Caris Palm Turpen
welcome
After a five month wait, Wolf Moon Huntress made it all the way to completion. It was put on display as part of the Texas Sculptors Assn 40th Annual Member Show for the month of March 2023.
Wolf Moon Huntress
Edition of 10
bronze, wood
please contact to inquire about purchase
After my last post, moaning about the foundry’s slowness, progress has happened. The foundry has added staff and while they’re still very busy at least the logjam has loosened up.
I went and chased the wax on the wolf, and had a great time chatting with the wax team. It was quite satisfying to sort out small issues and make a couple of improvements in the original. This was my last real opportunity to mess around with the piece though – after this, it was set up for its ceramic shell and casting in bronze. It’s much easier to work in wax than it is in metal so everything that needs doing is done before casting. Anyway, next steps after casting will be metal chasing and finishing and patina, and then getting it on a wooden base. The crescent moon base was cast awhile ago, so I brought home the original pattern to use on the companion piece, Wolf Moon Hunted – a running antelope. The photos show the wolf cut in half so vent sprues can be attached.
My wolf sculpture didn’t make it into the exhibition. This disappointment led me to a few places – introspection, self worth, art politics, the subjectivity of art, and other thorny fields. That the foundry betrayed their promise to have it ready on time and that it still sits there six weeks later, unfinished, only adds rankle to the ire. So I’m spending my time during this wolf moon working on reorganizing my studio, messy after only a year’s occupancy (this should be a yearly or even biyearly event is clear). I’ve taken the step of downloading my cancer blog to begin work to turn it into an e-book – this has also caused a type of introspection, or more correctly, life and energy review, to see where I’ve been and sort out a touch more where I’m going. I have four other sculptures in process, and plans for about a thousand more. I have a new-to-me kiln set up and working beautifully (although it still terrifies me to fire it – dang, it gets HOT), and am asking the gods for guidance on what to do next. Art, like life energy, is infinite in possibility. If you have any ideas, I’m listening.
The inaugural exhibition for the Texas/Oklahoma chapter of the National Sculpture Society will occur Dec 2, 2022 – Jan 28, 2023.
It will be at Arts Fort Worth (formerly the Fort Worth Community Arts Center), on Gendy St. in Fort Worth, Texas.
The opening reception will be Friday, Dec 2, 2022, from 6-9 pm.
I will have one piece in the exhibition, WATER DANCER. While this piece is NFS, if you are interested please contact me about doing a new version that will be offered in limited edition.
It’s coming Spring before too long, and I can only reflect on the progress and changes in the past year and hope that the lessons learned will reflect in the new work.
My new studio isn’t built yet, but we are making progress in its making.
I have new sculptures I’m slowly bringing to completion and will show off as soon as I can.
My thought process continues to distill and refine and take on its own patina… maybe this will be evident when I share some essays.
This site continues to evolve as I seek ways to share the light that reflects off my facets. If there’s something you’re hoping to see, or say, drop me a line.
Ciao for now.
I’ve been designing and getting plans sorted out for my new art studio for what seems like forever. Plans are moving forward now, and we anticipate breaking ground this spring. I’m working in my temporary studio space on some small sculptures and paintings. Life goes on in the company of our kitties and dust bunnies.