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The Arm of the Kraken

December 31, 2020 by David

Tentacle emerges near Bainbridge Island ferry terminal

Bainbridge Island Ferry Trrminal

Something interesting emerged near the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal today. A 12′ tentacle was spotted near the Marler Clark Law Office on Bainbridge Island. It seems 2021 will be the year of the Kraken. This must be a sign that more interesting things are to come in the New Year.

In 2021, Seattle’s new Hockey team, the Seattle Kraken, debut at Climate Pledge Arena. Renowned Seattle glass artist, Preston Singletary and I are collaborating on a stainless steel and glass sculpture for the new arena campus. It will be installed as part of the arena project this year at Seattle’s iconic Seattle Center .

Tentacle Inspiration

Tentacle Guardian, Windcliff Nursery, Indianola, WA

Two years ago, my neighbor Dan Hinkley, commissioned a series of carved “Guardians” for the entrance of Windcliff Nursery in Indianola WA. One of these took the form of a large carved tentacle. Similar in form to work I did in ceramics at the Kohler Factory in an Arts/industry residency almost ten years ago, these tentacles are on a much larger scale. Sculpturally, they are an exercise in form and fun.

Tentacle Landscape detail

Marler Clark

The tentacle is located at the Marler Clark law office Near the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal. They are the nation’s leading firm in foodborne illness outbreaks. They work to make sure that the food we eat will be clean and safe to consume.

Making a “Guardian” for Marler Clark seemed like a prefect project for people in the business of guarding food safety for all of us.

For the near future we all have to be the guardians of one another in our community. When you are at the ferry terminal, enjoy the “Arm of the Kraken”, and remember the crucial work being done right here.

Tentacle and Marler/Clark Law offices, Bainbridge Island WA

How to make a really big tentacle

A second-growth red cedar log was chosen for the tentacle. The log was of size and weight that some help would be needed. My friend Spencer West of West Woodworking had the log, a little bobcat to move it around with, and a place to carve.

Carving Begins

The log wast flattened on two sides so that the tentacle profile could be drawn.

Drawing the profile on the flattened surfaces

The profile is cut out

The tentacle form is carved with facets

Facets are then rounded off.

Suckers are then roughed out.

Basic sculptural work is done with an electric chainsaw, electric power planer, and a Lancelot blade on a 4″ grinder

d-adze carving and texturing tool

Finishing the surfaces

The tentacle is then refined by hand carving and texture adzing with a d-adze.

D-Adzed texture

Painting

It is painted with exterior flat latex paint, it is applied as a series of washes with opaque details.

Installing the Tentacle

Bainbridge Island resident and artist Will Robinson helped us on installation day.

Thanks

Thank you to Bill and Julie Marler, and the whole Marler Family

A very special thanks to: Eleanor Reynolds, Ryan McPhail Fluid Concrete and Design, Spencer and Elizabeth West, Will Robinson, and especially to Joanne, my awesome wife, and my great kids, Sarah, Mikel, and Ruby.

Filed Under: carving, Installations, News, Public Art, sculpture, Uncategorized Tagged With: Bainbridge Island, carving, david franklin, Ferry Tentacle, indianola, Red Cedar, sculpture, tentacle, woodworking

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You never know what might be lurking in a dark roo You never know what might be lurking in a dark room around here... #tentaclesofinstagram #tentacles #carving #redcedar #woodworking #woodworker #davidfranklin #sculpture #tentacle #octopus #kraken #thedeep #carve #knifework
“There’s one in every family..” -Ruby Frankl “There’s one in every family..” -Ruby Franklin
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The Arm of the Kraken has been released! Thanks t The Arm of the Kraken has been released!  Thanks to @billmarler and @westwoodsworking and @fluidconcreteanddesign and everyone else who helped. To learn more about the project check out my blog, link in bio.  Happy New Year! #armofthekraken #bainbridgetentacle #ferrytentacle #winslowtentacle #tentacle #kraken #woodcarving #sculpture #redcedar #carving #suckers #octopus #tentacles #tentaclesofinstagram #ferryridersfeargianttentaclemightinterferewiththecommute #commutertentacle #yearofthekraken @octonation @polvonatico
Beware the #ghost #squid the #undersea cousin to t Beware the #ghost #squid the #undersea cousin to the #pacmanghost  A rare land sighting #carving #woodcarving #squidsofinstagram #knifework #sculpture #woodworking #tentacles #yew #davidfranklin
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