Keven  Brunett     1087  County  Rd.  A,  Amherst  Junction,  WI  54407  RFQ  #:  8676-­‐0-­‐2017-­‐BP   Public  Art  -­‐  Pennsylvania  Park  Project  

Statement  of  Intent      I  am  struck  by  the  dual  nature  of  the  site  for  this  proposed  sculpture.  It  is  directly  in  line  with  extensive  vehicle  traffic  entering  the  Isthmus  on  Pennsylvania  Ave.  from  the  airport  and  also  by  the  many  drivers  that  enter  the  city  from  points  north  off  interstate  90/94.    A  large-­‐scale  sculpture  might  address  this  aspect  of  the  site  and  be  a  potential  beacon  as  one  enters  the  near  east  side  neighborhoods  and  downtown  Madison.    The  site  is  also  a  gateway  into  a  local  neighborhood  and  is  experienced  by  pedestrians,  bikers,  boarders,  commuters  and  neighbors  daily.    It  needs  to  be  accessible  and  engaging  for  people  that  see  it  and  experience  it/live  with  it.    A  sculptural  design  for  those  stakeholders  should  reflect  their  identity  and  wishes  for  how  the  sculpture  will  affect  "their”  space  as  well  as  be  a  reflection  of  “them”.     My  response  to  the  dichotomy  of  this  proposal  was  to  imagine  an  iteration  of  “Source”,  a  kinetic  sculpture  commission  in  Waukesha  for  the  WI  Percent  for  Arts  Program  (see  image  1).    The  Waukesha  site  had  similar  goals  for  its  proposed  sculpture.  My  partner  for  that  project,  Kristin  Thielking  and  I,  designed  and  fabricated  multiple  moving  “weathervanes”  for  the  site.  They  are  reminiscent  of  flowing  water.  We  responded  to  the  Fox  River,  which  flows  next  to  the  building  and  through  downtown  Waukesha.  In  “Source”,  the  elevated  position  of  the  kinetic  vanes  fulfilled  many  of  the  arts  board  committee’s  desires  for  the  project.  The  vanes  are  highly  visible  from  a  distance  to  engage  traffic  passing  the  building,  even  when  the  parking  lot  is  full  of  cars.  The  design  also  reflects  the  need  for  moving  parts  to  be  safely  out  of  reach  and  contact  with  passersby.    Also,  the  dynamic  and  almost  magical  nature  of  kinetic  motion  engages  viewers  for  extended  periods  of  time  and  even  with  repeated  interaction  with  the  artwork.       My  next  response  about  this  project  was  to  consider  the  goals  of  the  multiple  stakeholders:  The  Emerson  neighborhood,  the  City,  and  the  future  public  market.  The  prevailing  winds  of  the  location  will  push  the  “weathervanes”  in  the  same  general  direction/orientation  and  potentially  create  a  two-­‐dimensional  image  when  they  are  perceived  as  a  collective  whole.  (see  image  2)  The  image  of  the  Mobius  strip  reflects  and  relates  to  all  the  stakeholders  involved.    It  is  a  symbol  of  sustainability,  recycling,  infinity.    It’s  cool,  like  an  M.C.  Escher  drawing  or  any  optical  illusion.  The  various  blue  tones  of  vanes  in  the  maquette  are  simulating  the  anodized  matte  finish  that  I  would  use  for  this  project.  The  multiple  tones  on  each  separate  vane  accentuate  the  illusion  of  three-­‐dimensional  form.  The  matte  finish  would  eliminate  bright  reflections  off  the  artwork.         The  large  image  of  the  kinetic  Mobius  strip  has  the  potential  to  engage  every  viewer  from  the  bike  path  to  Oscar  Meyer,  but  the  design  also  has  the  potential  to  draw  viewers  close  to  it.    I  would  hope  to  solicit  suggested  short  phrases  and  graphic  images  from  members  of  the  (EEEPY)  community  that  might  be  cut  out  from  the  metal.  The  relatively  small  scale  of  this  cut  out  text  would  require  close  inspection.  It’s  something  about  the  sculpture  that  is  only  revealed  to  people  who  take  the  time  to  engage  with  it  on  an  intimate  scale.    My  collaborator  Kristin  Thielking  and  I  asked  employees  from  the  State  Office  Building  to  submit  phrases  or  quotes  about  water  or  the  environment.  We  embedded  many  of  their  suggestions  in  the  lit  glass  “puddles”  that  are  at  the  base  of  the  sculpture.  (image  1).    

I  strongly  believe  a  few  contributions  from  the  community  directly  incorporated  into  the  artwork  can  create  a  strong  bond  with  the  stakeholders  on  the  most  local  level.     I  have  experience  designing,  fabricating,  installing  and  managing  all  aspects  of  both  public  and  private  sculpture  commissions.  I  have  created  and  managed  project  budgets  and  have  corresponded  with  clients  and  managed  timetables  and  project  deadlines.  Regarding  my  experience  from  designing  and  co-­‐creating  “Source”:  The  design  of  the  kinetic  vanes  utilize  a  two  bearing  protected  system  so  that  each  vane  moves  silently  and  has  required  no  maintenance.    Also,  the  anchoring  system  allows  for  precise  and  plumb  orientation  of  each  weathervane  to  insure  it  safely  functions  as  intended.         I  have  worked  collaboratively  on  several  large  projects,  as  you  can  see  from  my  sculptural  work.    My  partner  for  this  project  is  Casey  Bernard.    He  is  a  highly  skilled  and  experienced  metal  fabricator  as  his  resume  and  past  work  attest.  (image  10)  He  is  currently  working  towards  a  B.F.A.  from  the  University  of  WI  –  Stevens  Point.    I  know  his  technical  metal  crafting  expertise  will  be  very  valuable  and  reflected  in  a  highly  crafted  artwork.    Casey  is  an  imaginative,  thoughtful  and  engaging  person.    We  will  work  on  all  aspects  of  the  project  together  from  design  to  installation.    I  know  the  project  will  be  more  successful  with  Casey’s  participation.     Casey  and  I  have  both  previously  lived  in  Madison.    Casey  on  the  northside  and  I  was  a  near-­‐east  sider.  I  earned  my  M.F.A.  at  U.W.  –  Madison.    I’ve  always  wanted  to  make  a  permanent  public  sculpture  in  Madison.    It  was  great  to  be  part  of  the  inaugural  “Gleam”  exhibition  at  Olbrich  Gardens  -­‐  but  that  was  just  temporary.  I  would  be  excited  to  create  a  permanent  public  sculpture  for  the  city  of  Madison.     What  Casey  and  I  bring  to  this  project  is  a  thoughtful  and  dynamic  design  for  a  kinetic  sculpture  that  addresses  the  goals  of  the  project.    It’s  highly  visible  from  the  north.  It  has  a  symbolic  image  that  reflects  the  neighborhood  and  that  could  become  iconic.  Its  kinetic  nature  and  curving  forms  accentuate  the  concept  of  flow  in  the  space.  The  kinetic  sculpture  potentially  engages  every  viewer  on  a  level  that  static  objects  simply  cannot.  The  materials  used  will  be  durable  and  non-­‐reflective  for  safety.  The  design  is  quiet  and  low  to  zero  maintenance  and  it  has  been  proven  to  be  technically  sound  over  time.       As  a  team,  Casey  and  I  bring  years  of  highly  technical  experience  fabricating  with  the  proposed  materials.  We  have  access  to  precise  laser  cutting  equipment.  I  bring  experience  working  with  the  entire  process  of  creating  and  managing  a  public  sculpture  project.  We  bring  enthusiasm  to  the  project.    I  couldn’t  help  but  make  a  scale  model  of  the  Mobius  strip  concept.    I  understand  you  will  not  be  viewing  a  proposed  concept  as  part  of  Step1,  but  I  hope  you  give  us  a  chance  to  present  some  version  of  a  kinetic  concept  for  the  site.         To  get  a  better  sense  of  how  the  multiple  ‘weathervane”  sculpture  forms  move  and  relate  to  each  other,  please  consider  viewing  a  few  minutes  of  video  for  “Source”  on  YouTube  at:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgbOHgEy6TI              -­‐  running  time  1:36      Thank  you  for  considering  our  application.        Keven  Brunett  and  Casey  Bernardo  

K e v e n B r u n e t t 1087 County Road A

Amherst Junction, WI 54407 kevbern1@yahoo.com- cell (715) 630 - 0289

http://thielkingbrunett-artstudios.com Education 2000 University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI

M.F.A Visual Art/Sculpture 1993 University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI

B.F.A Visual Art/Sculpture Public and Private Commissions and Works on Permanent Exhibition 2015 Olbrich Botanical Gardens: Gleam Sculpture Exhibition

Juried Exhibition: Voices: Glass and Language Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, Shawnee, Oklahoma: Sculpture Courtyard Exhibition

2014 Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield WI: “Growth”: Steel and glass sculpture for main lobby. With DJKK Sculpture: Kristin Thielking, Dave Sittler and Julie Sittler, 2011 Fifth Third  Bank University of Indianapolis Campus Sculpture Walk Competition, IA

Purchase Award; Steel and aluminum kinetic sculpture permanently on the campus grounds. With Thielking 2008 Peritus Design and Thomas Marks Advertising, Wausau, WI: Conference Table

20’ x 5’ sculptural fused glass and steel; with Thielking 2007 Wisconsin Percent for Art Commission for the Lee Sherman Dreyfus State Office Building, Waukesha, WI,

Kinetic Sculpture and Light Installation: “Source” This large sculptural installation is installed outside of the entrance to the Waukesha State Office Building’s new

addition. It consists of 20, 13-foot tall and 6 or 7-foot wide weather vanes that simulate flowing water. Below the piece are 14 cast glass puddles embedded in a dry riverbed of stones. Each glass casting has engraved quotes the environment from a variety of authors and historical figures. The glass is lit from below with fiber optics; with Thielking

2005 Bank of Wausau, Wausau WI,: Sculptural Installation Permanent glass and metal installation hanging from the ceiling for the bank’s entryway. 8’X6’X6’ University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI,: Conference Table Sculptural glass and metal conference table - Dean Suite of the Noel Fine Arts Center. 8’X3.5’X5’ ; with Thielking

McDill Elementary School, Plover, WI, Memorial Cast-Glass Relief Window for Terry Witt Large cast-glass relief window for the schools front entrance, 40”X20”X2”; with Thielking

Exhibitions: 2018 Museum of Wisconsin Art, West Bend WI, 2018 Wisconsin Artists Biennial Allen Centennial Gardens, Madison WI 2017 Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, Peekskill, NY

WORD: contemporary artists who incorporate words into their art. February 27-Jan 1, 2017. http://www.hvcca.org K Allen Gallery, Sister Bay, WI

2015 Guenzel Gallery, Peninsula School of Art, Fish Creek, WI Three-person show: Fire and Ice, with Kristin Thielking and Dan Anderson Aylward Gallery, University of Wisconsin, Fox Valley, WI Solo Sculpture and Glass Exhibition with Thielking 2014 Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, Shawnee, Oklahoma, Solo Exhibition

“Voices”: Sculptural Book Installation: inspired by the Dictionary of American Regional English with Thielking, http://www.mgmoa.org Union Art Gallery, University of Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI - “Voices” - “Book as Structure”, Invitational Gail Art Museum, Seoul, Korea Invitational Exhibition: “Works on Paper from the American Midwest, “

2013 Bergstrom-Mahler Museum, Neenah, WI Exhibiting works with Thielking, September-February 2014.

Art on the River, Dubuque, Iowa. Juried, Honorable Mention, one-year, outdoor exhibition, with Thielking 2012 Glass Art Invitational, David Anthony Fine Art, Taos, NM.

Exhibiting works with Thielking Mulvane Museum, Topeka, KS Juried Exhibition; Juror: Gail Brown; exhibited “Dark Heart”: cast glass reliquary with Thielking Scarabocchio Art Museum, Stevens Point, WI Solo Exhibition with Thielking; glass and steel sculptures

2011 Cast-Iron Sculpture Exhibition, Peninsula Gallery, Door County, WI. Invitational Exhibition: exhibited ten cast-iron sculptures with Thielking. Sculpture Garden Exhibition, Jewish Community Art Center, Tucson, AZ. Juried Exhibition; two outdoor sculptures with Thielking; exhibited for one year. Milwaukee ArtScape, Third Ward District, Milwaukee, WI. Craft USA ‘11 National Craft Triennial Exhibition, Silvermine Guild Arts Center, New Canaan, CT, Juried Exhibition; Juror: Holly Hotchner, Director, Museum of Art & Design, NY, NY.

Toys: Reinvent, Reimagine, Rediscover, Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center, Dowell, MD Juried Exhibition; exhibited two found-object reliquary sculptures. Night of 100 Angels Exhibition, Whelan Galleries and Cottage Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA International Juried Exhibition; exhibited glass reliquary with Thielking

2010 Emerge 2010: A Showcase of Rising Talents in Kiln-Glass, Bullseye Gallery, Portland, OR International, juried group glass exhibition; with Thielking

2009 Carlsten Gallery, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, WI. Sabbatical Exhibition Exhibited nine glass sculptures from War Reliquary Series; with Theilking

Peninsula Gallery, Door County, WI Landmark Series Invitational: Exhibited 10 glass sculptures

2007 “Sculpture on the Edge, University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, WI 2006 ArtScape—Third-Ward Sculpture Walk, Milwaukee, WI, Milwaukee, WI 2005 Clay and Glass, Atrium Gallery, Corning, NY

Curated by Fred Herbst Assistant Professor, Corning Community College and David Higgins, Atrium Gallery Director ArtScape—Third-Ward Sculpture Walk, Milwaukee, WI Invitational—outdoor sculpture curated by Nancy O’Keefe, and Historic Third Ward Association

2004 Four Sculptors, Aaron Bohrod Gallery, U.W. Fox Valley, Appleton, WI Artist's Book Exhibition, U.W., Milwaukee Fine Art Gallery, with Thielking

2003 C.A.S.T. Sculpture Exhibition, Fine Arts Gallery, U.W.-LaCrosse, LaCrosse, WI 2002 John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI

“Kinetic Sculpture Exhibition”: Exhibited a 35-ft-long kinetic sculpture, “Twittering Machine” 2001 Spinning Plate Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA. Exhibition in Conjunction with the 2001 ISC

Invitational: Group sculpture exhibition associated with the International Sculpture Conference "Brittingham Art Invitational," University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI Juried Exhibition of Selected Faculty from the entire University of Wisconsin System Riverside Art Center, Chicago, IL Invitational; Cast-Iron exhibition Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, Milwaukee, WI Invitational; group exhibition

Lectures, Awards and Residencies: 2015 Indianapolis Art Center, Gathering: Contemporary Glass from the Heartland, Best of Show Award 2014 Bergstrom Mahler Museum, Neenah, WI Presentation: Emerging Thoughts of a New Generation of Glass Artists 2013 Art on the River, Dubuque, Iowa, Honorable Mention

Bergstrom Mahler Museum, Neenah, WI Presentation: Artist Families as Collaborators and Business Partners

2011 Purchase Award, Fifth Third Bank/University of Indianapolis Campus Sculpture Walk, Indianapolis, IA 2005-07 University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, Professional Development Grants totaling : $7,000 2002 John Michael Kohler Arts Center Residency in conjunction with "Organic/ Mechanic: Kinetic Sculpture".

Three-week residency in the foundry with Kristin Thielking 2000,1998 Albert K Murray Fine Arts Educational Fund Scholarship 1999 Vilas Fellowship – University of Wisconsin, Madison Teaching: 2006-2015 Senior Lecturer, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, WI: 2D Design and 3D Design, Drawing, Art Survey,

Sculpture (Beginning and Advanced), Foundry, Welding, Furniture Design and Fabrication, Public Art Design 2012 Taos Institute for Glass Arts, Taos, New Mexico

Workshop: Incorporating Text and Imagery in Glass, with Thielking 2001-2005 Adjunct Lecturer:

University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, WI: Drawing I, 2D, 3D, Beginning and Advanced Sculpture 2004 University of Wisconsin - Marathon County: 2D, 3D 2003 University of Wisconsin – Madison: Foundry 2001 – 02 Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, Milwaukee, WI: 3D I (General), 3D II with Fine Arts emphasis. Collections: Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, Shawnee, OK University of Indianapolis Campus, Indianapolis, IA John Michael Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan, WI Kohler Company, Kohler, WI Jewish Community Center, Tucson, AZ Bank of Wausau, Wausau, WI Commonwealth Development, Permanent Collection, Madison WI