Monumental Pithos, c.675 BC, Mykonos

January 10, 2002

Dear Jane,

 Enclosed is the following:

1. Proposal
2. Drawing
3. Resume
4. Slides – These are old, I know, showing smallish pieces. Those on the bottom are from the Minoan piece I’m replicating.

Again, I thank you, Jane for all you’re doing in the community. And I thank you, especially for considering us in this good project.

All the best,
Mark

MARK S. MOAK
HORSE PROPOSAL

IDEA: TROJAN HORSE
 I am intrigued with the Aegean Bronze Age. I’ve worked in Crete at a Minoan excavation for several seasons and am currently replicating a Late Minoan lithochryselephantine statue of a young god. What pointed me in this direction years ago is the same as what motivated Schliemann in his quest to find Troy – namely a fascination with Greek myths, primarily the works of Homer. Now Homer does not include the Trojan Horse, but it is in the cycle and it is a great story. It is also set in the Bronze Age, a period I cannot seem to get enough of. So, I propose a 21st century version of the Trojan Horse.
 This semester I am teaching two courses that relate to this idea and that can help in its construction: ART 484 – Greek Art, Texts and Theatre and ART 252/352 – Jewelry and Metalwork. We are reading the Iliad now in art history, so the subject is pertinent and the metals class is a perfect venue for such a project. Students in both classes are excited and have agreed to collaborate on the horse. We will start with the following ideas and you can expect new ones will be incorporated. Art from ancient Greece will serve as much of the inspiration, such as a vignette illustrating the famous horse in low relief on a funerary pithos from Mykonos, c. 675 BC.

CONSTRUCTION
 The overall effect of the surface will be a richly textured metal collage. We will use primarily scrap and new pieces of bronze, brass, copper, aluminum and steel. I can foresee use of leather, resin-soaked canvas and wood, too. These will be adhered with an appropriate adhesive and brass pins. Since the Trojan Horse idea implies hidden, internal activity, we will open up compartments in the horse complete with doors and hatches and perhaps drawers. What will inhabit these niches remains to be seen, as they’ll probably be assigned to individual students.
 We’ll also want to add wheels. I see a decorative, custom dolly for the horse to stand in. This should prove useful as well, because this guy is going to be heavy. And so that the horse is not rolled away at the wrong time, metal attachments to the wheels will be added in order to bolt it to its base.

 The original idea for my project was the Trojan Horse in metal – and still is, though the horse of myth was wooden. It seems I’m looking through a lens of Jules Verne or H.G. Wells. However, I have abandoned the group effort notion I first entertained and have decided to do it myself.
 
 

The fiberglass horses arrive

Th, 2/14 - Pay’n’Pak: Rhett bought assorted screws - $5.36.
F, 2/15 – Grand Lumber Co.: bought a 4x 8 x ½ sheet of OSB plywood, 6) 1 x 2s, 5 lbs of torx wood screws - $28.00. George Grossi rips 1” & 2” lengths of plywood.
Sat., 2/16 – Golden Recycling: 180 lbs of galvanized steel sheet & stainless tube – $29.45.
 
 

T, 2/19 [1 hour] (0920-1020) Begin on horse; layout general planes of horse in marker; screw some wood on L flank. [digital photo above by Clint Lund]

W, 2/20 [1:45]
(0920-0940; 1245-1255; 1520-1635) Wood on L side.
Th, 2/21 [2:20]
(1007-1227) Wood on L side. Sears: bought Craftsman 14.4 cordless drill/driver - $59.99. [photo]
F, 2/22 [1:05]
(0830-0900) Metals USA: bought copper sheet (3’ x 10’ x .0216”<~22 gauge>) - $74.00.
(0900-0935; 1220-1252) Wood on back L leg
Sat., 2/23 [2:50]
(0900-1020) Golden Recycling: buy 2 wheels (from valve & generator), gears - $6.40 for 40 lbs of steel.
(1100-1230) Wood on back L leg
Sun., 2/24 [1:45]
(1645-1830) Wood on back L leg; underbelly. [photo]
M, 2/25 [3:20]
(0850-0940) Wood on Neck
(1500-1730) Wood on Head & neck
T, 2/26 [2 hours]
(0805-1005;1200-1300) Wood on eye, neck, shoulder
W, 2/27 [1:10]
(1505-1615) Wood on front R leg
Th, 2/28 [10 minutes]
(0945-0955) Wood on front R leg
F, 3/1 [2:05]
(0915-0935) Wood on front R leg
(1215-1230) Wood on front R leg
(1530-1700) Bought screws, 2 bits, “epoxy” at Fastener’s (400 zinc panheads, #6 x ½”) - $17.26; Bought screws at Lowe’s (144 brass roundheads, #6 x ½”) - $11.88.
Sun., 3/3 [2:50]
(1905-2155) Wood on head, R neck, R flank
M, March 4 [1:30]
(0850-0935) Wood on R front shoulder, R flank
(1050-1235) Wood on R front shoulder
T, 3/5 [17 minutes] (new ATTBI set up)
(1913-1930) Wood on R front shoulder, R belly
W, 3/6 [1:55]
(0910-0935; 1545-1715) Wood on R front leg; R
 

Th, 3/7 [6:15] back leg (0820-1250; 1545-1730) Wood on R back leg; R back foot! Tail [left: digital photo by Clint Lund]

F, 3/8 [1:50]
(0902-0937; 1145-1300) Wood on R cheek & groin
Sat., 3/9 [2:30]
(1535-1805) Finish Wood on R rump; top of tail; spine

Sun., 3/10 [5:15]
(1545-2100) Wood on rump above tail; tail; crest of mane
M, 3/11 [7:30]
(0745-1345) Wood on back; crest; R face; front face; ears!
(1600-1700) Prepare brass mask; Wood on nose
(2000-2030) Chase/repousse brass mask
T, 3/12 [5:45]
(0815-1400) Wood on R front foot; L back foot; discover electric sander! And sand joins
W-F, 3/13-15
Spring Break in Chico & Bridger Bowl w/ Beans, Lorentz’s, Ketterlings
Sat., 3/16 [11 hours]
(0747-0927; 0944-1900) A little electric sanding of join areas; Begin applying metal !!!! on R belly; R hind & fore legs [photo at 1020 of copper sheet, horse, shop, tools, etc.)
(2045-2245) Metal on R flank
Sun., 3/17 [5 hours] St. Patrick’s Day
(1700-2200) Metal on R flank, R front foot & calf
 

M, 3/18 [1:35] (0830-0935) Metal on R front leg; (1230-1300; 1438-1500; 1545-1710) Metal on L front leg; breast [digital photo by Clint Lund]

T, 3/19 [7:05]
(0800-1145;1605-1725) Metal on R breast/shoulder (8 pieces).
(1300-1500) Forged copper eye pieces. Found out today that we have a two week extension til April 15th instead of the 1st! Yes sir!!!!
 

W, 3/20 [4:30]
(0830-0935; 1200-1300; 1452-1537; 1645-1750; 1847-1906; 2020-2053) Metal on R front shoulder; R flank.
1st day of Spring! Cold with snow!

TOTAL SCREWS BOUGHT/”BORROWED”
TOTAL # USED COLOR/ TYPE SIZE
1155 1155 Green torque screws (5 lbs) #8 x 1 ¼”
400  Zinc pan-head Phillips #6 x ½”
144  Brass round-head wood #6 x ½”
25  Brass flat-head wood Small
25  Brass flat-head wood Large
25  Zinc flat-head wood Small
68  Zinc flat-head wood Medium
100  Zinc flat-head wood Large
~50 50 Brass, black wood Phillips (RMC shop) Longer
1155  Green torque screws (5 lbs) #8 x 1 ¼”
666  Green torque screws (5 lbs)
  Gold torque screws (1 lb) 3”
  Gold torque screws (1 lb) 1.5”

Th, 3/21 [6:05]
(0800-1045; 1210-1245; 1615-1730) Metal on R back leg; R rump; R back foot
(1250-1420) Forged eye pieces; twisted & formed one.
[2 photos: R back foot; overall from ¾ rear)
F, 3/22 [7:30]
(0800-0930) Metal on R back foot – completed; medial R rear shin. [3 digital Casio photos]
(1455-1745) Metal on R back leg – shin completed; moved horse on table w/ Jim’s help.
[photo on table]
(2020-2300) Metal on R back leg (Ellen watches “The Animal” in center room)
Sat., 3/23 [5:35 ] 0900-1230 at Amend Park preparing fields
(1430-1750) Metal on R rear thigh; inner tail (very difficult); L rear foot & shin.
[3 digital photos: 2 L side & 1 R side]
Thomae Lumber: 5 lbs (~666) Green torque screws #5 x 2”; 3 drill bits; 2 star insert bits - $20.47.

Bill Lorentz: 2 great steel wheels (~23” dia.) at auction in Huntley: $35.00.

(2135-2350) Metal on L rear inner thigh & shin; crotch – all tough going but very successful. Rhett worked on hers, too, at Rocky; porcelain wings.

Palm Sunday, 3/24 [5:30] Address book deleted! Bill, Colleen & Megan visit horse.
(1410-1610) Metal on crotch – hard!
(1850-2210) Metal on crotch/R tail transition – complete; 2 long pieces of steel on R side of tail – relatively easy.
 
 
 

M, 3/25  [2:25]
(0745-0800) Grand Lumber: bought 5 lbs of green torque screws #8 x 1 ¼”, 2} 1/8 drill bits ($18.00)
(0845-0935) cut paper patterns (7) for R fore hoof
(1230-1255) Cut copper for R fore hoof
(1450-1545) Began applying copper to R fore hoof
[3 digital photos by Clint Lund: wheels (see above); R profile; front R ¾ view.] T, 3/26 [7:00] took Ellen to school early for CAPS; she’s great!
(0707-1047) Metal on L fore foot (completed 0905); tail; L rear foot
(1130-1305) Metal on tail
(1530-1705) Metal on tail
[photo: back of R leg/tail ~1715]
W, 3/27 [5:15] I will be teaching ART 220 online in May.
(0733-0937; 1442-1752) Metal on L rear foot – complete 0900; L rear shin/hock; L front inner leg. Broke another drill bit.
Th, 3/28 [6:32] bought more copper (3’ x 10’ x 16 oz) from MetalsUSA - $61.20.
(0702-0912; 1200-1300; 1440-1712; 2122-2312) Metal on L foreleg (complete 1620); L
breast; L underbelly (2 panels); L rear thigh interior.
(2 digital photos by Clint Lund)
 

Good Friday, 3/29 [8:11] It occurred to me that on Good Friday I was hammering & piercing all during the times of the crucifixion.
(0829-1640) Metal on L breast; L lower flank; L thigh/rump; tail
[2 photos of Jim & horse; photo by Jim – copper sheet, horse, me; 2 digital of Cu; Jim]

Took horse off table; talked to Jane re: other show; [janed@wtp.net]

Sat., 3/30 [3:52] Just got back from Dan’s games in Miles City (MC 0-5; Laurel 2-3)
(1719-2111) Metal on top of tail (complete); L rump; R back thigh

Easter Sunday, 3/31 [2:45] midriff midrift @ 2206
(1807-2052) Metal on R rump (complete); more crimping as I try to place metal on less-than-flat planes; did a little “pleat cutting”/hammering/chasing/repousse to harmonize these places.
[2 video clips: one by me; one by Rhett with horse & me – corrected time display on camera]

M, April Fools Day [5:10] snowed like crazy
(0818-0943) Metal on R rear dorsal (3 panels)
(1457-1620; 1640-1735) Metal on R dorsal; R neck (lowest)
(2117-2317) Metal on R jaw, R neck (2 panels)
[3 digital photos by Clint Lund] T, 4/2 [8:10] helped Rhett on her horse
(0759-1259; 1558-1742; 1935-1742) Metal on R neck & 3 panels of R mane (“trimmed mane”); chin; R jaw
(2215-2300) L jaw; L neck
[digital photo by Clint Lund] W, 4/3 [4:10]
(0820-0940; 1520-1750) Metal on L neck, shoulder & jaw.
Th, 4/4 [9:40]
(0807-1300; 1600-1722) Metal on L upper neck, shoulder, flank; drilled eyes (1110).
(2045-0010) Metal on L shoulder/neck; L rump; L rear upper thigh;
used 22 ga. x 6” x 9” sheet of brass on L side ($9.13)
[2 Clint digital photos] F, 4/5 [5:24]
(0752-0912) Metal on L rump; L flank; some wood work
(1237-1255; 1452-1854] L flank/rump/back

Sat., 4/6 in Bozeman for Ellen’s games
Owenhouse Ace Hardware: 2) 1/8” drill bits; 2) 7/64” drill bits - $5.68
Also, got coffee & hung out at Rocky Mountain Roastery: read Greek art history & drew study for eyes (both below from Morris’ DAIDALOS):

“Birth of Athena from the head of Zeus with winged artist attendants,” 7th century BC, Neck scene on relief pithos from Tenos (Tenos Museum).

Below are the Greek spellings for my characters; to be engraved by images on horse.

W, 4/10 [6:46] Hours as of today surpass 200 [202:90]
(0817-0939; 1150-1255; 1553-1857) Metal on L ear; R ear; upper head/face; triangle blaze; all horse is covered at 1857except the place for Agamemnon’s face; consulted with Bill D., Randy & Chuck Hayter re: axles.
(2220-2235) Burnish selective parts of clay figures; 2237 – put in oven at 190 for moisture removal.
From Rhett in Georgia:
Good Morning,
I would suggest that you go to highest low fire temp you can. Look for cone 04, though I don't think you will be able to find one, as I think they are all gone (you could get one from Marcie I'm sure). Anyways a cone 05, or 06 or 09 (small cones; not the big ones...small cones are in the small plastic boxes or smaller boxes, duh!) would do, just remember the lower the number the higher the temp. (eg: cone 04 fires hotter/higher than cone 09). Put cone in sitter, place your pieces in kiln, give it about 10 hours on timer and fire with lid open and peep hole open on low for 2 hours, then go to medium for 2 hours and then close lid and peep and turn to high. That should do it. I can't wait to see your things; I'm sure they are fantastic!!!

Th, 4/11 [6:27] (0800-1303) Removed clay pieces before going to school; put in little kiln at 0811 on low/1015 medium/1245 high; kiln was off when I left to pick up Ellen at 1515.  Chased/repousseed Agamemnon's mask for several hours; annealed once more; liver of sulfur (nice) & slid into place at 1300. Also worked on forged eye pieces; almost ready. Planned cart some more. Home Depot: 3) 2 x 8 x 8s, 4) 2 x 6 x 8s, 1) 2 x 4 x 92; 2) 1/8” drill bits; 1 lb. 3” torx screws; 1 lb. 1 ½” torx screws; 1 qt. Behr wood sealant $53.99.

(2100-2224) Enlarged & soldered tubing on copper eye rings; liver of sulfur – nice. [Clint digital photo at eye, left]

F, 4/12 [5:17] Rhett returns on my last day to be 47.
(0828-0920) Eye rings and Agamemnon secured.
(1200-1300) Grind TC figures to fit & make spears of brazing rod for each.
(1635-1755) Chuck Hayter brought by washers & couplings for the beautiful pipe axles he’d made the day before. Measure and cut top strip (Crest) 53” x 2.5”
(2055-2300) Cut rectangular steel tubing for/attach crest (last metal to be placed!); played around with liver of sulfur.
Sat, 4/13 my 48th Birthday, mostly at Amend Park, great festivities at home, then Mongolian Grill, then Time Machine; no horse work.

Sun, 4/14 [6:00] (1355-2055; less 1 hour helping Rhett with “Pegasus”) Added screws in gaps; hammering/chasing; Liver of sulfur – at first cold… slow, but tried torch… oh yeah. Then, steel wool; discovered that dry erase markers resist L of S… possibilities, like a wavy mane. left: Archaic horse from the Acropolis

M, 4/15 [7:10]
(0800-0940) Cart: Bill K. helps me with 2 x 8s; decided on trapezoid front which made for interesting angles; used radial arm saw & table saw; all outer frame cut; glued & screwed square end. A little steel wool work, too.
(1225-1235; 1445-1645) cart outer frame done; bed 2 x 6s cut; miscut 2 x 4 joists & had to get another 2 x 4 x 8.
(1940-2300) Recut joists & screwed in; about half the evening spent steel wooling & chasing L half, which is virtually done patina-wise.
Grand Lumber: 2 x 4 x 8’ - $2.56
[a little video including snow]
T, 4/16 [7:00]
(0800-1300; 1600-1730; 2000-2030) Cart: drilled holes for axles; measured/cut/ screwed steel to 3 sides (back, L, R). Behr stuff turns out to be white primer, but Mark Cary came down & will exchange for clear sealant.
W, 4/17 [5:03] saw The Bakkhai at BST with Rhett, Dora & Larry; did Panel Discussion with Victoria & Jay beforehand.
(0752-0935; 1210-1300; 1515-1645) Cart
(1037-1137) Painted clay figures: Odysseus – black helmet, shield & muscle lines, as if it were a red-figure pot painting; Athena – thin black all over.
Pick up horse photos at Osco $6.11.
Th, 4/18 [9:30]
(0750-0840) ground & painted more on clay figures; ????? now more defined.
(0840-1300; 1545-1850) cart: sanded & screwed in deck; drilled holes in cart deck for hoof bolts with Paul Stutterheim’s help; Behr sealant on deck; made 4 bushings; wheels on (~1 hour patina); talked to Julia Warmer: we’ll meet her at 1500 Sunday at old Nautilus on 24th with horses. Linda Snider dropped by. Chryslers practice til 2240.
(2257-0012) Cart: wheels, axles (done) and start rail; steel wool on cart.
F, 4/19 [7:28] two months since I started actual work
(0707-0945) Finished cart; (1525-1735) Steel wooled patina R side (2120-0000) Cut 4) 4 x 4s for blocks; “super-welded” clay figures in eye; scratched Greek names near them & mask. [a little video just past midnight; 5 Clint jpgs] Sat, 4/20 [4:10]
(1725-2135) Paul S., Jeremy Love, Jonathan Lukens helped me put horse on cart (magnificent!); reamed holes & put in bolts/nuts temporarily; played with patina & steel wool; branded blocks with trident & double axe; got chain & made bracket out of steel strapping; more steel wool; scratched in gate at bottom of tail; incised signature:
20 . MARK.S.MOAK . 02 on left neck; vacuumed horse & deck.
 

a few details, 4/21

Sun, 4/21 [1:25]
(1330-1455) steel wool; vacuum; prepare for transport; [many photos]
(1455-1630) With help from Paul, Jeremy, Jim, Rhett, Terry, Sheri we move horse to The old Nautilus on 24th.
[a few photos]
 

TOTAL HOURS TO DATE: 263:00
TOTAL EXPENSES TO DATE: $442.22

M, 4/22
Took drawing class to see horses at Nautilus.
Th, 4/24
Took metal class to see horses. [video]
 
 

Horses at the Nautilus

Th, 5/23
(1600-1900) Reception at Nautilus for artists, committee & sponsors.

End of May
Horses are moved (I spent quite a bit of time here) to sponsor locations - mine in courtyard between Transwestern I & II Towers; nice spot, but hard to see from street; Party ay Depot with trolley tours.
 

	Placing the base City crew & Horse committe members Various views at Transwestern

End of August-Start of September
Horses moved to Depot; Trojan Horse is placed out front. I take all of my classes to see horses.
 

Photo by Kay Doss (with her son, grandson)

Sat., 9/7
0630-0800 made replacement rails
bought Goop & steel wool
1700-1800 replaced rails; selective polishing with steel wool
Auction at Holiday Inn: It brings $15000!!!!!!!!! with Ossie Abrams bidding for about 20 folks who donate it to RMC! This was quite a night, ending up at Jane Deschner & Jon Lodge's.

Mon., 9/9
~1045-1230 moved Jim's & my horses from Holiday Inn to RMC Fraley Lounge (Bill K, Terry S, Jake, Ossie & David, Jim & me); on the KTYQ news 1730 & 2200.

Wed., 9/11
Met with art committee re: placement - S of Prescott, by (NW) of band room entrance (Losekamp); green space between Tech & Library are possibilities.

Sat., 9/14
Larry Bean & I looked at spots; how about small space to north of east entrance of Tech?

About 1 -2 weeks later, moved it to Plant Dept. in Tech basement

Jim, Brad Nason, Dave Setera & I choose Joanne Haverland's suggestion in front (NW) of Library, in river rock island, under maples.

Soaked feet in & 3 layers of Behr Wood Sealant on cart bed

Th., 9/27
Bill Kimmerle & George Grossi pour concrete footings for cart bolts; wheel rims drilled by Dave Setera.

Mon., 9/30
Torch-cut expanded metal "spacers" for feet

Tues., 10/1
~1045-1230 Set up cart & horse in front of Library, NW quadrant; Squirrels frolick all around it.
 

Installation almost complete, 10/1/02, 7.5 months after I began it.	October 2002 snow - 2 photos by Bill Kehler