Dennis N. Duce used fold forming to create “Prairie Dog” for the up coming fundraiser Mission Pawsible
Lalovee my Great Dane Puppy together with "Prairie Dog"
So here he is in all his fold formed glory. Reclaimed Copper was used to create a wonderfull sculpture that shows off the beauty and versatility of Fold forming.
Click on Image to see more pictures of OpusOneHundedSixteen "Prairie Dog"
Click on image to see more pictures of OpusOneHundredSixteen "Prairie Dog"
First picture of almost finished Mission Pawsible Dog
So I have been working HARD all week end to get “Prarie Dog” finished. There are a few touch ups still to do but this is a good first look and what I have done with the “Grass” I made. I will get more pictures up tonight when I am finished and have more to show but I thought I would give you all a sneak peek. This dog was made from reclaimed copper which I form folded and then heat treated and finished with green patina. It will be shipped to Whitefish Montana for the Mission Pawsible fundraiser. As a copper artist I am glad to be a part of this fundraiser and to be able to give back to the community.
OpusOneHundredSixteen (Prairie Dog)
Mission Pawsible dog name changes from “Dog Bath” to “Prairie Dog”
The logistics of getting my Dog to Whitefish with the tree intact was more that I was able to fit in this year so I have been trying to come up with another idea for a few months. I told my wife the other day over lunch that I was having a hard time getting inspiration on this piece. She knows I am really enjoying playing around with Fold Forming and came up with the idea to use fold forming to create “Grass” under his feet. I have worked up two of the f sculptures that will go under his feet and took some pictures of them.
This one was the first one create to go under one of the Legs and is made from a single piece of copper. The working title is Leg One
Leg One
Leg One
Leg One
This was the Second one finished. It is made from pieces of copper that are weaved together at the bottom. The working title is Leg Two for now.
Leg Two
Leg Two
Leg Two
Dog of Bark City and Mission Pawsible Funds help out
I was glad to be a part of Dogs of Bark City and look forward to my involvement in the Mission Pawsible. Fund raisers like these help fund projects like the one in this video. Notice Cathy King of Friends of the Animals is highlighted in this video.
Click on Link to see more images of OpusFifty (Donation to Dogs of Bark City, Friends of the Animals, Park City Preforming Arts Foundation, and Mountain Trails)
More on Mission Pawsible
This is a BIG piece and is taking a while to get done but I am happy with how it is turning out so far. Here is a video of the piece with all three tops on but as you will see there is still more to do to finish the project.
Mission Pawsible Broken Tail Story
I have a funny story about my dog I think is worth telling her, but first let me introduce you to Lalovee my 4 month old Great Dane puppy. I have always wanted a Great Dane and my eight kids all wanted a dog in the house (we already have two cats, Bear Morley and Stinker) so for Christmas my wife and I bought a Puppy. My Grand Father, Lalovee Rogers Jensen, was one the most impressive men I know and he was very proud of his Danish Heritage so since he was a “Great Dane” it seamed fitting to name my Great Dane puppy after grandpa Jensen. This picture is of him with my dog for the Mission Pawsible fundraiser.
My 4 month old Great Dane Puppy "Lalovee" with my fiberglass Great Dane for the Mission Pawsible PRoject.
The funny part about this story is that when we picked up Lalovee on Christmas Eve from the breeder he had a broken tail. My puppy had wrapped something around it and broken it. He still has feeling and blood circulation but it has a strange kink in it and will his whole life.
When I god my dog for Mission Pawsible home the other night and unwrapped it it had…a broken tail. My wife thinks this is the funniest things that our realy puppy and my art puppy came to our home the same way. I am not so sure since I have to fix the broken tail.
Dennis N. Duce Reclaimed Copper Artist interview on Park City TV
Well I put the word out last week that I was going to be interviewed on PCTV. Here is the Inteview. Let me know what you think!
Mission Pawsible Update
Well I am underway on my Mission Pawsible piece. I won’t know the Opus Name until I am done but it has already been given a subtitle of (Dog Bath). I have one of the “Avatar Trees” built and a second frame work built. Rebecca Lyman wanted me to do a preliminary sketch or drawing but I NEVER do drawings of my pieces because they just tend to work them selves out and the final piece will look nothing like the drawing. (I know this because the final piece NEVER looks like what I see in my head)t. I normally don’t put pictures of the piece on my web site until they are finished but this time I am making an exception to help Rebecca out up in the Flathead Valley. My Dog Arrived at the Park City Concept Center yesterday but I was busy tubing with my family (it was presidents day) so I did not pick it up yet. I will get it this afternoon. As soon as it is painted I will include a picture of it together with the rest of the piece so that the volenteers of the Mission Pawsible fundraiser can start to understand what I am creating.
Top of the first of three trees for the Mission Pawsible Dog Bath Piece
Tops Side of the first tree for the Mission Pawsible Dog Bath
Front side of the first completed tree for the Mission Pawsible "Dog Bath" piece. Notice the frame work for the second Tree on the right, I still need to weave the top and bottom.
Over head view of the first completed tree for the Mission Pawsible "Dog Bath" piece. This piece is about 6 feet tall but it does not look it from this picture.
Mission Pawsible asks Reclaimed Copper Artist Dennis Duce to Create a Dog for this summers fund raiser
Following the success of the “Dogs of Bark City” fund raiser I have been asked to work up another dog for the “Mission Pawsible” Fund raiser in the Flat Head Valley around Kalispell and Whitefish Montana. This project is raising funds for Flathead Shelter Friends, Inc., Flathead Spay and Nueter Task Force, Humane Sociaty of Northwest Monatna, and Whitefish Theater Company.
I have not yet recieved my dog so I created this piece as a study of what I plan on doing. My dog is going to incorporate water and light and the dog will have a canopy made up of 6 pieces similar to this one.
I am grateful to Rebecca Lyman for asking me to be a part of this great function. I really enjoy being able to use my art to help out charities in their endeavors to make this world a better place for all of us (and of course out furry friends!)