Mac Maker Interview : Baby, The Giant Poodle

 Here is an inside look at Mac Makers Project : Baby, The Giant Poodle

1. How long did the project take to build?

From concept to completion, Baby (the giant poodle), took just over one year to complete.

The physical build (from modeling to completed install) took 6 months.

2. What was the inspiration behind the project?

Jan Nugent (CEO of Branded online) and Laurel Evans Smith (interior designer) desired a giant poodle for Branded Online’s EPIC new offices. They were seeking a stunning 20’ tall poodle sculpture that would inspire “out of the box” thinking. The timing could not have been more perfect, as I had been deeply connecting to the K-9 spirit via two truly amazing dogs that I recently rescued. Amazingly, these 2 odd balls (Magic and Fozzy Bear) were present to every aspect of this project.

I seek to uplift spirit and tickle the soul of many. I do this by drawing on the timeless inspiration and innocence of youth. It is my goal to express notions of fun and whimsy as a form of actionable responsibility.

Additionally, as a lover of great story telling, I drew inspiration from "Falkor", the classic character from 1984's film the Never Ending Story. Falkor is a luck dragon that appears to look like a giant, flying friendly dog. Falkor is very wise, incredibly optimistic, dignified and very friendly, he gives advice to people when they have lost hope in many things.

3. What is your favorite part about the project?

The most defining moment of this project was when Baby's face finally came together and we all were able to see her smile back at us. The hairs raised on the back of my neck. In that moment, after 11 months of hard work and trust in the process, seeing her friendly eyes and whimsical smile was my Frankenstein moment…“She‘s Alive”!

4. How many people were involved in the building process?

A total of 25 people worked and volunteered on Baby.

5. Were there any complications in building the project?

The most difficult part of the project was 2020 in a nutshell. My project was directly impacted by: the various California fires, record breaking (118-degree) heat waves, riots, a global pandemic, and earthquakes! The California fires shut us down multiple times due to unsafe local air quality, the extreme heat wave rose to unsafe temperatures provoking multiple shut downs, the valued BLM protests shut down the garment district and delayed some textile acquisitions. Thank goodness the earthquakes we experienced were just big enough to make us laugh at the absurdity of it all!

Of course, Covid-19 consistently posed unforeseen challenges throughout the entire process. The evolving CDC guidelines affected, delayed, and informed every leg of our build journey. Stocking and providing PPP was super challenging in the early stages, as PPP was scarce. Enforcing disinfecting regiments and social distancing protocols meant limiting the total number of crew to 2-4 daily. Additionally, we experienced unexpected Covid-19 related delays as many resource venues we worked with were grappling with the same challenges as us.

Being a life long artist that is Native to Southern California, I am all too familiar with experiencing how art-making can be adversely affected in a time of national crisis. That being said, the related Covid-19 challenges we as artists and makers are facing today is truly unprecedented and evolving daily.

6. What are the materials involved in building the project/ where did you get the materials?

Some of the materials and objects used:

Birch plywood, Aero space salvage, Architectural salvage, 80+ year old automotive salvage, 70’s era interior design elements, vintage ski, surf & wake boards, discarded playhouse & castle parts, reclaimed BBQ’s, Vintage tapestries and Moroccan quilts, broken antiques, dog toys, and even my girlfriend’s pants!

I specialize in working with ephemera, found, urban-foraged, and familiar objects as a sculptural medium and building material. I have been collecting unique objects as a medium/material for many decades. I find objects on the streets, cruise alleys, neighborhoods, and thrift stores.

My process is one of discovery. Baby's materials are made of an assemblage and tapestry of found, foraged, and collected objects and textiles. These varying materials come together in a type of sculptural jazz, each piece informing the next and collectively imbuing the deeper spirit/soul and character that is undeniably Baby.

I am constantly exploring the hidden dialogue of found objects; how these familiar items, like totems, unconsciously connect our spirits to emotions and memories. I am exploring these materials, their meanings, and the unique conversations that exist in uniting them. Its amazing to bare witness to how these familiar objects can instantly connect one to my work and simultaneously lift the human spirit, inspire adventure, exploration, & discovery.

7. How has the public reacted to your art since installation?

All of the feedback has been truly uplifting and positive.

This installation is located within the Branded Online’s new (100+ desk) offices, at the new “Flight” Tech campus in Tustin.

8. If you have an Instagram, what is your username?

You can find me on Instagram at:

macmakerart

Engineering Spotlight:

Baby the Giant Poodle is made of CNC cut plywood ribs. The horizontal and vertical members are each notched to easily connect into each other and then are screwed into place. With the pups head playfully cocked to the side, it made for an interesting load path that required us to bolster some of the neck and head areas. But overall it was a pretty streamlined project and Mac Maker was an enormous joy to work with, always communicating with a warm heart!