“Crouching Heron, Hidden Flock”

Sculpture at Herons Landing, Victoria, BC
by Brandon Leudke, LEUDKE CREATIVE, 2014

Artist: Brandon Leudke
Title: “Crouching Heron, Hidden Flock”
Year: 2014
Medium: Steel heron (2.5m high), steel reeds, steel address numbers "3185", glass tile mosaic, stone, architectural lighting
Client: Private Commission
Location:"Herons Landing", 3185 Tillicum Road, Victoria, BC, Canada

Artist’s Statement:

One night, while walking along the Songhees Walkway, I caught the view of a crouching heron that would become the inspiration for my sculpture. Standing on one leg, motionless, this heron would have been easy to miss had my mind’s wandering thoughts not paid heed to my peripheral vision, which was directing me to appreciate the beauty of the moment before me. I stood there with that bird for over half an hour, contemplating his superb focus and patience while also admiring his delicate silhouette and graceful thinness. Was there ever another bird so exquisitely efficient in function and yet so meditatively beautiful in form?

Living and working on the Victoria waterfront has afforded me many opportunities to observe and reflect on the habits of the local heron population, particularly their posture of crouching in still waters in wait of fish. During the daytime, I would compare the heron’s ways to those of the other birds — the noise and confusion of the vulturous seagulls surrounding the heron and hoarding any available fish remnants — to the hectic ways of the people of the city, with their cars, planes, boats, sirens and so forth. I admired the “way” of the heron, whose stillness is extraordinary. Does one ever become likewise, unaffected by all of the busyness and distractions of the city?

The heron’s uncanny punctuality also struck me, as we’d come to meet at that same spot most nights thereafter. Now that seasons and habits have changed, when he doesn’t show up, I can go to Herons Landing to see him crouching in his newly conceptualized habitat, atop a custom glass tile mosaic “water” motif, amidst rust laden rocks.

As a major landmark and beacon to the city, the Crouching Heron is clearly visible from the road; yet, it is by navigating the sculpture on foot that the steel bird is brought to life. The scale of the work, standing at 2.5 m, was determined such that passersby would become the metaphorical “flock” surrounding the Crouching Heron. This is a proud bird: a satisfied and observant one who is at once impervious to, and yet keenly aware of, his surroundings — and us..

Brandon Leudke
May 25, 2014

Credits:

• Artist: Brandon Leudke, LEUDKE CREATIVE:
  
  • Concept: renderings and design development drawings, steel cut pattern, etc.
  • Project management: fabrication, supervision, etc.
  • Steel finishing: grinding, polishing, coating, etc.
  • Photography: construction phtoto documentation & art photography
  • Mosaic: Custom glass tile mosaic designed by Brandon Leudke, LEUDKE CREATIVE, and installed in collaboration with Wiktor Szczurek, VIK TILES

• ---

• Client: Ernie Yakimovich, E Y PROPERTIES LTD (Private Commission)
• Design-build & construction management: Doug Yakimovich, MATRIX CONSTRUCTION, assisted by Paul, carpenter, and Ernie Yakimovich, E Y PROPERTIES LTD; in collaboration with Brandon Leudke, LEUDKE CREATIVE
• Structural Engineering: Sameer Hasham & Dan Weber, Read Jones Christoffersen (engineering specifications and drawings)
• Steel cutting: EPPIC WATERJET
• Welding: ALLIANCE ENGINEERING
• "Autumn gold" boulders: K2 STONE
• Foundation: FARMER CONSTRUCTION
• Electrical: BRIDGE SYSTEMS
• Lighting: MCLAREN LIGHTING, Mike McDougall

• ---

• Volunteers: Special thanks to all of you who assisted along the way to opening day, February 20, 2014; especially Grazyna, Monia, Finn (a.k.a. Bubba Guadalupe Chico Rivera the 1^st), Monika, Doug and Sameer, who went beyond the call of duty by volunteering their time — at the wee hours, in the wildest of winds — to help make this art come to life

"Vega Series"

Paintings by Brandon Leudke, LEUDKE CREATIVE, 2009

Artist: Brandon Leudke
Title: “Vega Series;
Year: 2009
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions 6'x9' ('Vega 01' shown here), 4'x7.5', nine 4'x4' paintings (total of 228 sq. ft.)
Client: Vega (Formerly "Sequel Naturals"), Vancouver, BC, Canada
Budget; $26,000.00
Location:Vancouver, BC, Canada

Artist’s Statement:

One of eleven paintings totalling over 250 sq. ft. of work, this large 9’w x 6’h boardroom piece incorporates visual themes, styles and materials consistent with Sequel Naturals’ vision, message, products and workspace. In the style of abstract mysticism/symbolism, these paintings and the sculpture feature visually compelling design and colour motifs as well as the bold palette of the company’s natural product source ingredients and their native locations.

“Pygmalion”

Salute to Pygmalion painting by J. Gerome based on the classic story of Pygmalion, a poor artist in love with his sculpture.

Artist: Darek Galon
Models: Xevv McRoberts and Brandon Leudke

Makeup/body paint: Aleta Eliasen
Light consultant: Jon Hoadley
Title: Pygmalion 1
Year: 2013
Edition: Limited Edition of 25, Open Edition
Medium: Inkjet Print
Available sizes: 11x14 print only, 17x22 LE, 16x23 LE Mounted For Sale
Gallery: Gallery Vibrante.com — Artist: Derek Galon (Choose category: Nude
Tags: Conceptual, woman, man, portrait, nude

About

Jean-Leon Gerome, the prominent artist of Orientalism movement, was a keen follower of photography and adopted this new media for his work. He was an indefatigable traveller to the Middle East, frequently accompanied by a photographer. Gerome’s technique was of impeccable precision, and some of his paintings have almost visual reality and crispness of Photorealism. Derek’s Pygmaliondrew inspiration from Gerome’s versions of the mythological story of Pygmalion, an artist who fell in love with the sculpture he created. The image depicts the moment when the sculpture of Galatea is brought to life by Pygmalion’s kiss.

“For me, masterpiece paintings are the source of limitless inspiration. No matter how fancy our digital imaging will get, old canvasses will never stop thrilling us” – says Derek. “Photographing architecture and landscape for an everyday living, I return to my world of art images like to my sanctuary, and I treasure every moment of this work. Now, with my art winning medals, getting internationally exhibited and sold, it gives me even more motivation than ever to continue.”

by Margaret Gajek, MA, writer, researcher, art historian, co-founder of Ozone Zone Books