My name is Bryce Eklund. I am a 15 year old sophomore in
high school, and I would like to become an architect. To be accepted into any
college’s architectural program, I need an art portfolio. So, I’ve started
collecting samples of some of my art.
I’ve always been interested in Arts and Craft, and Tudor styles of architecture and like working nature into
my art in that same way. I started wood carving about three years ago, and now I would like to begin mixing more materials together to create some larger pieces of artwork.
This first sculpture, of a father and son, is the first of three. It will be life-sized, using a mix of natural
and man-made materials to create a simple family scene in a natural environment.
The main visible material will be sealed gourds over a metal skeleton, and
mounted to an artificial rock of concrete.
A personal challenge I have given myself is to design each of my sculptures
so that the main material is something I already have on hand or can
obtain cheap. I'm doing this partly to keep the cost down, but also to
force myself to design things with unique requirements
attached to the projects, the same way a client might request a
structure to be designed down the road.
I have the gourds and the tools to build the sculpture, but
in order to complete it, I need other materials, like the metal, concrete,
paints and solar spotlights. Also, I have found a welder who is willing to
allow me to learn to weld while he assembles the frame for this piece, but I
still need to pay him for his services this time as well. So, I am asking for
$385 of support from you to help cover these costs.
Since Indiegogo requires a $500 minimum request, any money left over, if
there is any, will go toward my attendance at a summer school program Notre
Dame hosts for high school students who are interested in becoming architects.I have not decided on the actual college I will attend for my degree yet, but this program was awarded the Editor's Choice Award for "Best Quality" in early college programs by Early College Programs and will give me a great advantage during the application process, since students are not automatically accepted into any college's architectural graduate program.
If I don't meet my goal of $385, I will attempt to do the project with
however much money there is, because I still need the piece for my art
portfolio, and I still need the education. It will just be much harder and slower to complete, and my plan is to have this sculpture ready for installation in late winter/early spring, and my second piece of the three complete by late summer.
Any donation at any of the levels is greatly appreciated (and please help spread the word!) Thank you.
Make sure to check the updates where i'm gradually posting links to some of my finished pieces.