Walter May • Selected Works • 1990-2000
Two steel tables, frosted glass, brass animal figurines, brass bead chain, a wood mallet, a crushed enameled metal bowl, and a rock are placed on a rubber horse stall mat.
A small brass figurine of a doe stands on a steel table with a frosted glass top. A length of brass bead chain extends from the mouth of the doe and falls through a hole in the center of the glass tabletop creating a puddle of chain on the mat below. A steel shelf which protrudes from one side of the table supports a large rounded river rock.
A steel table on skids with ridges that indicate it formerly supported a barrel displays a brass figurine of a buck whose antlers have been supplanted by a wooden mallet. A crushed metal pot reclaimed from a stream is attached to one end of a skid.
Oracle installation at the Glenbow Museum as part of the 1998 Alberta Biennial. A barricade comprised of stone slabs sits at one end of a handmade steel trough. The remainder of the trough is filled with a reflecting pool of hardened tar. A long brass bead chain is attached to the trough and connects to a large inverted steel cone partially filled with beeswax. This container is supported by a bottomless bentwood chair.
42” h x 18” w x 57" L. Alternate view (detail) of "Oracle" showing steel trough.
36" h x 30" dia. Detail of "Oracle" with chair and steel cone.
21.5” h x 37” w x 29 d” Various galvanized metal objects are arranged inside a pebbled glass vitrine supported by a low steel frame.
32” h x20 w” x 20" d. A light weight metal office chair patterned after an oak office chair is suspended high on a wall. The seat and backrest of the chair are encrusted with a mixture of dried cracked clay and rhoplex. Private Collection.
Close up of "Ascended."
Each unit approx. 72”h x 16” w x 16" d. "Heatsink" A keg of roofing tar (asphalt) was carved and melted into a dome shape then placed on a square pedestal with a perforated steel top. Gentle heat was then applied to the bottom of the tar dome. "Meltdown" A dome shaped cast from white paraffin wax sits on top of a pedestal with a wire mesh surface. Heat was applied to the base of the wax which dripped onto a lower glass shelf.
Detail of "Meltdown".
“Outlook” was originally constructed in 1987 (modified 1997) 10’ h x 18” w x 24" d. A wire brushed stainless steel chair frame supported by copper pipe leans against a wall.
A stump which has grown around a fence post is placed inside an inverted chrome stool. The seat of the stool is filled with dried cracked earth. A second stump is place atop a similar stool which has been filled with sandblasted wooden bowls.
60" h x 40" w x 14" d". An inverted brass figurine of a stag lacking antlers is balanced atop a wooden burl. The burl is attached to a black plywood panel framed in galvanized metal .
Detail of "Reflect" with brass stag and burl.
Wisdom and Folly 2 A wooden mallet is placed on a rough cut wooden block. Wisdom and Folly 3 A handmade steel hammer and a fabricated bronze copy of the same hammer are placed on a rough cut wooden block.
28 h”x 40” w x 35 d.” A pebbled wireglass vitrine contains a steel frame work from which an artifact is hung.
Alternate view of "Artifact".
Approaching the Tourists' Museum • 1994 40” h x 24” w x 84 d.” A galvanized sheet metal model of the Santa Maria del Fiore Duomo is supported by duct work and a wire mesh cylinder. Inside the cylinder is placed a sheet metal model of a human skull. Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
Detail of the sheet metal model of the Duomo.
View of a portion of the installation "Our Nature" at Neutral Ground, Regina. A network of galvanized electrical boxes and cable describes a maze like diagram on the wall. The diagram is interrupted by several "Ghosts" comprised of inverted small trees which support ecclesiastical candles.
Detail of central portion of the "Our Nature" installation with two "Ghosts".
View of opposing wall of "Our Nature" Installation. 39 framed computer drawings are interspersed with galvanized electrical boxes stuffed with a mixture of dried clay and rhoplex, and connected by galvanized cable. Collection of the Art Gallery of Alberta.
Detail of drawings with cable.
Detail of drawings and electrical components from "Our Nature" installation. Drawing dimensions : 17" h x 14" w. (framed) Electrical box dimensions: 4" sq. or 4" dia. Length of cable varies.
"How One Becomes Many, How Many Become One." A diagrammatic installation of small clay stuffed electrical boxes and electrical cable on the wall directs attention to an arrangement of sandblasted wooden bowls on the floor. Each bowl contains dried anchovies which increase in sequential numbers from the first bowl onwards. (2,4,8,16,32,etc.)
Detail of "How One becomes Many..." with wooden bowls and anchovies.
View of the "Ghosts" as part of the installation "Another Network" at AKA Gallery, Saskatoon.
20 h ” x 36” w x 24" d. A half burnt hollow log is placed in a frosted glass vitrine which is supported by a low steel mesh and angle iron frame. Collection of the Art Gallery of Alberta.
Dimensions vary. An Installation of four inverted small trees with ecclesiastical candles and two large "Powerboxes" at Paul Kuhn Gallery.
Approx: 18” x 10” x 7” A metal knob is attached to a galvanized metal electric enclosure which is adorned with a mixture of dried clay and rhoplex. Collection of the Nickle Galleries, University of Calgary.
Approx: 18” h x 10” w x 7” d. A galvanized metal box used to enclose an electronic device is filled with a mixture of clay and rhoplex. Collection of the University of Calgary.
Approximately 7" high. An inverted conifer supporting an ecclesiastical candle is attached to the wall. The end of each branch is encased in hand formed coloured wax buds.
28" h x 40 " w x 35" d. A restored wooden chopping block is encased in a wireglass vitrine. Collection of Nickle Galleries, University of Calgary.
Alternate view of "Blocks" Photo by D. Brown. U of C.
22.5" h 53" w x 54" d. An oddly constructed low steel work table with a broken ladle, bottomless box, and a long spike hung from the bottom edges.
A collection of found stools supporting various objects made of copper, bronze, aluminum, steel, etc.surrounding a low steel table.
Installation of Low Table with 36 High Chairs at Mercer Union Gallery, Toronto.
A group of 5 "High Chairs" with various objects constructed of metal mesh.
A group of 5 "High Chairs." A variety of metal containers with spouts. Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
A group of six "High Chairs" comprised of cylinders and domes.