How to mix concrete for art.
Mixing concrete is literally like following a recipe. There are so many different kinds of mixes that yield multiple surface treatments. As an artist, I love to experiment with different surface treatments. I like to use a fine mix such as portland cement, course sand, and marble dust. With this particular mix, once poured, allows me to seed various types of aggregates onto the slurry layer. Seeding aggregates, depending on the size, can sometimes be tricky once placed onto the top layer of concrete. I use a trowel to push down the aggregates and then vibrate the mold to free any bubbles. Once there is a layer of slurry after aggitating the mold, I then trowel the surface repeately over and over until the concrete had cured to a certain hardness. I like to do a hard trowel, because it completely eliminates bug holes in preparation for polishing.
When mixing concrete, keep in mind that concrete is very forgiving, but “time” is of the essence. I use a barrel mixer to do my larger projects. When mixing concrete, I wear heavy duty gloves that will prevent my hands and arms from getting burned from the concrete. If concrete is left on your skin for a period of time, be prepared for some discomfort. I also wear a respirator and safety glasses. Due to variety of ways concrete can be manipulated to create different effects, mixing concrete in itself has become an art form.
Concrete Sculpture Commision in Dallas, TX
Last weekend, I rented a van and drove eight hours to a clients house in Dallas, TX to deliver a large scale commision piece that became a part of their newly renovated spa.
Mr. and Mrs. Bromberg were the perfect hosts and quelled my nerves about the piece. I love creating commision pieces, but I’d be lying if I didn’ admit that it can be a bit stressful. With commisions, I’m always worried about whether or not I will successfully fulfill the owner’s desires when it comes to how they visualized the piece.
With commisions, it is imperative to have some kind of contract. I’m learning that I can be even more specific when it comes to making one. Not only should the contract include a timeline and details about pricing, but it should also include dimensions, color swatches and whatever else would help the client and myself be most satisfied at the end of the project. If you are new to creating commisions, it is important to reequest half of the money for the piece at the beginning. That way, the artist has money to buy supplies and whatever else they need to finish and deliver the piece. And then, when it’s all in place and the client is satisfied, they can feel good about paying the remaining money.
The Brombergs were perfect clients and I am happy to say that the installation, minus a few electrical issues and incessant rainfall, went flawlessly.
Concrete Art on Display at St. Tammany Art Association
It’s been awhile since I’ve updated my website, which does not reflect where I am and where I am going with my art. In January of this year, I displayed my art locally at the St. Tammany Art Association here in Covington, LA. in an exhibition titled, “Paper, Stone, Glass.” I shared the exhibition with a well-known local artist, Ed Whiteman. He displayed wall hangings on handmade paper and it was interesting to see how his art complemented my sculptures.
Unfortunately, our opening night coincided with the Saints’ playoffs and we drew a smaller crowd than we had anticipated. However, the entire event, which ran from January 7th to January 28th was a success. I enjoy supporting the local art scene and wish more people would come out and do the same. Attached are pictures of some of the sculptures from the exhibition.
What to look for in gallery representation…
Since the summer of 2011, some of my artwork is being represented by The Bender Gallery in Asheville, North Carolina. Miles Bender is the owner the gallery and he has done a great job of displaying my sculptures and of finding a new audience for it in an exciting part of the country.
Because I am a fairly new artist and am particularly new to the gallery scene, it can be difficult to know what to look for in a gallery. With The Bender Gallery, it became immediately clear to me that my artwork would fit in nicely with the other glass artists that he represents. The Bender Gallery deals in high end glass art, so it just made sense. It also helps to find a gallery dealer who is easy to work with and who knows how to disply my artwork in a way that heightens its’ effect. Additionally, Asheville is an up and coming place in every sense of the word, but particularly when it comes to anything cultural.
Obviously, the economy is suffering and this is a difficult time to sell art, but it helps to know that I have found a place where my art fits and is slowly gathering a new audience. The gallery’s website is www.thebendergallery.com .
Three Rivers Art Festival 2010 November 13th & 14th
Michael Eddy Representing the 2010 Three Rivers Arts FestivalThe Times-Picayune came into my studio and interviewed me and about my art work.
Three Rivers Art Festival rolls on in Covington
It’s time to just go with the flow at the free 14th annual Three Rivers Art Festival. The juried show of arts and fine crafts will surge down Covington’s Columbia Street on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“This event has grown from 49 exhibitors and 6,000 attendees when I was coordinator for our first festival in 1997 to 200 juried artists and more than 50,000 attendees over the two-day event,” said Maria Burkhardt. “It is very impressive and gratifying to see the resulting growth and expansion of our arts community, the positive economic impact and the artistic educational opportunities for St. Tammany schoolchildren.”
Medias include fiber art, glass, woodwork, ceramics/pottery, metalwork and more.
This will be the fourth year that Michael Eddy of Covington has participated in Three Rivers. Eddy brings cast and polished concrete pieces that are inlayed with glass. His abstract sculptural pieces range from 4 inches to 8 feet tall.
Eddy started using this type of media when he was taking a sculpture class at Southeastern Louisiana University. He said he was introduced to working with concrete and learned of its versatility and how it could be used to make any type of organic, free-flowing form. He has exhibited his work at Jazz Fest for the past two years, as well as participated in festivals in Florida and Alabama. He also displays his sculpture in a New Orleans gallery.
“Three Rivers has always had a nice, relaxing atmosphere,” Eddy said. “It’s definitely a model for other festivals in regard to hospitality for the artists, in how they take care of them and give them assistance throughout the weekend. My very first experience in exhibiting was at Three Rivers and I got the ‘Best in Show’ Award, so I always enjoy coming back.”
Concrete Network publishes an article about my concrete sculpture work
Concrete & Glass Sculptures Balance Strength & Fragility
A Louisiana artist creates stunning effects by combining the strength of concrete and the fragility of glass
By Sarah Tate, ConcreteNetwork.com Columnist
Michael Eddy is a sculpture artist from Louisiana who works with two very opposite mediums. He blends concrete and colored glass into seamless works of art. Eddy refers to his chosen materials as an ironic pairing, stating that, “To understand glass in the same respect as concrete is to push the concept of fragility vs. strength.” His unique pieces focus on form, space and lighting and tend to have figurative meaning. Read the entire article here!
Concrete Sculpture Installation in Baton Rouge
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of installing the largest sculpture piece ever. This sculpture was a three block system stacked on top of one another with stained glass middle sections. This was a project that took alot of time and over thinking…..but, it came out nice and I’m very pleased with it. 
Another successful year at the 2010 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
Wow…..Jazz Fest was absolutely incredible. Though the weather was unstable, I had more sales this year than last. I guess the rain prompted everybody to buy art work. I met so many people from all over the country and made plenty of contacts for future commission projects. Jazz Fest is the perfect venue for promoting art to the national art market. The economy might be slightly out of balance, but their are plenty of people willing to purchase art….it’s an exciting time!!!!!
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 2010
I was accepted into the 2010 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival this year and will be there selling my art in the contemporary arts section on the first weekend of Jazz Fest. Move over Simon and Garfunkel…I am incredibly excited and am hoping that this year is as successful as last year’s Jazz Fest. If you are out there listening to good music, stop by and see some of my new series of sculpture works.
Here is a link to Jazz Fest’s home page: http://www.nojazzfest.com/
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival 2010
Just recieved notice that I was accepted into the 51st Annual Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival. This is a fantastic festival held in Winter Park, Florida near Orlando. The fest is March 19th, 20th, 21st, 2010. I’m spending alot of time building up my inventory. My booth number is #217. Below is a description:
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival is one of the nation’s oldest, largest and most prestigious juried outdoor art festivals, consistently rated among the top shows by Sunshine Artist and American Style magazines. Each year more than 350,000 visitors enjoy the show. This year about 1,200 artists from around the world applied for entry and an independent panel of judges selected 225 national and international artists to attend the show.The National Endowment for the Arts, The White House, Congress and many others have lauded the Festival for promoting art and art education in Central Florida. An all volunteer board of directors runs the annual Festival, now celebrating its 51st year.
AWARDS
The artists compete for 62 awards totaling $67,500. Best of Show is $10,000. The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival Committee purchases the Best of Show art and donates it to the City of Winter Park. (All previous Best of Show winners are on permanent display at the Winter Park Public Library.) There are also 10 Awards of Excellence; each is $2,000. There are 20 Awards of Distinction; each is $1,000 and there are 30 Awards of Merit; each is $500. In addition, a $2,500 Award for a Distinguished Work of Art is presented through the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art.