Moose Myth's Blaze of Glory

Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein's sapling sculpture Moose Myth, that has graced downtown Concord for the past two years, made a final appearance at the initiating event of the Black Ice Tournament at White Park in Concord. At 4pm Friday January 24, 2014 the mighty moose was immersed in flames, and was sent out in a final poetic blaze of glory.

Moose Myth began as a public art piece in Portsmouth NH. After a sultry summer and fall it wintered up north at the University of New England "Little Jewel" of an Art Gallery in Portland Maine. From there it came south again to commemorate the "Smile" building on Main Street Concord. Facing the Capital Center for Performing Arts, Moose Myth was an iconic landmark.

Like the Old Man on the Mountain, NH weather and life's ravages caressed Moose Myth with a patina of fatigue. Occasional broken limbs and bark fall hinted that the mighty moose should retire. On Friday, January 24, 2014 it was moved to White Park and donated to the classic Black Ice Tournament by its current owner, Steve Duprey.

Update: The Concord Monitor covered the story, January 25, 2014 and February 3, 2014.

Poised migrates to Kansas City Missouri

Gray-suited and stodgy, frayed but grand, the Great Blue Heron is no bright flash. Elegantly poised, it stands perfectly still, nested in among the tall pine trees. ‘Poised,’ this 25 ft tall sapling and wire sculpture that has stood on the Christian Science Plaza in Boston for the past 6 months as part of Convergence: The Boston Sculptors Gallery 20th anniversary exhibit is heading South for the winter. The Myth Makers: Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein have sold this sculpture to a private collector in Kansas City Missouri and recently sited it on private property at the corner of Ward Parkway and Huntington Ave. Although technically only a partial migrant, this great blue heron will be making a one way trip to live in a warmer climate. The Myth Makers are a collaborative team of sculptors who enjoy the physical and philosophical challenges of working together.

Update: The Kansas City Star ran a profile on 8/29/14 about Steve Abend and his art collection, that mentions our piece, Poised,  "Architect Steve Abend builds an artful outdoor oasis" by Alice Thorson.

The Chorus of the Cicada

For many people, there is something particularly fascinating, and even horrifying about the life cycle of the giant cicada.

Photo courtesy Erin X. Smithers

The bug lives a solitary lifestyle underground for 17 years and then emerges in a blur of wings and mating songs with billions of other bugs to reproduce and spawn another generation of cicadas.

Photo courtesy Erin X. Smithers

2013 was the year of the cicada. On August 24, 2013 the Myth Makers brought this bug to life!

Photo courtesy Tom Lincoln

Do you know the legend about cicadas? They say they are the souls of poets who cannot keep quiet because, when they were alive, they never wrote the poems they wanted to.

- John Berger

Photo courtesy Erin X. Smithers

Update: Emily Yen captured the performance on video.

Wayland 375

2013-2014 marks the 375th anniversary of the town of Wayland, Massachusetts. We were invited to create a fire sculpture for two events celebrating this remarkable occasion, and our research led us to create an icon of what was present 375 years ago that was no longer there, for the first event on June 13, 2013.

The sculpture of a Northern Leopard Frog, once plentiful throughout Wayland but now endangered, is designed and created by The Myth Makers specifically for Wayland 375. Stay tuned for the second act of this celebration that will take place on June 14, 2014!

Thank you Erin Smithers for your fabulous photos!

Poised

Gray-suited and stodgy, frayed but grand, the Great Blue Heron is no bright flash. Standing perfectly still, forever patiently waiting for the fish to swim through it's legs -- elegantly poised.

Myth Makers: Donna Dodson & Andy Moerlein, Poised, 20 ft tall, saplings, wire ties, 2013 will be part of CONVERGENCE: BOSTON SCULPTORS GALLERY EXHIBITS AT THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PLAZA, May 1-October 31, 2013.

The Black Mountain Walrus

The Jackson NH Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual Snow Sculpting event at Black Mountain. Last weekend, Andy Moerlein and I went up to make sculptures in the snow along with 15 other teams. Each team starts with a block of snow, 8 ft tall, 4 ft diameter, and 48 h to sculpt. We decided to create the Black Mountain Walrus this year. Check out the photos and myth below.

Black Mountain Walrus, 8 ft, snow 2013
Photo Credit: Keith Trexler 2013.

The Black Mountain Walrus

Fleeing melting ice in search of a sub zero landscape, the Black Mountain Walrus has brought her child to the ski slopes above Jackson NH. Seeking the familiar temperatures of the deep arctic, she was drawn to this frosty frontier.  Mother Walrus has known a lifetime of ice and frigid wind and has settled into Jackson like a second home.

Black Mountain Walrus, 8 ft, snow sculpture 2013
Photo credit: The Myth Makers

The Myth Makers

Andy Moerlein & Donna Dodson

The Myth Makers: Andy Moerlein and Donna Dodson
Photo Credit: Keith Trexler 2013.

Update: Channel 8 covered this story, see the video here. The Union Leader covered this story, read the full article here. Boston.com covered this story, read it here.

Night Hunter

Night Hunter, 40 ft wide, saplings, straw, 2012 at the Fruitlands Museum, Harvard MA

Owls hunt on silent wings, often unseen, in the dark of night. For all of history, civilizations have celebrated their mystery in myths, stories and ceremonial rituals. Celebrate the end of the season with Fruitlands Museum in a dusk ceremony of fire and community. Enjoy this family gathering with s'mores, cider, apples, and the grand finale of a forty foot flaming owl as the sun sets and the October Hunter's Full Moon rises over the late fall landscape.

Vessel of Fire

Vessel of Fire, 20 ft tall, saplings, straw, 2012 at Waterfire, Providence, RI. September 29, 2012.
Photo credit: Donald G. Dodson

The vessel of fire's shape is created by the flames. The flames of the boat lap like water while the sails flap in the wind.Update: Check out this video of Myth Makers lighting the fire sculpture.

Alight: The Spirit of the Red Tail Hawk

Just landed, ready to fly, observant, noble and respected, the Red Tail Hawk is a common raptor of human environments. Agile in the cityscape and familiar in the rural hedgerow, Red Tail Hawk is a survivor. These Vermont hills have similarly survived and adapted to a rich heritage of human occupation. Precious soil and abundant rock have conspired to doom all but the most ambitious. Red Tail Hawk stands as a patient monument to the toil that takes place here. ALIGHT is part human yet mostly hawk. It rests fleetingly on this landscape, blessing the place – passing no judgment, but poised to fly.

Alight: The Spirit of the red Tail Hawk, 15 ft tall, saplings & paint, 2012 at Cider Hill Gardens and Gallery, Windsor Vermont

Sentinel

Sentinel casts a watchful eye upon the unique landscape of Gilsland Farm in Falmouth Maine. The Audubon Society has collaborated with MythMakers Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein to land a raven at this treasured place. Stop by to witness this iconic presence of voice and sky.

Raucous and sooty, friendly and frightening, the raven is a vivid mark upon the skyline. Their impossibly black feathers flicker with an iridescence that holds the clues to every color in the rainbow. Their vocal variety suggests that raven may have more to say than most birds.

The Sentinel, 15 ft tall, saplings & paint, 2012 at Gilsland Farm, Maine Audubon, Falmouth, Maine