An unmistakable vibe radiates from Patz and Mike Fowle. Its power source is the creative energy produced by the Hartsville husband and wife artistic duo as they talk about their newest work.
On Friday afternoon as Patz kept an eye on the students filing into the art room at the Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics where she serves as a visual arts coordinator, she excitedly talked about their recent collaborative effort in public art.
Wearing a blue streak in her hair tied in a ponytail, she said, “It will stay blue until Big Bleu Birdnanna is finished.”
Big Bleu Birdnanna is the 20-foot steel sculpture the Fowles were commissioned to do by the city of Florence for its downtown art corridor.
“It is something we can’t do in clay but has the same look and feel of our other art,” she said.
Patz said they learned of a call for artists to submit ideas for the first large-scale public sculpture in the arts corridor through an email.
She said she dropped everything and started to work on an idea.
“I was in the Florence Library for a book signing,” she recalled. “I stopped working and started doing a sketch.”
She said public art is important to her and her husband.
“We need public art desperately,” she said. “We need contemporary art.”
In this artistic team, Patz says she comes up with the ideas and Mike makes it happen.
“I dream it, and Mike makes it come true,” Patz said.
What she dreamed was Big Bleu Birdnanna.
The couple has been working for nearly a year on this project. When completed, the sculpture will sit in the green space next to the Waters building on South Dargan Street in downtown Florence.
“We are thrilled to be the first chosen to have our work in the arts corridor,” Patz said.
The corridor includes the Performing Arts Center and the new Florence Museum.
“This is a dream come true for us, Mike said. “We are big advocates of outdoor art.”
Patz described the outdoor sculpture as a bird shaped like a banana with a kinetic beak and eye.
“When there is a breeze it will move,” Mike said. “You will be able to walk under and around the sculpture.”
On Friday, the steel pieces that make up the sculpture were powder-coated in preparation for assembly. Patz says every step has been a learning process for her and a fascinating one. From the concept to the final drawing to working with a fabricator to cut the pieces of steel, she has been engaged in the process. The next step is construction of the artwork and that is taking place this week.
“Every step of the process has been extremely fascinating,” Patz said. “It is one step at the time, but you already have the end result in mind.”
If all goes well, the artists said the outdoor sculpture should be in place this week. Mike said a special event is planned for Oct. 12 to show off the work.
Patz, who is known for her clay sculptures, said working with metal is quite different from her signature material.
‘There is no time for clay now,” she said. “This is so exciting.”
Patz said there is a common thread to their work. The metal pieces have the same look as her trademark clay critters which are quirky and fun.
The duo has already been commissioned to create another piece of public art in Florence.
They each have a metal sculpture in the art exhibit at the State Fair made of recycled material.
Going forth, they will continue to bring art to the classroom, Patz said.
Along with coordinating the art projects for GSSM students, Patz will teach a class at the Governor’s School during the January interim.
Since the Governor’s School projects are part time, she will continue to travel as an artist and collaborate with her husband on other projects.
At present, Mike is restoring the Timrod School House in Florence and also moving and rebuilding an old store.
Mike said his artistic talent has evolved slower than that of his wife.
“I was always involved,” Mike said. “Being creative came later.”
“We are at a pivotal point in our careers and our life,” Patz said. “Our life is part of the artwork, and it is a work in progress.”
“We have a lot going on,” Mike said. “We have worked so hard to be at this point in our lives.”
This story originally appeared on scnow.com and was written by Ardie Arvidson.
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