Hello everyone,
This is my first attempt at creating a blog so please keep coming back to check in on my progress. The first topic of my blog is about limited editions in bronze sculpture. I need your opinions and feedback. I am trying to decide whether to go the traditional route and limit the edition of my new sculpture of Harry Manx to 12 or to have a larger edition of say 24, 50 or even 100.
First a little background. Up until recent times the material for making moulds for reproducing waxes for bronzes was gelatin. It was not very strong and after 9 or 10 pours the mould would start to break down. By the time 12 waxes were produced from the mould it was in such bad shape it had to be discarded. So 12 became the limited number of sculptures one could produce and this became the standard. Now, by legal definition, a bronze sculpture is considered an "original" in an edition limited to 12 and any more produced are considered "copies". In the last 50 or so years rubbers have been developed which can last for many years and are able to produce thousands of waxes. After O.C.A. (Ontario College of Art)-now O.C.A.D. (Design) where I learned how to sculpt, make moulds and bronze cast I got a great job working for a small company which made small figurative bronze sculptures. It was a fantastic apprenticeship and a job that I enjoyed going to every day. We produced sculptures that had edition numbers of 250,500 and even 999. They advertised in magazines like "Architectural Digest" and "The Connoisseur ".
Harry Manx wax before casting in bronze
I have just finished creating this sculpture of Harry Manx which took many many challenging hours to complete. It was a very satisfying endeavor and I loved every minute of it and the agony and ecstasy of sculpting may be my next blog topic.
My question is; do I limit this to 12 only to find out that more than 12 people would have bought one or do I keep it rare and limit it to 12? I guess this blog is market research to try and answer that very question.The cost of creating a mould,casting a wax,cleaning the wax, casting in bronze,finishing the bronze, patinating the bronze and mounting it on a base are all factors which add to the overall cost of the finished piece. I am going to be charging $3200. CAD for this sculpture. I guess you could compare it to a musician making a cd and then only selling 12 of them. Doesn't make sense does it? Why should art be different than music. I know there are a lot of holes to be poked into my argument but I better stop now so this doesn't become a book. Blogs aren't meant to be too long.
I am really looking forward to any feedback anyone may have regarding this question.
Thanks,Peter
www.redeft.ca
Is this "legal definition" concerning bronze limited editions something in Canadian law. Could you start a lobby to have this, obviously antiquated legal definition changed? It might not help you with this particular "Harry Manx" project but it might help you and other later on. It' not very fair as is. If you find out what Act this is in you can find out which ministry and MP (MPP?) to approach. Surely you are not the only one frustrated by this definition. I know this isn't helping you with the immemdiate problem but it's what came to me.
ReplyDeletego for more.!
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw your sculpture. I couldn't help but think of Joe Fafard.(Saskatchewan)
I really like your sculpture.
I first heard Harry here on Saltspring Island in the early 90's.
I knew he was good . I was passing by the Tree House Cafe and had to stop to have a listen.
I said to others, he will get rather famous and he has.
A humble talented musician.
I got to celebrate New Years eve with Harry.
It was a benefit for the Wolf Kids.
Haven't had such a musical New Years since the last performance of the original 'La Boutine Sourriante' in Montreal.
Richie Havens was a fave of mine in the 60s. Wish I could attend that one in January. Hope somebody records it well.
When Fafard began, there were many less people. Now, there are so many of us, and I think making 50 is appropriate for the times.
Excellent rendition.
Hope a gallery on SSI purchases one.
Rethinking this, I would up the no.
ReplyDeleteIts would still be, like... its not made in China,eh!
Having greater accessibility would be okay.
In the house or even the garden (gnome).
Why not?
After all that work, the joy of owning could be wider spread.
Just get a copyright tho.
Imagine, seeing one in India, Afghanistan, Turkey, and places Harry has been.
Art collectors prefer the traditional lower editions. In the past, Joe Fafard’s editions where 4 or 7 but now I believe up to 12 or more. Outspoken Christina of the Christina Parker Gallery in St.Johns NFLD once tersely informed me that artists had to pay their dues and earn there editions. Only after becoming famous could one be bold enough to make even 12 let alone any more! It’s a tough call. It seems to be a choice between satisfying the traditional established gallery system versus the more entrepreneurial and modern ways of marketing and selling ones work. I will have to decide by next week when the first wax goes to the foundry for casting in bronze. I am documenting the mould making process and will be posting images of that this week. Stay tuned!
ReplyDeleteThe decision has been made. I will "earn my editions" and limit the number to 12 plus 2 artist proofs.
ReplyDelete