We're headed off the recyclers today with this pile of scrap:
This pile of aluminum is the leftover scrap from the laser cutting process of our Ekko Workshop mobiles. These are the leftovers of about 1,500 mobiles!
Oregon State University Mobile Installation
Here are behind-the-scenes pictures of last week's installation at Oregon State University. This gives a little glimpse into the painstaking process behind installing a 40-foot mobile.
Oregon State University Mobile
It's done! The mobile for Oregon State University! Matt and Ben started Friday evening and spent the first three hours just getting the hanging point secured. The ceiling was 53 feet tall. The tallest lift they could use in the space was 40 feet tall. It took some creative problem solving to narrow that 13-foot gap...
After that, it was smooth sailing. They finished at 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning and headed straight to a celebratory breakfast. (Denny's has never tasted so good.)
Ringing in the New Year!
2015 has gotten off to a good start. We just got back a pile of rings from the powder coater, which puts us on the home stretch for the Oregon State University project! Rest assured, nobody will be hula hooping these polished, powder-coated, perfectly packaged beauties. From here on out, they get the white glove treatment.
As a side note, when the trusty Subaru is too tiny for project materials, Matt and Ben opt for ZipCar pickup trucks. In this case, not even a pickup was large enough, so the guys built a platform to carefully transport the rings.
Reminiscing about 2014
Whew. What a year! After looking over all the stuff we did in 2014, it's no wonder we're in serious need of some rest and relaxation! Maybe once the Oregon State University project is finished? Maybe?
Here are a few highlight:
- This shiny new website!
- Dinosaurs, Kites, Raindrops, Hexagons, and Clouds.
- Local projects!
- That project in paradise. (Sorry, our contract prevents us from giving any details. But we CAN say it was the best locale ever.)
- Ekko Workshop at NY NOW—our first trade show!
- Almost finishing this mobile. We're so close! (So stay tuned...)
Bundled Up
In case you're wondering how a mobile gets safely shipped overseas...
Germany Mobile Complete!
We've finished up the mobile for our clients in Germany!
News Flash!
We interrupt all this serious mobile making for a quick hula hoop break. (Using of a Furman Hall ring...)
Dirty Jobs: Mobile Making
Somebody call Mike Rowe, because this Furman Hall project could make a good Dirty Jobs episode. The mobile incorporates polished copper rings, and the process we're using requires us to polish aluminum, which will later be treated with a copper finish. Anyhow, the polishing process requires grinding away at aluminum, and it's been absolutely filthy.
As you can see below, Matt and Ben created a tent to try keeping the aluminum particles contained, but enough has escaped to layer aluminum dust across the entire shop. And Matt's poor shoes will never be the same.
But. At least the polished rings are looking lovely.
Germany Mobile Progress
Earlier this year, we mentioned a modern mobile we're creating for a client in Germany. It's in production phase now, and we're making good progress. Here's a little peek at its current state:
