A Day in the Life of one Artist

Computer simulation of one of six windscreen designs for the Albuquerque Transportation Center station

I have spent the better part of the last three days manipulating the computer files for the screen designs putting them in a format from which photo positive stencils can be produced for the sandblasters.  That means reversing the image and making a negative of it, because the sandblaster works from the black areas, not the white, and because the sandblasted side of the glass is away from the track.  I made the images from the other side.  Three of the stations are on the opposite side of the track from the rest.  I didn’t get that news until late March, after I had finished all the images.  Since the stations are not symetrical and since some of the images relate in special ways to the others on the same platform, I needed to adjust which side of the image was “front.”  If this sounds very confusing, it is.  I am proceeding very carefully and very slowly.  My night mare is to be standing on a platform with six 350 lb. pieces of glass and having to say, “No, guys that’s not right.  Move that piece of glass down the platform 150 ft. and move that other one over here.” 

My back aches from sitting at the computer.

But, we’re close.  The contractor expects to install the first set July 17th and two more in the weeks following.  The whole city waits impatiently.  The ride is free for the first two months.  If I had a laptop, I could make an entry from a moving passenger car.

The image above is from an enormous oil fired steam engine (4-8-4), which a bunch of volunteers are restoring here in town.