Work collage from the weekend of May 17th

This weekend we were finalizing the position of the hand using a ring that is close to the size of the egg at the point the hand is grabbing it.

Medic and Cyra are working on some of the rings for the egg

Tapers and scrolls being made for the finger bones
Kirsten, Kay and Alex

Kay and Kirsten making hoops for the egg using the rolling mill

Karla tapering and Ryan working in the back ground

Scape goat (Garwood) working out some measurements for the bone scrolls

Chris Concentrating

New Monkeys trying out the shop

Cyra Grinding

Alex and Cyra doing some forming

Ryan doing some grinding

Alex making large rings for the egg

Incunabulum - BONES

Today Medic and KristIn came to the shop and started working on the scrolls we will use to make the bone structure for the hand

working on the egg

So this weekend we worked on the egg

First we made a series of rings about the shape and size for different parts of the egg

We then welded the ends together

then we made cross pieces and cut a center pole the length of the egg (9 - 1/2 feet tall)

and this is what the egg would look like if you stepped on it.... more next week

First Day - incunabulum

Today was the first "work day" of incunabulam. The plan do a mock up to scale on the hand.

1" pipe cut to scale

T bird doing some cutting

Brian Welding up the palm/base

more welding

The Palm(minus thumb)
All the fingers (Thumb being welded by Chris)

reinforcing the welds but all in all the mock up is done. woo woo

In`cu·nab"u·lum

The Iron Monkeys have just been awarded a grant to create In`cu-nab"u-lum.

You can see the Grant Application at

http://theblacksmithshop.com/ironmonkeys/Incunablulum-1.pdf

We are honored and excited, for updates on the project please check back here.

Cauldron on TV Free Burning Man

Hot. Cauldron. Footage.

Lighting Ceremony

Originally uploaded by javith

Crimson tossing in the flame for the maiden (and, barring the hazing pranks of BRCVFD, week long) burn of the Cauldron.
A pile of wood is (ir)regularly restocked to encourage passersby to stop and feed the fire thus adding the participatory element of nourishing the flame.

One night, Brian, Stuart and I went out in search of the Sparky the Fire Truck Posse by way of Center Camp. At the Cauldron, we found a guy dangling a stick with a hot dog skewered on the end into the fire. Brilliant! We took his picture, wildly praised him for his ingenuity and self-reliance, and gave him one of our gift scrolls. He was pleased; we were delighted.

Reno ManGrove Flyer

If you're heading to Reno before mid-December be sure to visit our Tree.

Opening Reception for the ManGrove
Originally uploaded by affinity1

Mangrove Tree by Night

Mangrove Tree by Night
Originally uploaded by Rob~Simpson

A lovely photo of the upper half of the Tree against the sky mural. The larger branches are made of lengths of pipe that have been textured by repeated rounds of heating and hammering. Smaller branches consist of round bar that has been tapered, scrolled and deformed for a more organic look.