Kinnick Mold: Rubber application

Section by section, 5 coats of rubber which will be backed by plaster "mother" molds. 

Mold rubber

This is how the rubber arrives for molding. Keith measures it out 3:2 and mixes and then we apply it small bucket by small bucket..... 

Mold in progress

Keith "Master of plaster" MacIntyre and I started in on the mold for the Kinnick Relief. This is a very important step in the process and could take up to several months. You will be sure to see more photos from this part of the process.
Regards, LJN



"Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter."

~Oscar Wilde

The Iowans visit part II

Jane Meyer, Rod and Blanka Lehnertz from the University of Iowa were in town to see the progress on the relief. I am happy to post that they were thrilled about what they saw. Last weekend I also was visited by another couple from Iowa, HD and Myrene Hoover who also pretty happy to see what what we are putting together for Kinnick stadium.
Regards, LJN

When I have a terrible need of.. shall I say the word.. religion.Then I go out and paint the stars.::: Vincent van Gogh ::: 

Rededication of Kinnick Stadium

To those who couldnt make it....

Kinnck Relief sculpture enlargement

The final piece to the enlargement puzzle is just about complete. Here is a shot from the foundry.
LJN


Derive happiness in oneself from a good day's work, from illuminating the fog that surrounds us.::: Henri Matisse ::: 

The Kinnick relief sculpture

Workin hard on the relief, should be wrapping it up soon and starting the mold. Huge piece, look forward to presenting it to the Hawkeye fans at Kinnick!Regards, LJN

Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many--not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.-- Charles Dickens (1812-1870) English Novelist  

Kinnick Statue Unveiling

1) The Nowlan gals in the Pressbox during the post unveiling reception.
2) The Gang after the game in front of Nile. From left to right: Pete, Loise, Evan, Heather, Me, Henry, Kevin, Jill with Monet napping in the stroller.
3) Nile after the game.



The world is good-natured to people who are good natured.-- William Makepeace Thackeray
 

Peter and I with Head Football Coach Kirk Ferentz at the "I-Club" Breakfast. An event put on at 6am Friday mornings before home games. We were treated like Kings thanks to Rod, Bob and Andy .

Pre-unveiling with Rod Lehnertz , Pam and Terry Trimpe.












Big Nile!.......more pics to follow

Kinnick Unveiling

Well its been a long journy since this picture was taken sometime in January of 05'. That is a brand new armature behind me which eventually would lead to the 16' piece which will be unveiled on Sept. 1st.
Ill see you on the other side!
LJN



The person who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.-- Chinese proverb 

The final touches on the 'ol Boy!

The final touches are being made on Nile to prepare him for shipping to Iowa next week. Along with the installation and unveiling on Friday Sept.1, there is also a play opening called "Kinnick".
http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060816/NEWS01/608160316/1079

I want to take a second to thank all the folks who took the time to send a comment/email about the piece and project. IT may look from the outside that its just the sculptor on this end but I can assure you there are many many people who have helped keep this sculptor upright through the ups and downs of this project.
Thanks,
LJN

Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.-- Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990) American Publisher

Review.....

Towers of Stone
Nicolas Cage struggles to survive the good intentions of Oliver Stone's 'World Trade Center'
By Richard von Busack
IN THE MIDST of World War II, the noted film critic James Agee described his conflicted feelings about watching a badly made documentary about Stalingrad: "It's like being moved by words like love, death, blood, sweat, tears, regardless of how well or ill they're used." That's the same problem with watching a film named after the World Trade Center. At the time, we wondered if there would ever be a film version of such a calamity, and whether such a movie could be anything other than a manipulative disgrace.
In World Trade Center, director Oliver Stone tries to return us to the moment before so much blood went down the gutter. That he does well. His morning cityscapes reveal the unseasonable heat and clarity of the day. A squad of Port Authority cops prepare for a day of seeking teenage runaways and shooing transients from the base of the statue of Ralph Kramden outside the bus station. ......

Jackie in the movie "World Trade Center"

Rumor has it my Jackie Gleason stars in a scene of the movie "World Trade Center". No word yet if it a speaking part or not....Check it out at your local theatre!
Regards, LJN





Practice what you know, and it will help to make clear what now you do not know.::: Rembrandt :::........"Aint that the truth!!" ljn

Wallawa Lake outside of Joseph

We stayed over there at the base of that Mt. The previous pic was taken from atop that mountain. We took a tram up to the top for some spectacular views.



No great artist ever sees things as they really are.If he did he would cease to be an artist.::: Oscar Wilde ::: 

Business meeting in Joseph....

I just got back from a business meeting in Joseph with Museum curator Pamela Trimpe , Assistant Athletic director Jane Meyer and Movie producer (amoung other things) Terry Trimpe......."What...we cant get a high speed internet connection from up here????" 

The Kinnick Relief

If the Hawkeye fans like the "BIG NILE" just wait till they get a load of this!





Patience is passion tamed. -- Lyman Abbott 

Iowa Gazette Commemorative Kinnick Section

The Iowa Gazette is publishing a special commemorative section "Kinnick Stadium Renovation" on Sunday Aug. 27. Keep your eye - out for the LJN ad.

Kinnick Stadium Relief sculpture

....its coming along nicely.....do any of you remember what it felt like to miss a tackle?
Regards,
LJN










Let everyone sweep in front of his own door and the whole world willbe clean.  

Crunch Time!

Been working away on the big relief while managing the casting of the big fella. Things are coming along great. Here is a detail shot of one of the 11 figures in the relief.








It is wonderful to be in on the creation of something, see it used,and then walk away and smile at it. 

UI announces Kinnick ceremony

Tuesday, June 13, 2006
UI announces Kinnick ceremony
The official rededication of the newly renovated Kinnick Stadium has been set for 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, the day before the Hawkeyes’ season-opening game against Montana.The rededication ceremonies will start at 4 p.m. at the new Krause Family Plaza on the stadium’s south side along Melrose Avenue, according to an announcement in a national I-Club newsletter.Hawkeye broadcaster Gary Dolphin will preside over the ceremonies. The highlight will be the unveiling of the 12-foot-tall bronze statue of Nile Kinnick. The statue has been a bit controversial as it depicts Kinnick as a student in street clothes rather than the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.Also appearing will be a “slate of distinguished speakers,” although the newsletter did not list any names.

Kinnick relief

The relief is coming along well and it gets more and more dynamic with each passing day.


Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you will help them become what they are capable of becoming.-- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe 

The "New Addition"

 

A "Vermonter"?

I was pokin 'round the studio the other day and stumbled upon a piece that I did maybe in 96'.......always struck me as prototypical "Vermonter"...being from Philly I dont know if I am qualified to make that judgement....your call...
Regards, LJN

Self-respect is the root of discipline: The sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself.-- Abraham Joshua Heschel 1907-1972 

Iowa Press-Citizen

http://press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060601/NEWS01/606010324&SearchID=73246426619911

An article in todays Press-Citizen updates the progress of the piece and also the debut of photographer Heather L. Wileys work!



It is good to dream, but it is better to dream and work. Faith is mighty, but action with faith is mightier.-- Thomas Robert Gaines

Relief work etc.

Here is a recent shot of the relief in progress. The figure in the foreground has not been worked on yet while the figures closer to me are completed. In a related note: The "New" Kinnick stadium will receive its first prime time exposure on Sat. Sept 30 at 7pm on ABC (or espn). Hawkeyes v. Ohio State
Power is the ability to do good things for others.-- Brooke Astor

We interrupt this regularly scheduled program.....

To announce the arrival of Monet Louise Jeanne Nowlan - 7lbs. 10 oz. Heather gave birth to this beautiful baby girl on May 2nd. Ma, Pa and Miss Monet are all doing great.
It's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. -- Chinese proverb

Collector's item??!@#@

I just received a copy of the Kinnick Stadium Skybox suite ticket for the 5th game of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes football season. Pretty sharp !
When you take a risk and step out of the norm, you run the risk and sometimes you fail. But you only fail if you give up. -- J Peterman