LIMESTONE SCULPTURE

Carved by Martin Cooney

Solar Frog / Kansas Creme Limestone / 24″ x 18″ x 20″ / Withdrawn

This Carving is Currently Displayed at the KMJ COONEY GALLERY

Located across from the airport and fronting Highway 82

111 Aspen Airport Business Center, Suite D. Colorado 81611

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THE SOLAR FROG VIDEO

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As the name implies “Ol’ Froggy” is powered by the sun thanks to the solar panel  incised into his back. His pump lies ensconced in a subterranean chamber under his ‘rock’, meaning of course there are no visible wires or tubes to distract from his cute little self. But best of all (I think) is that he is totally interactive with the available sunlight (as the video below will hopefully illustrate) creating a playful character that suits his rather impish demeanor. To get the full effect you should really watch the video above if you already haven’t, but the way the changing light makes him constantly run through his many tricks, well you have to see it really, that’s all I’ll say.

Sadly however I am sorry to announce that although Solar Frog loved his pond, due to circumstances running out of control, he was left to winter over once too often during is Woody Creek Years that when time came to move him he simply lifted off his base right along the waterline. And although not detrimental to his fountain obligations his did lose a few fingers and toes in the process, leaving him looking much different than in the photos you see on this page.  I will find a place for him to do his stuff again one day, but for the moment he sits with the company of his fellow limestone carvings in the entryway to The KMJ Cooney Studio Gallery.

Carving this chirpy character proved a lot of fun and was a task that I undertook with claw chisel and mallet in the old style. Kansas Creme limestone lends itself perfectly to this ultra hand carved style but due to this inherent softness and ability to be fashioned quite quickly and easily, the stone itself is not very durable – which usually isn’t a problem – but to leave this lovely fountain to endure a Rocky Mountain winter, let alone several in a row, well shame on me.  It did however solve one problem and that was how was I going to get this huge heavy block of soaking wet stone out of the pool and through the garden to the truck?  Well with his massive base gone I was simply able to pick him up and carry him in my arms, which was a relief I can tell you. There’s no weight like dead weight and when it comes to stone I am dead against dead weight. I prefer to stick to my long held motto of: if I can’t pick up and carry my new carving out of my workshop then obviously I am not yet finished carving.

CARVING THE SOLAR FROG VIDEO

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PLEASE CLICK ON A PHOTO TO ENLARGE

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LIMESTONE SCULPTURE

Carved by Martin Cooney

Solar Frog / Kansas Creme Limestone / 24″ x 18″ x 20″ / Withdrawn

This Carving is Currently Displayed at the KMJ COONEY GALLERY

Located across from the airport and fronting Highway 82

111 Aspen Airport Business Center, Suite D. Colorado 81611

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thanks for visiting martincooney.com

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