The Albuquerque Crucibles are based on my friend, Al Johnson. Al is a fellow graduate student in the
sculpture department. As one of several
art students native to Illinois, naturally, he is a fan of Chicago sports
teams. This includes their hockey team,
the Chicago Blackhawks. My favorite
team, the Boston Bruins, are in a separate conference, so the two do not meet
up very often unless in the Stanley Cup Finals, which they did in 2013. Together, we watched our teams, going back
and forth in what was probably the most intense series I have ever
witnessed. Unfortunately the Bruins came
up a little short, but the next time they meet up, the outcome will be much
different. As someone who considers
himself almost exclusively a two dimensional artist, I have not ventured far
into the world of sculpture. However, at
a school with such a large sculptural presence, I took the opportunity to
experience pouring metal. With Al’s
help, I was able to cast a Bruins jersey in aluminum. The number 26 is for the atomic number of
iron, Al’s preferred metal.
