By Greta Petry
Behind the scenes of the University's move to Division I sports, a senior art student toiled away for a year, sculpting the larger-than-life Great Dane who now graces the lobby of the Recreation and Convocation Center.
Brian Caverly, 22, of Ballston Lake, a senior with a dual major in art and psychology, created the big bronze dog.
The Great Dane is the University's mascot, chosen for the qualities of strength, courage, speed and stamina during a contest in 1965.
The bronze sculpture was a gift from the Class of 1999 to the University. Funds for the artwork were raised from among last May's graduating seniors and their parents. The work was unveiled Saturday, Feb. 5, appropriately enough, during the Big Purple Growl event at the RACC, the same night UAlbany played Stony Brook there in basketball.
During remarks at the dedication ceremony, UAlbany Professor of Art Edward Mayer, who provided guidance on the sculpture project, said, "I think it is very important for me and for all of us to acknowledge: The inspiration of Grant Kletter and his senior class officers, who thought to commemorate the elevation of Athletics at Albany to Division I status with a sculpture of the University's mascot; the generosity of the Class of the Class of 1999 and support from the Class of 1984 and other donors who contributed the money for the project. . .the incredible hard work, ability and expertise of Roger Bisbing, our superb technician; the volunteerism from the sculptors at the Annex who helped at different times; the convincing prose of Mike Boots and the staff of the Alumni Development Office who rallied the support; the cooperation from Kerry Csontos and the Facilities Management folks; and finally, the talent and hard work of this gifted young artist, Brian Caverley, for having crafted this noble, powerful, and inspirational symbol of the University of which we can all be so proud."
Caverly was assisted in his work by a real-life model, a black Great Dane with a very long name: American Canadian Champion Wysiwyg's (kennel name: What You See Is What You Get) Black Sambvca, C.G.C., nicknamed Bucca. Bucca is a Great Dane owned by Patrick and Susan Touhey of Ballston Spa.
"Bucca is a great dog with a great personality," Caverly said. "He's so friendly. Show dogs are used to having to stand still, which made him an excellent model."
The artist started with numerous photographs of the dog, from which he made drawings that plastered the walls of one room in the University's Art Annex on Railroad Avenue. This was followed by small clay models of the dog in a variety of poses. Bucca himself came down to the sculpture studio for a sitting, so that Caverly could make a careful comparison between a live model and the sculpture in progress.
Using the "lost wax method" of casting bronze, an ancient tradition of art bronze casting that was revived by Renaissance artists of the 15th and 16th century, Caverly created the original in clay. Then, a negative mold was made using an application of silicone rubber, producing a perfect imprint of the original. Plaster was applied over the rubber to make a mother mold to hold the rubber in place after the original work was removed. After the plaster set, the seams were forced open, the rubber was cut and the mold was peeled from the original. When the mold was reassembled, wax was applied to the interior, forming a perfect reproduction of the original.
It is this wax figure that was used to create the second molds, which after a three day burn-out (losing the wax) process, were buried in sand and into which the bronze was poured at a temperature 2000 degrees. Because of the capacity of the melt furnace the dog was cast in sections. When the investment molds cooled the castings were removed, cleaned and the sections welded together. After a final sandblasting, applications of a chemical patina (color) and wax, the sculpture was ready to be moved.
With help from Facilities management, the Great Dane was transported to the RACC and carefully positioned on its base in the lobby facing the main entrance where it now stands guard.
