April is a busy month because I am always getting sculptures ready for the late April - June sculpture rotations at the many Sculpture Walks I participate in each year. But this year, was extra busy.
My Fine Art Rep Mecca Page, booked two of my Traveling Exhibits for the 2022 season: The Lewis & Art Exhibition at Reiman Gardens and Scraposaurs at The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Sioux City, IA - and both needed to be installed in April!
Coordinating the shipping of 14 sculptures all at once is hard enough, but we encountered extra difficulties as one of the truck drivers refused to carry the load because the some of the sculptures were too tall. Let's just say we've learned a lot about trucks, trailers and shipping brokers!
On the drive from Hastings, MN to Ames, IA, we threaded severe thunderstorms with tornadoes and for the three days of installation, we endured rain, sleet and snow pellets in freezing temperatures with winds blowing 30-60 mph.
It was especially fun installing my 8-foot Tarantula on a 100-foot tower, 40 feet in the air in those winds and getting Ethel the Flying Pig nestled in her tree was a little more challenging than usual.
Our last day there, we gave a talk/PowerPoint presentation to over 100 Reiman Garden members - which was more stressful than the installation!
Installing Ethel the Flying Pig in her Tree Top
To see more photos and videos of the installation, visit my website: ArtistDaleLewis.com and click on Traveling Exhibits.
And if you are looking for something fun to do this summer, take a road trip and visit Reiman Gardens!
Reiman Gardens is a beautiful 17-acre paradise at Iowa State University, featuring distinct gardens, an indoor conservatory and a 2,500 square foot Butterfly Wing with 800 exotic butterflies.
Reiman Gardens - Iowa State Univeristy
1407 University Boulevard, Ames, IA 50011
515-294-2710 ReimanGardens.com