Walter May • Early Work
"30" h x 4' dia. A cast iron cauldron chipped along the rim has been repaired with three cast bronze inserts.
Installation of three works at Paul Kuhn Gallery. "Empty" (foreground) A cast iron cauldron chipped along the rim has been repaired with three cast bronze inserts. "Full": 5'6" h x 2' dia. A short length of tree trunk, (yellow cedar) has all surface cracks or fissures repaired with aluminum auto body filler. Wooden tool handles are inserted wherever a knot is evident. "Skin" (background).
Approx: 9' square. Metal sheathing stripped from a warehouse door is hung from a steel rod. Collection of the University of Lethbridge
The interior of a metal clad warehouse door is supported by carved sandstone blocks. The edge of the door has been punctuated with square wooden pegs. Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
Alternate view of "Bones." Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
6" h x 5' w x 8'2" d. Three steel rods with circular ends are threaded into a thick steel push rod. The piece is elevated by five round rocks placed within the circular openings in the sculpture. Collection of the Nickle Galleries at the University of Calgary.
Approx. 7' h x 3' w x 2' d. Five steel hooks and a handmade steel shovel are hung from the bottom edge of a galvanized metal washtub. Collection of the Glenbow Museum.
Approx. 5' h x 30" w x 3' d. A tapered cone fashioned from tape coated in silver paint protrudes from the underside of a galvanized metal wheelbarrow tray. Collection of the Glenbow Museum.
Each component approx: 14" h x 16" w x 8" d. Two steel objects are presented on sandstone shelves. Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
Overall size approx: 10' h x 12 ' w x 7' d. This installation in five parts is composed of a small steel disc, a long flexible root, copper pipe, a stainless steel chair frame, a large lava rock supported by steel legs, galvanized pipe, a small section of trunk from a tropical plant, a conical nose-like cone made of veneer, two tropical plant stems joined at the roots and a copper coil.
Installation view of the exhibition at the Nickle Arts Museum, University of Calgary.
Approx. 9"h x 8' w x 3' d. A slab of rough cut fir is attached to the wall by a wrought iron railing through which is threaded a coil of copper pipe. Bolted to the top of the slab is a short piece of conduit which transitions to a black pool cue. A lightweight branch protrudes from the foot of the sculpture.
Three quarter view of "Behind That Tree: Wicket".
10' h x 12' w x 4'd. A rough cut wood slab is connected to the wall by conduit from which is hung an bundle made of a thick branch wrapped in stained sections of tree roots. To the right side of this construction two square sheets of galvanized metal are nailed to the wall, one which presents a conical "nose" and two painted "eyes". To the left side of the piece a longer section of root and a small oval stone are fixed to the wall.
Alternate view of "Behind That Tree: Weetigo".
9"h x 14'w x 4'd. A rough cut cedar plank with a natural edge is attached to the wall by conduit which transitions into several long tree roots. In addition a copper ring with radiating twisted aluminum cable is fastened to the inner curve of the conduit. To the right of this construction two galvanized panels are nailed to the wall. One of the panels is painted with a transparent green diagram.
Three quarter view of "Behind that Tree: Meander".
Approx. 9' h x 5' w x 8'd. A tapered section of tree trunk and a delicate loop of root are joined to a galvanized pipe which is screwed to the wall. In front of this construction a long flexible root extends from the tip of a heavy steel cone.
Approx: 7' h x 14.5" dia. • 6'6" h x 9" w x 8.75"d. • 8'9" h x 23.25" w x 13.75"d. "Queen" is comprised of a cast metal disk which supports a circular arrangement of twisted aluminum cable gathered into a perforated metal cylinder and capped by a grey lava rock. "King" is composed of copper pipe and a sheet metal cone treated with a verdigris patina and topped by a lava rock. "Throne" has a steel base which holds a lava rock and a wood panel. A branch protrudes from the top of the panel.
10' h x 7 ' w x 6' d A warped 4 x 4 painted silver is attached to the wall by a length of conduit which then passes through a crumpled piece of sheet metal. Two small branches are attached to this structure as well as a short length of warped and stained 1 x 4. Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
Approx. 9' h x 5' w x 2' d. Sheet metal scavenged from a battered canoe is attached to a metal bar which supports a stump. A copper pipe with verdigris patina delineates an area around the sheet metal form.
8'6" h x 4' w x 4' d. Two pieces of painted conduit trace an arc from the wall to a lava rock. Adjacent to the rock a steel ring supports a conical shape described by heavy twisted aluminum wire.
Approx. 5" h x 3' w x 2' d. A painted cylinder of sheet metal contains a strip of curled wood veneer. Attached to the front of the cylinder is a bronze sprue with a verdigris patina. Also attached to the cylinder is a series of short brass rods.
6' h x 18" w x 18" d. A piece of untreated veneer is pinned to a length of warped and stained 1 x 2 . Bent conduit wrapped in a nest of bent branches protrudes from the front of the sculpture.
6' h x 10" w x 18" d. A piece of firewood stained orange is held against the wall by two curved steel bars. The bars also support a wood arch upon which is draped a piece of yellow and green stained wood veneer.
8' h x 5' w x 6' from wall. A veneer hoop encircles a warped 4x4, which is connected to a black pipe and a small branch. The warped beam is connected to the wall by a piece of bent conduit which transforms into a rubber hose. Collection of the Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton.
A warped 4 x 4 is connected to a length of bent conduit leading to a planed section of natural wood. A strip of wood veneer is attached to one side of the 4x4.
9' h x 5.5" w x 2' d. A steel grate and two overlapping pieces of wood veneer are fastened to a warped beam. The top of the beam is wrapped with green nylon rope and is connected to the wall by a short piece of conduit.
9'6" h x 3' w x 2' d. Wood veneer with lathe straps, a curved metal slat, and a stained branch are attached to a warped vertical 4 x 4 which is fixed to the wall by a short length of painted conduit.
10' h x 7' w x 7' d. A flat wooden wall is supported by a warped wood structure. Front view.
Warped wood structure. Rear view.
82' Long 2 x 4 A number of warped 2 x 4's are spliced together end to end.
8" h x 12' w x 12'L. Drywall on warped wood framing. Front view.
Rear view of warped wood framing.
12' L x 12" h x 14" w. A warped 2 x 4 is connected to a twisted 2 x 12 and coloured with black stain, pearlescent gold paint and crackle finish surfaces. Collection of the Nickle Galleries, University of Calgary
Restored 2017.