10/04/2026
Had an exciting wrap-up on our first municipal commission yesterday, a red-curtain reveal for the Rountree neighborhood complete with wonderful neighbors, apple c***r, and the Ozarks First news crew... and, of course, a 200lb stainless steel barred owl!
This has been my favorite job to date, and the first I have taken where the uncertainty far outweighed the certainty. We had to build the airplane while free-falling! But we were able to deliver a stunning piece for the grand opening of Rountree's Fairway Glen Park!
The branch and armature of this piece are made from rolled steel we reclaimed from the scrap yard; the toes & talons are made from propane pipe and garage door springs; and the eyes are-- what else? salad spoons. The feathers are 304 stainless, and I couldn't be happier with how the material lends itself to the binary coat of the barred owl.
I am eager for our next job and dream of pushing further into the monumental scale. (God willing)
If you want to see this piece you can drop by 606 South Fairway Ave. in Springfield. Bring a picnic blanket and an hour to spend kicking back.
Thanks to Joe & Terry Malesky for their help and mentorship.
Thanks to Jason Jarrell for help on installation.
Thanks to the Rountree Neighborhood association for creating a beautiful space for the community and for this piece.
