Silpi Bronze Tribute

The next in the series of bronzes which will give tribute and honor the art and craftsmanship of building Iraivan Temple by hand out of hard granite has been completed and will soon be crated for the journey to Kauai. This is among our favorites, two silpis on a stone, doing what silpis were born to do, bringing raw stone to life with simple tools.

This slideshow presents the fifth and so far the largest of the masterpieces carved by Holly Young, showing some of its evolution. Once Holly has done her wax sculpting, she makes molds and ships them to Loveland, Colorado, where the finest of America's bronze craftsmen have assembled.

A copy of hers is made in wax, then a special mold for the molten metal is made, several actually. These molds are cast with 1,900-degree metal, and once cooled welded back together into a single piece. Yes, the entire original wax is broken apart, duplicated, cast and put back together by the skilled men and women in Loveland.

Enjoy the visual story.

This is where the newly completed masterpiece will go.

Holly\

s original sketch of what she would sculpt. On the left the rough braking of the stone, on the right, fine smoothing.'

Raj Manikam stands with Bobby Page, the master welder.

Bobby takes the pieces and fits them.

So good is he that once done it is impossible to see the seams. Here we do see a few, but he is not done yet.

During the reassembly period.

Showing the structural supports beneath which will keep the sides straight during shipping and installation

A good side view

The other side

An important moment captured for a thousand years, or more.

Making a cut line where the stone will be sheared off.

Each chisel here has a different roughness, like using sandpaper, first rough, then medium, then fine.

Other tools of the trade sit waiting to be needed.

Debbie Bakel\

s shop is the final stage, where she applies the chemicals that produce color and patina. Great job, Debbie. She spoke of this day as one of great joy for her. '
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