Characters around the block

Rabbit, turtle, pig, chipmunks... a motley crew around the block

Today's newsletter contains a special look at another one of my interactive sculptures for my upcoming one-person art exhibit “Figures of Speech 2.0" at the Caplan Art Designs Gallery in Portland Oregon. The opening reception for my exhibit is Oct 3rd from 6 to 8pm and the exhibit will continue throughout October.

This sculpture is titled “Around The Block”. That's the overall title for a picture puzzle I've created that has 6 different puzzle images which are subtitled. Each puzzle image has 16 blocks - 4 across and 4 down - that form the puzzle image. The entire sculpture is sized 12 x 12 x 3 inches with 16 individual blocks sized 2.5 inches square.

The idiom "around the block" refers to having had experience. As in “been around the block”. Each of the 6 puzzle images refer to specific experiences like being the "new kid on the block" or a "blockbuster" or starting "off the blocks" or feeling "chock-a-block" or like a "blockhead" or being a "chip off the block".

I chose to create a picture puzzle because our life experiences are puzzles that we put together in our minds.

For example this puzzle image is subtitled “Off the Blocks".

Here are a few photos showing the puzzle aspect.

The overall frame is wood and holds the sixteen 2.5 inch solid wood blocks that I've painted with acrylic paint. The blocks can be taken out and arranged so that it displays the chosen picture. The frame allows you to place it upright on a shelf, lay on a table or hang on a wall.

I designed the overall project and specially requested the wood art substrate to be handmade by Matt McCalmont (https://artsubstrates.com/) and then I hand painted each image with acrylic. I had to be very careful and keep the paint thin so it wouldn't build up and then obstruct the puzzle blocks fitting together.

Below is a quick video look at the puzzle in action. You can also see it here on YouTube

Below are still photos so you can see each puzzle image.

Here's “Chip off the Block".

Here's “Blockbuster”.

Here's “Blockhead”.

Here's “New Kid on the Block”.

Here's “Chock-a-Block".

The longer video below shows the entirety of “Around the Block” in the act of being puzzle solved.

Here it is sitting upright on a shelf being assembled.

The Gallery asked me to write some puzzle clues that could be displayed in the Gallery near “Around the Block”.

So one night when we were meeting two friends for dinner at a friend's home I asked them to try to work my puzzle. At first I gave no clues at all and then, when I observed they had had some difficulty, asked them what information they'd find helpful. (I wanted to provide helpful clues but not be too helpful. 😁)

One friend said “It's like a kids game but definitely for grownups.”

Here are the clues that we figured out would help - but not too much - and are what the Gallery will display beside my work.

Around The Block - puzzle clues:
- use the holes on the back to get the blocks out
- there are 6 different images (each is subtitled)
- each image is 4 blocks across and 4 down
- the signature block is always in the lower left corner

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Thank you for being so supportive as I've worked towards this exhibit! As a thank-you my exhibit book, Figures Of Speech 2.0, is 15% off at Blurb‌.‌com from September 27 to October 3! Just use the code READER15 when you checkout from here. And also as a subscriber you have access to a special downloadable version of my exhibit book containing my paintings. (See also my last newsletter for more details or go directly to the downloadable from the link below. 👇)

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