This picture also shows the enormity of the materials we picked up last week. Matt is surely contemplating some important geometric equation. But it kinda looks like he's psyching himself up to hula hoop with that thing.
More Materials
Matt and Ben knew this next set of materials for the Arkansas hospital mobile wouldn't fit into the trusty Subaru. But they were surprised that even with a rented pickup truck they were pushing their luck!
And right about now, we're glad we reorganized and tidied up the shop back in March. With three big projects in the queue this summer, we're going to have some seriously tight quarters for awhile. (No complaints, though. It's a good problem to have!)
Ring Leader
Right now, we're starting the fabrication process on this mobile. Step one? Acquiring materials.
Pictured here, nestled in the back of Matt's trusty Subaru, is the first set of materials: a bunch of rings, made of rolled stainless steel tubing, that will serve as the mobile's framework.
New Camera
Ben just got himself a fancy new camera, and he's been snapping shots like crazy to tinker with settings and refine his skills. If you notice a dramatic improvement in images around here, you can thank Ben and the fancy camera.
Mobiles at Leith Honda Dealership
The kind folks at Leith Honda Dealership in Raleigh sent along images of the mobiles we made hanging in their dealership. Enjoy!
Charities Housing Mobile
Matt spent the day in San Jose, where he installed this mobile in a newly constructed affordable-housing development:
It may have been the smoothest installation ever in Ekko history, giving poor Matt a few hours to squander in the sunshine before catching his return flight to drizzle.
(Our) Tallest Mobile Ever
Here are sketches of an exciting project in our queue. Although the project isn't due for a few months, it's already occupying a sizable chunk of our mental real estate. It will be our tallest project to date (40 feet tall!), and one of the many complexities will involve ensuring that its hundreds of polished stainless-steel shapes stay polished throughout the process...
The final piece will be installed in a hospital in Arkansas, where it will hang in the cafeteria's multi-story atrium area. As pictured in the second rendering, visitors will be able to view the mobile from higher floors of the hospital.
Honda Mobiles
And here are images of the project we did for Leith Honda Dealership in Raleigh, North Carolina. In all, we created nine mobiles that will hang in their showroom
The large mobiles hang 6 feet tall by 3 feet wide, and the smaller mobiles hang 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide. The shapes are made of a lightweight but durable plastic product that were digitally printed with color and then routed into shapes. Pictured is one of the large version, plus a closeup and rarely seen view from above.
Mobile Shapes
Here are pictures of Ben and Matt prepping parts for a mobile we're making for a Honda dealership in Raleigh, North Carolina.
To be continued...
Spring Cleaning, Continued
The shop renovations are coming along nicely. All this painting (and contorting to reach the ceiling) has given Matt a deep backache and an even deeper appreciation for Michelangelo's work on the Sistine Chapel.
Next up, reorganizing and spring cleaning. Then we'll return, refreshed and reinvigorated, to our queue of very fun projects.
