When Art is Heavy: Elevating Large Sculptures
Tuesday, July 17, 2012 
When Art is Heavy: Elevating Large Sculptures
This year I’m doing a ¾-life-size enlargement of my “Holy Family” for a church in Kentucky. Smaller sculptures, or maquettes, are small enough to stand on a rotating pedestal, which I can adjust to a comfortable height for sculpting. However, sculpting a figure that is 54 inches tall is a different matter.
The challenge with a larger figure is finding a way to adjust the elevation of the sculpture as I sculpt so that I can avoid over-reaching or bending over. These large sculptures require hundreds of pounds of clay and take months to produce, so you can imagine the strain that bending down would inflict!
I looked for such a platform with some kind of lift but didn’t see anything that exactly suited my needs. I was left to design something from scratch and I thought the idea might be useful to other artists in the same predicament.
To start with, I purchased a Uline Hydraulic Lift Cart. Not cheap, but they are high quality, and can be safely operated with ease.
Next, I built a wood table with the legs far enough apart and tall enough for the lift cart to slide underneath (see photo). I made sure to install casters on the bottom of the table legs so that I could easily roll the table around the studio without the lift. (Remember, these tables will soon be loaded with heavy clay.) I also used a step stool and a scaffold with locking casters to work on the upper parts of the sculptures. As I work on the figures for this “Holy Family” sculpture, I can transfer the lift cart to each table as needed, and I’m saved the physical strain of bending over.
If you have questions or suggestions about this design, I'd love to read your comments.
Reader Comments (3)
This is a fascinating post Karen. Thank you for detailing the challenges of creating large sculptures. Every time I've heard you speak, I'm always in awe at the process involved in creating your sculptures.
There is much to be learned and cross-over applications when artists share the creative process for their unique discipline.
Thanks for allowing us a peek inside your studio...have a wonderful trip to Colorado.
Hi Karen: It's amazing how much work, and heavy lifting, goes into a piece! I remember taking a class at the Getty a few years ago about restoration and preservation of antiquities. We viewed the workshop where they have hydraulic lifts, chains, raised platforms, and support systems very similar to what you are using. Until then I never realized what goes into dealing with a large, heavy piece of art. Thanks for sharing your process. Fascinating reading!
What a wonderful solution! How is it working? Brilliant to think of the casters on the legs beforehand--I think I might have loaded up the table and THEN would have wished I had...
I am filled with admiration. Do I see that you are coming to Colorado? Are you here???? CALL ME!
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