I’ve been keeping busy with some drawings while I acquire source material from research and from the trail camera set up in and around the town. This is a shot of my studio area adjacent to David Jones.
The chair needs more duct tape
Hollywood Set
Once we got our studio set up, I began work on my hollywood movie set of the southern part of Wendover air base (southbase). Of all the things about this place that I found to relate my work to (there are many) the hollywood connection is what I was most interested in beginning work on right away. The wall-like structure in the photo graph is about seven feet long and once finished will be a prop for the mountains that surround the base.
Burned out Trailer
Abandoned Military Guard Post
The burned up mobile home frame in the photograph is what I will mostly likely begin next so I can work on both the movie set and the trailer piece at the same time. Where I am headed with this work is the idea that this place is literally littered with the remains of the endeavors of many-the airbase, movie props, and then burned up junkpiles. I am drawn to these things because all of this stuff tells a compelling story about the history of this place. I think best example being the airbase and its role in the development and execution of the dropping of the atomic bomb as this changed the course of human history. I particuarly like that this place has often been in movies like Conair and Independence Day to name a few and that it always sets the scene for “the middle of nowhere”. While it does seem to be in the middle of nowhere some siginificant things have taken place here and the remains are what tell the story.
Patrick here- Building this outdoor studio was a must. I felt it was important to work on these paintings in the sun and wind of Wendover. I had to use plumbers strap to lash the paintings to the support structure so the wind won’t blow them out to the Salt Flats.
Blocking in a Gold Mine
Slow cooked then grilled elk ribs "flintstones" style, iceberg slaw
We started some antelope red chili the other day, and we’ve ended up just adding more to it everyday, so these grilled elk ribs finally made it into the pot. Combine that with David’s South Carolina recipe for serious grilled chicken, and we eat well in Montexico.
David's South Carolina style grilled chicken, antelope and elk rib red chili
This is my Moultrie Game Spy M-100 Infrared digital trail / game camera that I acquired specifically for my research at the residency this summer. It takes color or infrared images and video when sensing a target.
Moultrie Game Spy M-100 Digital Infrared Trail / Game Camera
It builds upon the ideas explored in the LOW PRESSURE work I made last year from the WYDOT road cameras. It’s basically the best investment I’ve made to date. I have also posted two images.
By our second day here in Wendover, we are going about making some minor studio improvements in order to settle in to our research. We cleaned and organized the shop, and Dave and Pat are putting together a little outdoor painting studio with a view towards the Salt Flats east of the center.
rrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggaaaaaaaaaaa
Wendover is the home of the Wendover Air Force Base, where the Center for Land Use Interpretation houses the residency here. There have been numerous military exercises in the area that continue along with plenty of unexploded ordinance in the desert (we don’t go there). But what better way to celebrate hand grenades than with a horseshoe pit, which we built and installed by hand on our first day. I went on to basically destroy my competition in the rounds that followed – this trend will continue throughout our time here. The pit and the shoes will remain for the enjoyment of all future residents in the program.
Just look at that form and concentration.
David, Pat and I were all welcomed to the Wendover Residence Program by Matthew Coolidge on Wednesday, and we are all overwhelmed by the opportunities here. You can learn more about the program and past participants through the Wendover Residence Program link.
From Left: Pat Kikut, Shelby Shadwell, David Jones, Mathew Coolidge
First order of business was to make tacos. That’s just how we do here.
Steak tacos, salad with mozerella, tomato and parsley, black beans, tortillas
We are extremely excited to be fortunate enough to spend time here, learn about the issues that make this such a unique place, and make work.
GOLDMINES! 