Currently we’re in the process of making a 9/11 Memorial Sculpture, and I have a section of an I-beam from the World Trade Center. It’s sobering to look at this thing and think about the fact that this was a strong, straight beam prior to the attacks of 9/11/2001. Part of the process of making this public sculpture involved turning the one length of beam into three: we have a fourteen-foot long section of I-beam, and need one ten-foot section for the sculpture itself, then two smaller sections that will be used for indoor displays about 9/11.

I made a short time-lapse video of the process mostly using a camera we recently set up in the studio to document the progress of sculpture projects. It’s less than two minutes long, but covers the entire process of cutting and slightly smoothing the raw edges (so they won’t cut anyone that touches the beam):

LA Times article

If I do say so myself, this sculpture is starting to look really sexy. I can’t wait to get it all installed. Check out the video below to see how the light plays across the surface:

Some video showing the initial phases of a work of public art we’re making for a 9/11 memorial using a real beam from the World Trade Center:

LA Times article