This series of figurative pieces originated in 1998 while teaching metal sculpture at the Evanston Art Center. During the oxygen/acetylene welding class I would demonstrate the ability to add, subtract and make steel plastic by "drawing" in the air, shaping and welding the steel into a figure. Tom McCormick was visiting my studio one day and pulled one of these "demo" pieces from the corner and suggested raising the piece on a base and displaying it in an upcoming exhibition. I've been making pieces for this series on and off ever since.
The images below are in reverse chronoligical order and do not represent the complete series as some of the pieces were undocumented.
Above: Bulwark (Two Circles). 2007. Steel. 65 x 11 x 8" Below: Bulwark Cycle. 2007. Steel. 70 x 11 x 8"
Above: Bulwark 7D1. 2005. Steel. 65 x 10 x 9" Below: Bulwark Flip. 2003. Steel. 62 x 10 x 8", Bulwark 7Y2. 2003. Steel. 64 x 9 x 10"
Above: Bulwark (Circle with Bronze). 2003. Steel, bronze. 60 x 9 x 9" Right: Bulwark 32. 2002. Steel. 64 x 12 x 10" Below: Bulwark Straight. 2001. Steel. 62 x 10 x 8"