Resume:
Bernie Molaskey
2791 Haskell Springs Rd
Clarkdale, AZ 86324
(928) 649-1969
Education
Yavapai College, Art & Metal Sculpture Classes, 2009-2013
University of Connecticut, BS Electrical Engineering
Honors and Awards
Yavapai College Prescott Gallery, Best in Show 3D, 2010
Made In Clarkdale, People’s Choice Award, 2010, 2011
Media
Threshold Magazine, 2012
Verde Independent, Dec 3, 2010: “Sculpture holds ancient symbolic meaning”
Exhibitions
Yavapai College Student Show (juried) 2010, 2011, 2012
Made In Clarkdale Art Show (juried), 2010, 2011, 2012
TIS Gallery, Prescott AZ, Found Objects Art (juried), 2012
Private Collections
Mary Wills
Sally Dryer
Molly Krmpotich
Image List:
Miner' Cross Bernie Molaskey, 2013, old Jerome nails and mining artifacts 120” H x 76” W x 30” D
Raven 3 Forks
Bernie Molaskey, 2010, steel pitchforks and tractor parts, 20” H x 24” W x 10” D
Phantom Limb
Bernie Molaskey, 2009, bar clamp and steel found objects, 34” H x 15” W x 6 “ D
Light Headed Bernie Molaskey, 2009, various steel found objects, 120” H x 26” W x 4” D
Rocketboy
Bernie Molaskey, 2011, steel found objects, convex mirror for face 72” H x 24” W x 20” D
Letter of Reference: Thomas Schumacher
To Whom It May Concern:
It is my honor to recommend Bernie Molaskey for consideration in the platFORM Project, Student Sculpture Lease Opportunity in the cities of Chandler, Tempe and Scottsdale. I currently have the pleasure of having Bernie in my Portfolio Development class here on the Verde Valley Campus of Yavapai College. This class is required for any student enrolled in our Associate of Fine Arts degree program and Bernie is excelling in the course. My first contact with Bernie was at an art show in Clarkdale, AZ where he was exhibiting several of his
whimsical sculptures. I was impressed with the presence, clean lines, attention to detail and subtle
patinas on those pieces. Other’s were obviously also impressed as his pieces were awarded the Peoples
Choice Award.
Bernie Molaskey has the skills and ability to create, install and maintain his impressive sculptural works. I
am confident that his work would be well received by anyone who views the works accepted for your
platform Project.
Sincerely,
Tom Schumacher
Art Professor
Yavapai College, Verde Valley Campus
Clarkdale, AZ
Proposal for Tango Sculpture
Image 1: Upward viewpoint perspective
Image 2: Various viewpoint angles
The maquette for Tango stands at 18 inches tall and is made from two tines from two
different pitchforks with small steel balls welded as heads. Just as the bodies of two
dancers form different shapes through their performance the Tango sculpture’s
composition of curves is different depending on the viewer’s position. The smaller tine
represents the female dancer who is suspended in air as in a lift. The larger tine
represents the male who is leaning back and strongly connected to the base or floor via
a tapering connection. The physical connection between the two dancers is shaped as
a singular stylized “body” as though the dancers are merging as one through the dance.
The steel ball heads of the dancers represent their emotional connection and through
their close proximity and gold plating one might expect at any moment an electrical
spark might bridge the gap as if the intensity of the dance has turned them into a Tesla
coil.
The proposed full size version of Tango would scale easily to the maximum allowable
120 inches. At that height the heads would be proportional when made from readily
available 6 inch hollow steel balls. Each tine will be reproduced using multiple 3/8 inch
diameter rebar that is securely welded making a strong armature. The outer skin will be
made from a lightweight and fiber reinforced concrete over galvanized steel mesh. The
connections for the “body” and base would be made similarly but with added steel pipe
for increased strength. The bottom of the base would consist of ¼ inch steel plate at a
diameter of 24 inches. All exposed metal will be painted and sealed and concrete will
acid stained to a dark charcoal color. Total weight of the sculpture is estimated at less
than 200 lbs with the metal weight and concrete weight each at about 100 lbs.
The evolution from maguette to full size allows for continued creativity in the design.
Design aspects that will be examined include the connection between the dancers by
accentuating the shared “body”, accentuating the taper of the tine by widening the
“shoulders” and finally examining increasing the head size as it relates to the scale of
the sculpture.
A successful project will be achieved because of past experience with creating several
large sculptures in the 6 to 10 foot range. Engineering background is of added value for
assuring the structural integrity in a public environment where viewers may attempt to
pull, push and hang from the sculpture.