a>.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Candleholder.</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2008-04-18T08:31:26-06:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/72d7b04ec10a8cc47739b5723d0ec052-34.html#unique-entry-id-34</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/72d7b04ec10a8cc47739b5723d0ec052-34.html#unique-entry-id-34</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I've been working on some ideas for more utilitarian designs - if you can call a candleholder useful. The first image is the sheet metal shapes as modeled in FormZ.<br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="ShadowLamp 01" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry34_1.jpg" width="384" height="483"/><br />And here is the first prototype in 14 gauge stainless.<br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_2136" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry34_2.jpg" width="392" height="523"/><br />This is (kinda) what it looks like with a tea light candle inside. I made a little platform that sits inside that will hopefully make the thing a little safer - the top of the enclosure does get pretty hot, but one of the unique properties of stainless steel is it's low thermal conductivity compared to other metals. The top gets hot but the sides stay cool.<br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_2138" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry34_3.jpg" width="392" height="523"/><br />The whole point of this piece is the pattern generated by the flickering light traveling through the holes, but my low-light camera skills is be real goodz - I could show you the pretty black rectangle I made, but... yeah.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Environmental responsibility and the artist.</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2008-04-15T10:38:27-06:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/d6674c3deb5372fb015e4dedd94c508e-33.html#unique-entry-id-33</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/d6674c3deb5372fb015e4dedd94c508e-33.html#unique-entry-id-33</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<img class="imageStyle" alt="WasteMan" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry33_1.jpg" width="387" height="386"/><br />This picture, of Antony Gormley's "Waste Man" burning - filling the air with the noxious smoke of tons of discarded wood - set me thinking. Uh oh.<br /><br />I understand that part of the point of this piece was to call attention to the massive amounts of waste we in the developed world produce, and to highlight the ephemeral essence of all the "stuff" we strive so hard to acquire. Gormley is one of my favorite sculptors - but this kind of condescending spectacle has definitely lowered his esteem in my eyes. Why exacerbate the very problems you are hoping to solve?<br /><br />This brings up a point that bugs me no end regarding my own choice of method and material: how to reconcile the obvious environmental crisis-in-progress and my part in it with my (and our culture's) need to create and express. Is Gormley's monstrous cloud of smoke any worse in the end than the unseen multiple such clouds emanating from the iron mine, the steel mill, the tractor-trailer delivering the raw material for MY sculptures? Finding a point of equilibrium that allows one to be in the world without accelerating it's destruction is probably the most profound and important question we all must ask ourselves as we venture into a new millennium.<br /><br />What do you think?]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Meme.</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2008-03-16T17:33:07-06:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/5f2a7f8aed1ddd0e408f0af858f8a422-32.html#unique-entry-id-32</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/5f2a7f8aed1ddd0e408f0af858f8a422-32.html#unique-entry-id-32</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<img class="imageStyle" alt="Meme 1" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry32_1.jpg" width="400" height="600"/><br /><br />This idea - or at least the seed of it - has been floating around inside my mind's eye for quite a while. I finally have the tools to make it a reality, which I find pretty damn exciting. It is meant as a symbolic treatment of Richard Dawkins' "meme" concept:<br /><br />"A meme (pronounced /miːm/) consists of any unit of cultural information, such as a practice or idea, that gets transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another. Examples include thoughts, ideas, theories, practices, habits, songs, dances and moods and terms such as race, culture, and ethnicity. Memes propagate themselves and can move through a "culture" in a manner similar to the behavior of a virus. As a unit of cultural evolution, a meme in some ways resembles a gene." (From the Wikipedia article.)<br /><br />It's that "propagate" bit that this piece plays on in the form of a concentric ripple - an idea moving from mind to mind like a wave, spreading out from it's origin and altering the energy state of other ideas within the culture. It also employs the imagery of a matrix or lattice to illustrate the memeplex being made up of individual, discrete consciousnesses experiencing a collective and individual transformation through the propagation. I think of this process when I analyze the slow but steady progress our species is making from one cultural paradigm to the next, as ideas like liberty, responsibility, and reason spread virally and replace those of dominance, exploitation, and superstition. As more minds begin to cohere, constructive interference amplifies these waves - and everything gets just a little bit better.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Gary Gygax : 1938-2008</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Rambling</category><dc:date>2008-03-04T17:55:52-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/6ddc565271913e08a1522a506b1f82fc-31.html#unique-entry-id-31</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/6ddc565271913e08a1522a506b1f82fc-31.html#unique-entry-id-31</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I am in a state of stunned disbelief. A bit of news has crept up on me from the vast buzzing of the interwebs. This news is arcane and oddball, like so much of the info soup out there, but it has seeped inside me and found some long-forgotten place of joy and excitement - and killed it. Gary Gygax, the mastermind behind Dungeons and Dragons, has died. Geekboy enough for ya? Well, it gets worse. I not only spent countless hours playing D&D - I did it by myself. I was both Dungeon Master and Players. I designed vast worlds and complicated labyrinths, drawing up countless maps on graph paper and populating them with creatures both good and evil. I then rolled up character after character to explore these lands and live these stories - those games are still some of the strongest and most engaging memories I have from my youth. But it wasn't all just play. Profound lessons can be learned when you play god and mortal both. Characters I had nurtured for months could be slain by one bad roll, and I was the one with the power to change that outcome. But there in the Dungeon Master's Guide, Gary Gygax had written more than just the instructions for how to play the game - there was a tone to the underlying scheme that encouraged the rational analysis of ethics. I feel that D&D, like all great fiction - especially fantasy and science fiction - is a metaphor, a sign pointing the way to truths that are beyond the storyline. So much important learning and interaction is scoffed at by the mainstream because it is couched in the "uncool". So simple a thing for a man to do as to invent a game - but that game can hold the key to a deeper understanding of life itself. A belated, unheard, and ultimately useless:<br />Thank You, Gary.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pas de Deux (Hello&#x2c; Captain Cliche)</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2008-03-02T17:48:16-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/9bf13c21e2ce22a1db5e7db2946202fe-30.html#unique-entry-id-30</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/9bf13c21e2ce22a1db5e7db2946202fe-30.html#unique-entry-id-30</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I've finally had some time to break away from the Water & Power project. What do I do with the time? Design more sculptures, of course. OCD, anyone? I need to update my How? section to reflect the new tools I've been using - I've moved away from SketchUp and into fromZ for modeling. FormZ is a much more powerful tool, but it's burdened with a commensurate bump in complexity. I still spend more time wondering what the hell is going on rather than feeling confident in the necessary procedure to do what I need. This confusion has actually been a subtle prod to more creativity - playing without understanding can bring you back to the "Beginner's Mind" that breeds newness and breaks habits.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markleichliter/2305513399/in/photostream/" rel="external"><img class="imageStyle" alt="Pas de Deux Studio 1" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry30_1.jpg" width="360" height="540"/></a><br /><br />I just couldn't shake the impression of one form aiding the other to float overhead - like two ballet dancers in a pas de deux. This was rendered in Maxwell - I'm a rank amateur, so am excited about the potential quality renders looming on the horizon.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>First Post for February. On the 29th.</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2008-02-29T10:21:31-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/5639d0cb059ca636f8767e095e96537f-29.html#unique-entry-id-29</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/5639d0cb059ca636f8767e095e96537f-29.html#unique-entry-id-29</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Good thing it's a leap year. I'm amazed, as I normally feel like Feb is the longest, nastiest, darkest, most miserable month of the year - and it went by so fast, I barely noticed it.<br /><br />Anyway, managed to ship the "Together" piece off to Little Rock.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markleichliter/2299813511/in/set-72157594400580168" rel="external"><img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_2111" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry29_1.jpg" width="387" height="290"/></a>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>More progress.</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2008-01-25T13:38:54-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/31dd4638fe059210707458e048724914-28.html#unique-entry-id-28</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/31dd4638fe059210707458e048724914-28.html#unique-entry-id-28</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Making good progress now. The base portion has an extra layer of steel sheet attached to it - to set off the main sculptural form visually, and to allow for easy replacement in the event of damage. I drilled all the holes in the 3d model so their locations will be built right in to the cut sheet metal, plus it makes for easier documentation for the fabricators. (You can't really make out the holes in this image, but there are 20 holes in the face we're looking at here. Each penetrates through the outer gray layer, the yellow layer, and into the structural steel.)<br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="Power 25ft BASE" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry28_1.jpg" width="362" height="480"/>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Getting there...</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2008-01-22T13:17:20-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/3211ab056d05f8cfb783dc45c2b10782-27.html#unique-entry-id-27</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/3211ab056d05f8cfb783dc45c2b10782-27.html#unique-entry-id-27</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<img class="imageStyle" alt="W&P Base Structure" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry27_1.jpg" width="394" height="434"/><br />I'm finally getting the virtual model of the Water & Power project squared away. Pictured above are the structural steel components that will hopefully hold the sculpture upright in the Colorado wind.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Current Mood: Wack.</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Rambling</category><dc:date>2008-01-16T17:13:56-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/1d975ac9394ee94a334d30b7181f759a-26.html#unique-entry-id-26</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/1d975ac9394ee94a334d30b7181f759a-26.html#unique-entry-id-26</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I am slowly, inexorably being driven insane. How can something as simple as a truncated, oblong pyramid be so damn hard to model? Oh, sure, it could be the .001 tolerance I'm dealing with or the fact that everything is -just- a few degrees off the cartesian planes - or even the fact that I'm just too goddamn picky - but how many days are acceptably wasted in the interest of just offsetting one virtual 12 gauge sheet the thickness of another?<br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="finerpoints_hoefler" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry26_1.jpg" width="388" height="504"/>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Control Freak&#x2c; Let Go&#x21;</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2008-01-08T06:28:31-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/5811bb7dce078b9ce4ebfbf3a1e55796-25.html#unique-entry-id-25</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/5811bb7dce078b9ce4ebfbf3a1e55796-25.html#unique-entry-id-25</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Making art is a very personal process that oftentimes borders on mental masturbation. Maybe that's why I like it so much >grin<.<br /><br />Creativity can be seen as a dialog you are having with yourself, with the dialectic centering around finding balance between your own skills and the qualia of the medium your dealing with. For me, there is a fine line between craftsmanship and fussiness - perfection is an idea, not a reality. If your work is exclusively about dotting i.'s and crossing t.'s, expressing nothing more than "look how good I am", then it's appeal to an audience that is not you becomes pretty limited. Striding the razor's edge between craft and expression can be seen as the fundamental struggle of artistic endeavor. I have learned to trust my eyes and my hands to produce that which I see in my mind's eye - but I've also payed a price physically while developing that trust. Both wrists and my right shoulder are permanently damaged from pushing just a little harder to get that piece done. Growing older and becoming more involved in large Public art projects have forced me to outsource the fabrication of the bigger sculptures, with a commensurate loss of control. I'm still learning how to make this new process work.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markleichliter/2176101449/" rel="external"><img class="imageStyle" alt="Big Together SM" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry25_1.jpg" width="400" height="300"/></a><br />The above pictured piece, "Together", was fabricated by Master Metal Works here in Fort Collins. They've done a good job - but not as good as I would have done. That's the crux of the issue: surrendering just enough control to get the work done without sacrificing the overall quality of the sculpture.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Meaning of Professional.</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Inspiration</category><dc:date>2007-12-03T12:23:47-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/5b587ad5826b3785d66ff69b8afd8879-24.html#unique-entry-id-24</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/5b587ad5826b3785d66ff69b8afd8879-24.html#unique-entry-id-24</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I finally had the motivation to get professional photos of some of my recent small pieces. Happily, I happen to know a guy who is both a brilliant photographer and interested in my work - enough to want to work a trade. As I was importing the fruits of his labors into my computer, I realized that each and every image was beautiful. Thanks, <a href="http://jafeparsons.com/" rel="external">Jafe</a>.<br /><br />Take a look:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markleichliter/2224337843/" rel="external"><img class="imageStyle" alt="Biomag JAFE sm" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry24_1.jpg" width="400" height="600"/></a><br />There are more in the "<a href="smallsculptures.html" rel="self" title="Small">Small</a>" section.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>High Road or Low?</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Inspiration</category><dc:date>2007-11-14T12:59:10-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/76929bd474e95cf81c07c6681aa0cc29-23.html#unique-entry-id-23</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/76929bd474e95cf81c07c6681aa0cc29-23.html#unique-entry-id-23</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I'm currently reading "Mind Wide Open" by Steven Johnson (his most known work is "Everything Bad is Good for You"). It's subtitled "Your Brain and the Neuroscience of Everyday Life". In it he cites the work of researcher Joseph LeDoux, who has found that the experience of danger actually follows two distinct pathways in the brain - one conscious and rational, the other unconscious and intuitive. The second pathway, dubbed the "Low Road", ends at the amygdala, which basically specializes in emotional response. This bifurcation is why you will find yourself suddenly frozen in place when you glimpse a very snake-like branch on the trail, before your cortex is able to analyze the much more high-resolution signal it receives and conclude that it's not a threat. It's very much a matter of bandwidth - the amygdala gets a very low-res version very quickly, while the cortex signal is slower but richer in content. Other studies show that our ability to apprehend the emotional states of others is handled much better by this brain sub-system as well - your immediate, intuitive reaction to someone's facial expression is much more accurate than the one settled on through your cortical deliberations. First thought, best thought.<br /><br />This made me wonder if a person's predilection toward more sketchy, painterly artworks isn't somehow tied to this neurological phenomenon - we tend to think of it as a "gut reaction", but could it be that this is a function of the way our brains work? It's interesting to note that as we grow more knowledgeable about art, we tend to value works that embody a more spontaneous, less fussy visual style. Is this because we learn to trust our amygdala and depend less on our cerebral cortex - and it's greater complexity? To me, the whole purpose of art is to convey something universal about an individual, internal emotional state - what better part of the brain to utilize than the one that specializes in emotion?<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25483526@N00/sets/72157602962045614/" rel="external"><img class="imageStyle" alt="birdy" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry23_1.jpg" width="382" height="500"/></a><br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="house_wren_art" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry23_2.jpg" width="335" height="230"/>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Who&#x27;s the dummy now?</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Rambling</category><dc:date>2007-11-10T07:14:48-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/6e3d688c1eccfe432835c71bfb8824ee-22.html#unique-entry-id-22</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/6e3d688c1eccfe432835c71bfb8824ee-22.html#unique-entry-id-22</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA["It was a fun experience, as I haven't done any smaller works like this, where client interaction is taking place just like on the bigger projects."<br /><br />Is this the most poorly constructed sentence EVAR, or what? Sheesh. Sure, I could go back and just edit the post, but then all my fans would think I'm this perfect, god-like being who never fucks up - and we all know how boring that would be, don't we?]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Mmmmm. Leftovers.</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2007-11-08T13:06:34-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/c11ea8490fdf8be50d8533c01c9e2078-21.html#unique-entry-id-21</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/c11ea8490fdf8be50d8533c01c9e2078-21.html#unique-entry-id-21</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I did a small commission for a woman who was heading up her own real estate group - "Blue Moon". It was a fun experience, as I haven't done any smaller works like this, where client interaction is taking place just like on the bigger projects. We played around with different designs until finding something we both liked. This is what we arrived at.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markleichliter/sets/72157603014325820/" rel="external"><img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_1831" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry21_1.jpg" width="392" height="523"/></a><br />Click on the image to see more of the chronology of the design.<br /><br />What does this have to do with leftovers? The Blue Moon piece included a crescent of silicon bronze, which my laser guys don't keep in stock - I had to buy a full 2 ft. by 10 ft. piece. Needless to say, I had a lot of leftover material. (A-Ha!) I've always really loved the volumes and shapes of horses, so I thought I'd just quickly model something up - a horse head - to use up that bronze sheet. It was mostly just a lark, I didn't really intend to come up with anything too special - but I'm really pleased with how it turned out.<br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2128/1809689125_c53e3081ae_o.jpg" rel="external"><img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_1935" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry21_2.jpg" width="392" height="523"/></a><br />There is an area of discoloration that occurs adjacent to each weld, called the Heat Affected Zone (HAZ), that can include gorgeous reds, blues, and purples - I've always loved that stuff. On this piece, I decided to just let it be, to not cave in and grind the welds back or do anything else to obscure them. Bronze is 95% copper, which is highly reactive to environmental acids and chemicals, so you have to seal it somehow in order to keep it from changing colors. Clear powder coat to the rescue.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Messing with a new theme.</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Rambling</category><dc:date>2007-11-07T18:55:19-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/8b0ff80792dac666663e7c10b05e1d12-20.html#unique-entry-id-20</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/8b0ff80792dac666663e7c10b05e1d12-20.html#unique-entry-id-20</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I've been goofing around with some new themes in RapidWeaver. I really dig this one - it's by Elixir Graphics and called "Origami". Seems kinda apropos, with all the metal folding  and stuff. Oh, yeah - to the three people on the planet who actually visit my site, I'm sorry for the lack of new posts. Hopefully I'll have the time to work up something interesting. At some point. Maybe.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Got It&#x21;</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2007-07-13T16:46:36-06:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/6e1f4770b3f71765a6138c2f89a1cdf3-19.html#unique-entry-id-19</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/6e1f4770b3f71765a6138c2f89a1cdf3-19.html#unique-entry-id-19</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Just received word that the Loveland Visual Arts Commission chose me for the Water & Power project. So very, very psyched. We are scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss a few design changes. Speaking of which, here are some pics of the models:<br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_1810" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry19_1.jpg" width="392" height="523"/><br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_1801" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry19_2.jpg" width="392" height="523"/><br />There are more over on my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markleichliter/" rel="external">Flickr</a> account, including renderings of the site.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>So Hot... Must... finish.</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2007-07-06T10:50:46-06:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/026f15ccf3bad4e2b2197e167bb8cb06-18.html#unique-entry-id-18</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/026f15ccf3bad4e2b2197e167bb8cb06-18.html#unique-entry-id-18</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_1779" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry18_1.jpg" width="392" height="523"/><br /><br />Been working on maquettes for a project I'm a finalist for. It's been in the upper 90s - perfect weather for bundling up in thick leather and melting metal. Time to separate the men from the... other... men... who are smart enough to come in from the heat.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Even f&#x2a;ckups can be pretty cool...</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2007-06-13T17:57:11-06:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/d25df925c79664d0b4991b69f9dcf965-17.html#unique-entry-id-17</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/d25df925c79664d0b4991b69f9dcf965-17.html#unique-entry-id-17</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_1729_2" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry17_1.jpg" width="364" height="273"/><br />After struggling for days - literally - trying to get a computer site model ready for a proposal, I finally figured out what needed to happen. It sucks when the best course of action is either to half-ass the job or spend money on YET ANOTHER piece of software. So far my experience has been that it's much more difficult to do professional work with hobbyists tools (so, yeah, I bought the damn software). Now I'm gearing up for my first exposure to Rapid Prototyping. I think I'm just about ready to send files out for quotes. I rewarded myself with a bike ride and some goofing off with my camera.<br /><br />This sculpture has been at this stage for a few months now. The guys at the laser cutting shop must have a had a tough time getting the cut parts out of the stock, as the metal shows quite a few dings and gouges from their efforts. I should have rejected the parts, but they were stacked together so I couldn't really inspect them properly. It turns out that my unfolding on this was erroneous, and the fabrication was a huge pain in the ass - you wouldn't think it would be big deal, but each of the faces you see is actually supposed to have a diagonal bend across each one. Just 1/64 of an inch out of planarity, and the design almost didn't work. Lots of clamping, prying and cursing to get the edges to line up even near appropriately. I need to decide if I want to cover up those dings and gouges by grinding them out and powder coating it an opaque color, or if I want the process to be transparent to the viewer by just using a clear coat. Hmmmmmm.<br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_1727" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry17_2.jpg" width="341" height="455"/><br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_1732" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry17_3.jpg" width="426" height="568"/><br /><br />More pics <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markleichliter/545055241/" rel="external">here</a>.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Masking Tape and Stuff - Rune Olsen</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Inspiration</category><dc:date>2007-06-05T07:50:29-06:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/981d67ac886db15e8b314186fcb97bb5-16.html#unique-entry-id-16</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/981d67ac886db15e8b314186fcb97bb5-16.html#unique-entry-id-16</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.runeolsen.net/pages.php?content=gallery.php&navGallID=7&activeType=nonNestGall&page=1" rel="external"><img class="imageStyle" alt="RuneOlsen" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry16_1.jpg" width="383" height="511"/></a><br /><span style="font:12px Verdana, serif; color:#666666;">"In my sculptures I transform powerful images into sculptures that interweave personal narrative, with social issues. Made from newspaper and tape, which I refer to as &ldquo;social materials,&rdquo; everybody can equally access these materials; I cover each sculpture in expressive and abstract graphite markings. The contrast between the methodical binding of materials and the abruptness of the mark making suggests physicality as sensual and destructive. The intimacy of the figures&rsquo; interaction is agitated by the presence of the viewer. I am interested in how the viewer relates to the sculptures as either participant or voyeur. With this juxtaposition, I seek to reveal the corporeal and mental boundaries of desire."</span>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Fixed&#x21;</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Rambling</category><dc:date>2007-06-05T07:28:26-06:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/eb9da5a5f741a9eaa3ca7cdc046f3f7a-15.html#unique-entry-id-15</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/eb9da5a5f741a9eaa3ca7cdc046f3f7a-15.html#unique-entry-id-15</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Ok, RealMac Software has released an update to <a href="http://www.realmacsoftware.com/rapidweaver/" rel="external">Rapidweaver</a>. Looks like they got everything fixed.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Technical Difficulties</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Rambling</category><dc:date>2007-06-03T12:18:03-06:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/9a0c2d7f8aa26fac628daeceb075493e-14.html#unique-entry-id-14</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/9a0c2d7f8aa26fac628daeceb075493e-14.html#unique-entry-id-14</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Please excuse the ugly, barely-legible nav bar up there - the software I use to do this website, Rapidweaver, has been updated to version 3.6, which isn't quite ready for prime time. Hopefully they'll get things sorted shortly.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>New Dining Table</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Rambling</category><dc:date>2007-05-25T10:36:07-06:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/af03a310a3e9261dd2e53bbc9e61b51b-13.html#unique-entry-id-13</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/af03a310a3e9261dd2e53bbc9e61b51b-13.html#unique-entry-id-13</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_1703" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry13_1.jpg" width="341" height="455"/><br /><p style="text-align:center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align:left;">Finally got around to building Ren and me a new table. It's steel with a gray hammertone powder coat and cherry plywood top. The legs are removable. Turned out pretty nice. Toot. (That's the sound of me tooting my own horn.)</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Update on the Veterans Memorial</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2007-05-25T09:30:11-06:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/6861ee06c2cf7d675bbc85ffd9f2d16c-12.html#unique-entry-id-12</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/6861ee06c2cf7d675bbc85ffd9f2d16c-12.html#unique-entry-id-12</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Haven't had the time or the motivation to blog of late. BooHoo. The semi-latest news is that we were able to repair the damage on the marble ball and get the whole project wrapped up in time for some punk-ass kids to use the walls for ramps for their bikes. Damaged them pretty badly. Once again, though, the City of Paramount stepped up and repaired them - doing a fantastic job in the process.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/gp/97289029@N00/8vK8jy" rel="external"><img class="imageStyle" alt="P1010009" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry12_1.jpg" width="391" height="293"/></a>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Best Laid Plans...</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2007-02-25T09:39:40-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/3f57847a01a5e9c71155fe26c2927198-11.html#unique-entry-id-11</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/3f57847a01a5e9c71155fe26c2927198-11.html#unique-entry-id-11</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Well, made it home from an installation gone awry in Paramount, California. We arrived on site early on Tuesday morning to find the "Upholding" sculpture broken. Our truck driver had done everything he could to try to minimize the damage after he spotted it happening, but things still got pretty messed up. I probably shouldn't get into details at this point due to legal and insurance issues, but suffice it to say that mistakes were made. Everyone at the City of Paramount involved in this project was on the ball and very professional in helping us get through this, and I'd like to say a big "Thank you" to them now. They managed to rent a TiG welder and I was able to reposition and re-weld the plates back into place. The marble ball was bruised and chipped, but should be repairable (we are already scheduled to fly back out in March to finish things up). In addition, a couple of the concrete wall sections shifted on the trailer, resulting in a big chip right near one of the plaques. The pre-cast company did send along a patch kit, so we were able to get most of the damage repaired - but more attention is needed. John and I put in a long, hard, frustrating 12 hour day, but we were able to get all 7 wall pieces and the sculpture itself placed. Not too bad, I guess. (Click on the image below for more pics.)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markleichliter/" rel="external"><img class="imageStyle" alt="Upholding Install 20" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry11_1.jpg" width="338" height="450"/></a>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Children Must Play</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Rambling</category><dc:date>2007-02-14T11:29:28-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/b031dfd5dc163818f18544684321757d-10.html#unique-entry-id-10</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/b031dfd5dc163818f18544684321757d-10.html#unique-entry-id-10</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<img class="imageStyle" alt="Lumpy Helix COMP" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry10_1.jpg" width="320" height="240"/><br />I can't help it... sometimes I just gotta goof around. So I thought maybe it might be fun to share some of the silly stuff I make. Check out <a href="http://adoodadaday.blogspot.com/" rel="external">adoodadaday</a>. (Edit: I took down that blog. Just wasn't able to update it properly. Sorry about that.)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Moldmaking</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Memoirs</category><dc:date>2007-02-09T13:09:36-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/09ba209737e53a6cf94ed676a32cb041-9.html#unique-entry-id-9</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/09ba209737e53a6cf94ed676a32cb041-9.html#unique-entry-id-9</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[This series of pictures shows how a mold is pulled from a clay original in order to begin the casting process via <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_wax" rel="external">lost wax</a>. I painted a LOT of rubber and tossed THOUSANDS of pounds of plaster back then. Dan Ostermiller was a good guy to work for - he knew how to have fun and didn't take himself too seriously back then. His career took off like crazy at about this time, and he had some problems adjusting, like any guy in his thirties who suddenly had people clamoring to buy his work would. More complete descriptions can be found <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markleichliter/" rel="external">here</a>.<br /><br /><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/101/384862937_0f64ebf183_o.jpg" rel="external"><img class="imageStyle" alt="Dan's-BearsSM" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry9_1.jpg" width="224" height="339"/></a><br /><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/136/384862873_e4ffc8c1b3_o.jpg" rel="external"><img class="imageStyle" alt="Mold-first-coatSM" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry9_2.jpg" width="224" height="339"/></a><br /><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/181/384862904_c896fbbd95_o.jpg" rel="external"><img class="imageStyle" alt="MoldmakersSM" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry9_3.jpg" width="224" height="339"/></a><br /><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/151/384862851_89ce945b87_o.jpg" rel="external"><img class="imageStyle" alt="More-MoldmakersSM" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry9_4.jpg" width="300" height="225"/></a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Welding Bronze for Ostermiller</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Memoirs</category><dc:date>2007-02-09T12:31:50-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/ffec119d62a1032590e2371c50d2f6f6-8.html#unique-entry-id-8</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/ffec119d62a1032590e2371c50d2f6f6-8.html#unique-entry-id-8</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Hmmm. I found this image, with a date on the back, which contradicts my guess for the date on the previous post's pic. This was taken in March of 1989 - I was working for Dan Ostermiller at that time, doing point-ups (enlarging small sculptures into biguns) and welding them together. The location is at the old Loveland Sculpture Works building. That's Nancy, Dan, Tim Cherry, me, and Kevin Fitchner, along with a few thousand pounds of cast bronze critters. Kevin was the first welding teacher I had - he was also a dairy farmer, and would get up every day at 4 am, milk his cows, come to the shop for a day of welding and grinding, then return home to milk a second time. He averaged about 5 hours of sleep a night. Needless to say, he quit working for Dan shortly after this picture was taken, and I took up the job of managing Dan's production.<br /><br />The Tropism piece from the previous post was done when I worked for Kent Ullberg, which was after working for Dan. So 1990 is more accurate for a date on that pic.<br /><br /><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/384862979_e60f11b817_o.jpg" rel="external"><img class="imageStyle" alt="At-Loveland-Sculpture-Works---March-'89SM" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry8_1.jpg" width="340" height="225"/></a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>First Commission</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Memoirs</category><dc:date>2007-02-08T16:06:11-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/e93269499dd62a9d6e6884c7864e6ce0-7.html#unique-entry-id-7</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/e93269499dd62a9d6e6884c7864e6ce0-7.html#unique-entry-id-7</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I did this piece for a private party in uhh... 1989, I think. So I was 23 years old. The title of the piece is "Tropism" - it reminded me of a seedling just orienting itself to the sun after breaking out of the seed. The material is gray alabaster. I remember picking up the raw stone - it weighed about 1200 pounds, and the finished carving was 750. There was a lot of unsound material in the blank, and that influenced the design. Like most of my carved stuff, I had no predetermined concept in mind at the start, I just started wailing away with the chisel, letting the design evolve as I worked. I kind of miss that approach, but my wrists still bitch about the abuse they suffered to this day.<br /><br /><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/186/384125498_d8927393ae_o.jpg" rel="external"><img class="imageStyle" alt="Tropism-and-MeSM" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry7_1.jpg" width="360" height="451"/></a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Blog? What blog?</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2007-02-07T15:33:34-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/61512853379e493ea8949bc97e7885a7-6.html#unique-entry-id-6</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/61512853379e493ea8949bc97e7885a7-6.html#unique-entry-id-6</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Oh, shit. I suck at sticking to stuff. Except making sculptures. For some reason, I just keep doing it. This year marks my 20th year of it, in fact. I made my first casting (that word almost makes me barf - it's like a shot of cheap tequila) in 1987, and went to work for Dan "The Man" Ostermiller in 1988. I've dicked around with tons of different modes of expression, but the one constant has always been sculptural form. I think I might dig out some old photos and scan them, do a sort of egomaniac's retrospective right here. Stay tuned.<br /><br />Oh, and the attached pic is a fabrication shot of the "Upholding" piece for Paramount, CA. Scheduled to be installed on the 20th of this month.<br /><br /><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/173/384125467_7f435af511_o.jpg" rel="external"><img class="imageStyle" alt="Upholding - Fab 01 SMALL" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry6_1.jpg" width="338" height="451"/></a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Beauty: Ned Kahn</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Inspiration</category><dc:date>2006-12-18T08:17:54-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/4a56b32328ea06bd66ad30bed7bf7ef2-5.html#unique-entry-id-5</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/4a56b32328ea06bd66ad30bed7bf7ef2-5.html#unique-entry-id-5</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="imageStyle" alt="windleaves01" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry5_1.jpg" width="255" height="307"/><br /></p><p style="text-align:left;">It's a rare and wonderful experience for me to find an artist's work that is utterly new to me and utterly spectacular. <a href="http://nedkahn.com/portfolio.html" rel="external">Ned Kahn's</a> work makes me wonder why I bother - it's just that damn good. Mmmm, humble pie. My favorite.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Cubetowers in the Median</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2006-11-20T09:38:32-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/8bdb84335fce8c8c103a1fff7161b5f0-4.html#unique-entry-id-4</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/8bdb84335fce8c8c103a1fff7161b5f0-4.html#unique-entry-id-4</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="imageStyle" alt="Cubetowers in Streetscape Jitter" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry4_1.jpg" width="340" height="218"/><br /></p><p style="text-align:left;">Working on some graphics illustrating the placement of my Cubetower sculptures into street medians for the City of Long Beach, California. I used generic streetscape buildings from Google's <a href="http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/" rel="external">3d Warehouse</a> to populate a mocked-up city.  Sketch-Up also lets me set the location up as Long Beach in order to accurately study shadows and sunlighting for that particular locale. I used a more unrefined line style to suggest a first-draft concept that hopefully won't influence the client too much in regard to the actual execution of the design.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Synergy Mandala</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Sculpture</category><dc:date>2006-11-07T17:44:04-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/04bc664fa663c027f868b497542a41a4-3.html#unique-entry-id-3</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/04bc664fa663c027f868b497542a41a4-3.html#unique-entry-id-3</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<br /><p style="text-align:center;"><img class="imageStyle" alt="Mandala on Building DownView" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry3_1.jpg" width="340" height="218"/><br /></p><p style="text-align:left;">After having mucked around for two months, testing different ideas and undergoing about 300 revisions, I settled on this design to present to a client for a wall sculpture.<br /><br />They love it.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Interesting Dutch Furniture</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><category>Inspiration</category><dc:date>2006-11-04T14:53:18-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/85c9bbdf4427c1f4b6df003fb1afedbd-2.html#unique-entry-id-2</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/85c9bbdf4427c1f4b6df003fb1afedbd-2.html#unique-entry-id-2</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align:center;"><br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="page6_blog_entry2_1" src="http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/page6_blog_entry2_1.jpg" width="308" height="201"/><br /></p><p style="text-align:left;">I'm always intrigued by the different and unique influences computer-aided design has on traditional crafts. I'm not even sure how these are made, but rest assured a computer or two was involved.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.demakersvan.com/" rel="external">www.demakersvan.com</a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Haloscan test</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Blog</dc:subject><dc:date>2006-11-04T14:39:47-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/a1d6bcce08c6e33acf056f73a43602fc-1.html#unique-entry-id-1</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/a1d6bcce08c6e33acf056f73a43602fc-1.html#unique-entry-id-1</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Just a quick post to see if my Haloscan comments are working.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Again with the new website?</title><dc:creator>mark@exocubicstudio.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Blog</dc:subject><dc:date>2006-11-04T10:13:07-07:00</dc:date><link>http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/f0cbf7bd2d486a0285921163a7e9d072-0.html#unique-entry-id-0</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://exocubicstudio.com/index_files/f0cbf7bd2d486a0285921163a7e9d072-0.html#unique-entry-id-0</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Yeah, yeah. I know. Just can't leave well enough alone. Anyway, what do you think of the new digs?]]></content:encoded></item></channel>
</rss>