Cardboard Becomes A Stadium

The back of the 'Stadium'.

Darren showing us the baseball.

Where the motor will go for the players.

A proud artist posing with his 'in progress' sculpture.

In Darren Petersen's hands cardboard can become many things.  Cardboard is his medium of choice and with his imagination and dreams it becomes amazing things.  Darren, a student at Hope University, enjoys imagining what his sculptures could do if they were real.  He has created cardboard sculptures of objects such as boats, street sweepers, airplanes and even a helicopter.  This sculpture is of Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.  Darren dreams of sitting in stands as he sculpts, he pictures the players on the field and the ball soaring into the outfield with cheers for a home run coming from the crowds.  There are plans to install a motor, lights and a fan to blow 'fireworks' just like at the game.   Fred Mezzo, a fellow Hope University, student has been assisting Darren in this sculpture.  Fred has been working on the people that will populate the completed piece.
"It helps to have someone else work with me on a project because things get done a lot faster." Darren explained about Fred.
"I am just glad to have help, I can really use it."  He adds.
We are all excited to see how the 'Stadium'  turns out.  Both Darren and Fred are very enthusiastic about this collaborative sculptural project.

Museum Outing Goes Kinetic

Cathy at the Calder exhibit.

Alexis adding to the yarn sculpture.

The craft area at O.C. Museum of Art.

Yarn sculpture, in progress.

Several students enjoying the Calder inspired crafts.

Getting read for lunch on the patio.

The Hope University students loaded onto a bus for a quick jaunt down to the Orange County Museum of Art where there is currently an exhibit of Alexander Calder's work.  Alexander Calder was a kinetic artist, he loved to make sculptures that moved.  The bus moved the students to the museum where they were moved by his amazing work.  Alexander Calder often used red, white, blue, green and yellow when creating his sculptures.  He also made many mobiles that balance unbelievably.  The museum had an interactive section where the students were able to create art themselves.  They cut folded paper into shapes and added to an already in progress yarn sculpture.  So many of Hope University's students are actively involved in creating artwork daily so this field trip was an amazing inspiration. 
Here are a few inspiring moments:
"I liked the sculpture of the face, with all of the pieces hanging."
Ana Pinedeo
"I liked the sculpture of trees and flowers in a garden. I liked the exhibit so much I would like to go back again."
Margaret Kelley
"I liked making the craft, cutting and drawing at the table."
Jennifer Doyle