Becky Schram             

Materials: Wood, Bronze and Steel
Dimensions: 20' x 20'
Location:  Roeland Park City Hall

Way of Resonance

My interest with this piece began in a single object. The bell.   I have always been intrigued by bells, the sound they make, the vibration, and the smooth and beautiful curves of the form.  These properties have always drawn me to them.   Their sound and vibration have healing properties utilized by people around the world for centuries.  Their voice makes us aware of the presence of an individual at the door, the passage of time, and special events like weddings and religious occurrences.   I wanted to make an environment where a person would initially be drawn in by the shine and beauty of the bells and then be able to interact with the voice of the bells on a personal level.   I also wanted to facilitate an environment for healing to take place from the sound vibration; which is where the doors come in.  Concealed by the doors, a person has a chance to interact and enjoy the unique beauty in each individual bell.  
    I began by making the forms for the bells in clay, then making a plaster mold of each.   Into the plaster molds I cast wax which was later equip with vents and gates and then coated in ceramic shell.  The wax was then melted out and replaced with molten bronze.   After this, each bell was cleaned up, ground down, and polished to a beautiful golden shine.