HOW MATRI WAS MADE:

Matri evolved from photographs from a 1987 trip to Nepal. The itinerary included a 160-mile trek. Along the adventure got several photos' which evolved into pastels, like "Whitewashing Kathmandu".

(see other pastels, "Nepali Ferry;", and "Thai Laundry"). I'd begun a pastel of one of the Nepali mountain women holding a baby, but it got set aside unfinished.

Several years later I locked myself in my body shop studio one Saturday to start a sculpture. I'd played with the idea of a woman's flowing garments out of automotive sheet metal, but really needed a model. (Like you think I have woman's clothing catalogs at work). Then the magic happens. It dawned on me that I had this unfinished pastel in the back storeroom.

That Saturday started over 2 years of assemblage and development of this mother and child. Along with the pastel, I had support from: (A.) Picture my mom had taken for the project in 1944, and (B.) My wife posing her beautiful hands and body for me.

Matri was completed for a show at The Center for the Arts, Mothers Day weekend. She'll always be Matri to me though I suppose Mater Matris is correct.

The skeleton frame was first made. Rods of steel were welded. Sheets of metal folded into the shapes needed for the garments.

After the skeleton of the face and hands and arms its time to start layering on strips of fiberglass to give it some muscle. The Fiberglass gave way to ground fiberglass polyester composite used to bond and repair corvettes. The process continued from polyester to acrylic urethane primer.

A lot of sanding and blocking are next. The parts have to be, pre-assembled, assembled, umphd, morphed, and re-assembled, and fit together like a puzzle. All the time going for that look and changing what needs to be moved or added. Sandblasting is next. A clean steel surface is needed and this will get all of the old paint off and give an even texture for an even finish.

All the surfaces wind up in acrylic urethane primer, blocked to 600 grit. Pieces have to be covered and masked off, painting one color at a time.

The flesh is finished in a custom car paint, which turns 3 colors, by prismatic refraction. Then color sanding again for the best finish.

I wanted Matri to be a tribute to all mothers, all over the world, all times. She looks Polynesian and Scandinavian all at once.

GREG JOHNSON
Artist

Matri posing with live models.

All art, photos, and text are copyrighted © 2005 by Greg Johnson Sculpture.
Do not reproduce without written permission.