Compliments on My Work!

Just wanted to share my lovely compliment from Terry Kenney, Assistant Director of Design & Exhibitry for the Audubon Institute:

I never had a chance to tell you today, but everyone who has seen yourhandiwork has been highy complimentary of it.... the skeleton re-painting,and fossil casting, and dig site... I've had several people tell me over thecourse of the last few days how amazing they think it all looks. So, onceagain, thanks for the great work; it will really enhance the exhibit.

thanks, t.

Dino Dig #3

Gawd, I hate my job, I hate my life, I... KIDDING! Here are a few progress photos of my faux-riffic painting for the Dino Dig play area. I sprayed everything with a spar urethane afterwards to hopefully withstand the wear of the sand which will soon be laid on top, not to mention the little feet and hands which will be soon be climbing and digging over it as well!

Dino Dig #2

It's never a dull day at the Zoo, but this day is particularly challenging for Mignon and I! I had spent the past week casting our "faux" fossils from molds taken of real fossils by Marcus Eriksen. On this day we were artistically arranging them in wet concrete for the "Dino Dig" play area of Audubon's upcoming dinosaur exhibit.

We had to arrange boards going across the 12' x 12' digsite in order to sink certain fossils in the center. I had a lot of fun pulling off this balancing act! I must brag that I never slipped and fell in once! the wet cement with gravel mixture dried our hands out terribly, and I rubbed the skin off the tips of two fingers. Next time I'll try and use gloves...

Dinos...Can ya Dig?!

I began working on the Audubon Zoo's upcoming Dinosaur exhibit this week. I have been casting dinosaur eggs, teeth, claws, and low-relief sculpted heads, etc. for the Dino Dig area! I'm having oodles of fun with portland cement, I tell ya... My favorites are the trilobites.

They also have me repairing and repainting the elephant skeleton too look like an afternoon snack for the animated dinosaurs that will be in the garden area of the exhibit. I will also be repainting the resin-cast T-Rex and Tyrannosaurus skulls for the interior portion of the exhibit.

Until I get photos out of my fabulous adventures, take a look at some old favorites.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/maxbernardi/

At Mitch Landrieu's Office January 22, 2008

Here are additional photos of the moment I presented Mitch Landrieu with his portrait.

He Likes It! He Likes It!

This past Thursday I presented Mitch Landrieu with his portrait. Unfortunately, my flash did not go off for the photo above. There were two cameras snapping, so hopefully the other one will reach me soon via e-mail so that I can post it as well.

He asked me many questions about the artisitc process and was fascinated with the fact that I worked from a combination of photos I shot of him at City Park (one for the pose, one for his facial expression) and yet another photo of the bayou. While we discussed the casual manner of his pose, he found himself standing in the exact same position! Note the top photo.

Back Stage at "All Shook Up"

This flat was designed to peek out from behind the curtained wing of the stage. The musical, "All Shook Up", opens with this rear fender of a '57 Cadillac peeling out from a gas station. I do plan to photograph the set pieces on their stage marks this upcoming Friday.


Here is the flat which represents the travelling art-exhibit trailer for "All Shook Up". My color choices are in keeping with the 1950's themed aesthetics of the play. In other words- right up my alley!