A Comprehensive Overview of the Projections
Abstract Statement
I’ve been channeling and projecting the high frequency energy reserves necessary to materialize this world scale creative collaboration since 2006. It is clear to me now, that in the years preceding 2006, my mind and spirit were steadily expanding in awareness, effectively increasing my capacity to visualize and manifest the Projections. In witnessing the volatile state of humanity today and taking into account the complex nature of cultural and political interactions on the contemporary world stage, I am convinced that the unifying qualities of these extraordinary collaborations will have a harmonizing effect on the vibrational frequency of consciousness within the vast human collective. Amidst the cacophony of divisiveness and societal discord, the Grand Providentia Projections will take shape as ‘soulful whispers heard round the world’.
Philosophical Point of Departure
The materialization of the Grand Providentia Projections is, by intention, ‘A true story, as yet unfolding…’, and in my mind, one of the most engaging features of this story resides in the recognition that it’s impossible for anyone to predict what will actually happen next. Even I don’t know what effects this initiative will have on our planet or our people, but I can only imagine the GP Projections having a definitively positive impact on both. It is time for our species to evolve willfully and progress intelligently, otherwise we’ll keep making the same disastrous mistakes, and all the while continue to expect different results. From the outset, I will describe this journey as an adventurous communal exploration of inner space.
Radical inclusivity energizes the core of the GPP philosophy. Throughout our short history, we humans have spent almost as much time and energy focused on divisiveness and exclusion as we have on promoting unification and inclusion. The very idea of self-isolation is becoming more and more absurd as the human population explodes and our understanding of a shared conscious connection to the Source expands. For those of us who’ve seen and seriously contemplated the “Pale Blue Dot” photograph taken by the Voyager 1 space probe in 1990, it becomes unnervingly clear just how isolated our home planet is in the vastness of outer space. The clarity of outlook this realization brings should be impactful enough to amplify our inner space recognition of the need for unity. Whether we are, or aren’t, the only consciously intelligent lifeforce in the universe, is not the question we should be asking each other, instead we should ask, are we consciously connected enough to survive our inherent weaknesses. Intentions of self-preservation are limited to a single lifetime. Alternatively, when our collective intentions become radically inclusive and mutually preservative, they’ll immediately attain the potential for unlimited positive change for generations to come. For the fearless there is no “them” for “us” to exclude. For lovers of life there is always hope for a sustainable and prosperous future for all of us. How do we pursue the ideal of radical inclusivity as a foundational tenet in the GPP Manifesto of Intent? If I could oblige you to suspend all prejudice and indulge my philosophical musings for a moment, I will try to explain the reasoning behind my thoughts on this matter.
There’s a time-tested wisdom behind council that advises us to avoid speaking about politics and religion in our polite conversations, especially during family gatherings and celebrations. We humans are notorious for validating our identities through our belief systems and for being unable to disengage from our long-nurtured convictions. Many people are habitually on the lookout for a hill to die on. Instead of veering off into a lengthy explanation of my own beliefs about ego as it relates to politics and religion, I’ll make a conceptual quantum leap beyond both of these ideological categories. I’m sincerely hoping that the majority of you who are reading this will be able to take the leap along with me. To put it plainly, there is simply no place for the divisiveness of politics or religion in a project promoting unity. The Grand Providentia Projections are a gift to the future of life on Earth. Radical inclusivity generously encompasses all races, nationalities and ideologies; it transcends financial status and social class considerations. Yes, there will certainly be opposition to this aspect of the GPP initiative, and yes, we should anticipate resistance. The bright side of having detractors? It will allow us to gauge and fine tune our highest intentions. People who are opposed to peace, power, love and riches for all, are also likely to be opposed to equity and inclusion in any situation or circumstance in their lives. Even though they may behave aggressively, defending their positions and trying to defeat their perceived enemies, they are actually living in fear, and as a result, they’re emitting low frequency conscious energy waves. Theoretically, if the Projection is tuned properly, it should repel and repulse all forms of negative energy.
When cooperation takes precedence over competition mankind progresses steadily in the direction of our brightest aspirations. Is it so unrealistic to believe that we could live in peace and prosperity, experiencing joy and excitement at the prospect of awakening to a new day? Everyday? Characteristically, humans are known for being resilient, courageous, adventurous, inquisitive, compassionate, and generous when they’re seen in a healthy light. From a fear-based perspective we see people in an unhealthy light and all of their worst character traits are brought into focus just so we can have reason to fear. We’re seeking justification for our outlook of fear and that is precisely what we find.
Proposed Physical Properties of the Grand Providentia Projections
Material Composition
As a foreword to this section of the overview, I feel compelled to insert a wish list of potential upgrades that I would love to see implemented as part of the GP Initiative. Ideally, I’d like to incorporate the elemental forces of earth, air, fire and water in ways that are as innovative as they are dynamic. Perhaps, with the guidance of practical special effects artists and themed entertainment designers and engineers, we can devise a plan to utilize all four natural forces to emulate perpetual motion. Or maybe each force is featured individually with audio-visual accompaniment designed to enhance their dramatic effect. These upgrades would not only bolster the level of attraction these devices have on pilgrimages to the site, but they would also add intrigue to the GPPs (on location) and raise the potential for occurrences of supernatural and metaphysical phenomenon taking place within their influential vicinity. The upgrades will likely add a good bit of expense to the project; however, they will also contribute immensely to the entertainment value of the entire initiative. I’ve always believed in going the extra mile, and in the realization of the Grand Providentia Projections I feel like we should go all the way to the finish line relying on our shared noble intentions and projecting an extraordinary collective confidence in our cause.
I envision at least 60 percent of the sculpture being cast in Silicon Bronze – an industry standard alloy comprised of 94-96% copper, 3% silicon and other trace elements such as manganese, zinc and tin. Copper is an excellent conductor of electrical and thermal energy and therefore I surmise that it will conduct and transfer our collective conscious energy just as well. The historical significance of bronze in the human story also lends to the idea that the GP Projections will reunite the people with the planet and reignite an ages-old instinct to heal our species and preserve the environment that our continued existence depends upon. The bronze alloy was originally formulated to enhance some of the least desirable properties of copper, primarily its relatively low tensile strength, but in large scale cast-bronze applications, the bronze castings still often require the added support of a stainless-steel armature to ensure structural integrity. I imagine that the reflective orb in the bottom section of each projection will be cast in stainless-steel (mirror polished) and that the superstructure which supports the bronze castings (skins) and various other components will be constructed with manufactured stainless-steel stock as determined by our knowledgeable collaborators (the engineers and the architects). I estimate that stainless-steel will comprise about 10-15% of the overall weight of each Projection. The remaining 25-30% percent of the materials used in each of the sculptures will be considered ‘power enhancers’. These additional materials will be collaboratively chosen for their unique qualities and their perceived potential to enhance the transmission and reception of positive conscious energy. For these particular materials, I think it makes sense to use elements which naturally occur in our environment or compounds made primarily from elemental sources. Intuition tells me that each of the Projections should be constructed using a predetermined percentage of ‘project appropriate’ and ethically sourced natural resources local to the installation site and contingent upon availability. Another idea is to trade local natural resources between two GP Projection sites; if one location has an abundance of quartz or marble and the other is known for the purity of their porcelain, form a mutually beneficial partnership between those host cities. Sharing will promote unity and goodwill between these distant communities, and it will also increase the effectiveness of the GPPs in both locations.
The law of attraction posits that an energy transmitted will attract like energies to the source of transmission. The GP Projections will be materialized focal points for positive collective consciousness, so this implies that our collective intentions during the construction and installation of each Projection will have an exponential effect on the attractive qualities of all the other Projections, worldwide.
Matters of Size
I’ve worked in the bronze sculpture industry for nearly a quarter century, and I’ve noticed that when it comes to size, the main consideration is usually the amount of money available to spend on the project. In the broader artworld there’s a well-worn mantra that goes like this – If you can’t make it good, make it big. If you can’t make it big, make it shiny. If you can’t make it shiny, make it red. While big, shiny, red things might be attractive to the casual passerby, I’d like to believe that any self-respecting artist or art appreciator with an eye for aesthetics would be unimpressed by any of these superficial attributes if the work of art isn’t “good”. An enormous art monstrosity will often only equate to many more sore eyes, and yet there’s also a mantra that says any publicity is good publicity, so maybe the Big, Shiny, Red Gimmick has some merit for the desperate artists among us. The Grand Providentia Projections will rise in exception to all mantras, mandates and misguiding guidelines. The higher purpose behind these works of art will be used to guide our team in all areas and attributes of their design, fabrication and installation. In this material world, size always matters, but bigger isn’t necessarily better.
I’ve had several discussions with friends and associates over the years about the appropriate size for the Projections. Some opined that they should be as big as I can make them. Others refused to entertain the idea that I might make them at all. Refusing to be discouraged, or encouraged into delusions of grandeur, I eventually came around to the conclusion that 16′ would be a reasonable height to aim for. As soon as I zeroed in on 16′ and I was speaking about it at an art event a woman who proclaimed to be a psychic informed me that the size was “perfect” and they should be no less nor any more than that. “Exactly sixteen feet.”, she said. How odd of her to say that I thought at the time. In this time, the here and now, I’m ready to set a range for the height that I feel is within reason. Each Projection should be no less than 17′ and no more than 23′ tall. They should have enough height to emanate a compelling presence and still be fully accessible to our short-range sense perceptions. Size wise, we should be able to relate to them without being visually overwhelmed. More height usually equates with more expense, but the difference between 17′ and 23′ shouldn’t be a dealbreaker. Most of the added expense in that range would be related to logistics and installation strategies.
Daniela and I had a conversation based on our shared intuitions recently and we came to an agreement that the height of each Projection should be twenty-two feet. Of course, we also agreed to remain flexible on every aspect of the project, allowing it to take on a life of its own.
Fluid Design
Instinctual – Scientific – Alchemical
We should expect that the design of the Grand Providentia Projections will remain fluid and yet retain enough of the original design to stay cohesive regardless of the number of Projections we are able to produce worldwide. As each Projection is made manifest (solidified) our understanding of its effectiveness in channeling collective consciousness will guide us in terms of intentional design for the proceeding Projections. This is not to say that the first GPP will be any less effective than the last, rather I expect that their effectiveness will be continually enhanced as our understanding of their cumulative power increases. As consciousness evolves, our minds and our hearts expand to accommodate the newly acquired level of understanding. As our intellectual and spiritual horizons widen, our ability to fine-tune collective motivations and predetermine the results of our unified intentions will increase. For these philosophical reasons, I expect the designs to take on life, breathe, and evolve over time. In terms of practicality and realistic expectations though, we’ll need to be strategic with the design and execution of each individual Projection in an effort to promote the progressive momentum of the entire project. The following section will be a broad description of my personal ideas regarding the design strategy for the GPPs.
I’ve oft heard the phrase “Think outside the box!”, and my kneejerk mental reaction has always been, “What box are you talking about? I demolished my thought box a long time ago!” I’m certain this reply would be quite exasperating to the novice inspirational speaker, but I bet it would also be inspirational to the aspiring radical thinker. The concepts underlying the Grand Providentia Projections are well beyond any boundaries put in place to separate the arts and sciences, the physical and metaphysical, and beyond that, the formed and the formless. Every element and detail of the designs for these revolutionary conscious energy devices will be invented by consulting with universal consciousness, the very same source of energy we are attempting to harness for the betterment of mankind.
GPP Device Terminology
A. Frequency Transmitter – Effectively, this is the broadcasting tower for collective conscious intentions. Ideally, we will only be transmitting the precise vibrational frequency that we are collectively hoping to attract.
B. Polar Alignment Indicators – To maximize the potential healing impact on our earthly environment, I contend that each Projection should be oriented with North, South, East and West directional alignment.
C. Universal Repository – Think of the universal repository as a thought reservoir; a containment tank for collective consciousness. When the repository reaches maximum capacity, we will channel the overflow toward specific issues troubling the people and the planet.
D. Radial Reflector – For the pragmatic minded on-site visitor the GPPs may be thought of as wishing wells, except in this case they will be invited to cast their positive thoughts and desires onto the radial reflector instead of casting coins into the well water. Those positive intentions will be reflected upward, directly into the universal repository.
E. Low Frequency Release Orb – In an effort to disperse fear based (low frequency) intentions, whether they are introduced as mixed signals or with malicious intent, I thought it would be wise to incorporate a mono directional valve designed to eject these vibrational contaminates from the repository before they are broadcast and attract more of the same.
F. Receiving Port – The placement of the four receiving ports directly above the low frequency release orbs was predicated by intelligent design. As the GP Projections transmit a continuous flow of conscious energy out to the rest of the world, universal consciousness will multiply waves of that specific frequency and return it to the point of transmission. Our design team will need to conceive of a filter system which will be installed into the receiving ports. The filters will be designed to block most of the ride-along negative energy waves and the release orbs will disable and discard the rest of the contaminating waves.
G. Archetypal Motif – These four elliptical panels are distinct visual expressions of our highest conscious intentions regarding humanity and our home planet. In the placement of GP Projections around the world, I feel like the archetypal motifs afford an ideal opportunity to collaborate with a team of local artists who are enthusiastic about representing their community and their culture. The GPP creative team would need to provide basic guidance to ensure that the designs are interpreted correctly and their fabrication executed systematically to maintain forward momentum of the ongoing production.
H. Portalhead and Risers – The idea that collective consciousness permeates our species and our environment to the foundations of their quantum makeup has been championed by scientists, theologists and philosophers throughout recent human history. The portalhead and risers are designed to funnel high frequency energy waves straight from the ground beneath our feet into the universal repository.
I. Attractor Icons – Peace, power, love and riches are the four positive intentions I’ve been focused on from the very beginning of this initiative. I expect that there will be variations on these themes (and the symbolic motifs used to present them) depending on the social and cultural preferences of the people hosting each Projection. In the spirit of the Grand Providentia United philosophy, I would urge that the attractor icons remain focused on positive conscious intentions because motifs designed with negative intentions will attract more of the same destructive energy to that location.
Thoughts on Enlargement & Reduction
As I’ve written in past posts on this site, I would love to see the original “Providentia” enlarged to a ‘Grand’ scale for our planet and our people and also reduced to a miniature tabletop version for those who want to display a replica of the GP Projections in their home or office. There will only be six castings produced of the original design with one of them being an artist’s proof (AP). I see the potential to sell out a limited edition of 1,000 tabletop versions once the “Grand Providentia Projections” are in production. And only the source of all creation knows how many grand-scale Providentia(s) will be made manifest as this story unfolds…
With the goal being a successful reproduction of the design while also preserving the expressive integrity of the artwork there are a number of considerations that need to be addressed when creating an enlargement or a reduction of an existing sculpture. In the bronze foundry business, I commonly found myself advising the client (usually an artist) to work through all of these considerations while they’re sculpting the small-scale maquette. If it’s representational or figurative work, any problems with proportions will become exaggerated with the increased volume, as will issues with gesture and balance. Another important consideration, and one that takes high priority with the Providentia enlargement and reduction, is related to level of detail. The original Providentia is approximately 39″ tall and if we enlarge the piece to 22′, then we are expanding the design volumetrically by about 6.75 times. The diameter of the radial reflector on the original is 6″ and when we enlarge it by 6.75, it will measure 3′ 4.5″ in diameter. But the radial reflector is a simple stainless-steel segmental dome that has been high polished to a mirror finish, and as such, it has no sculptural detail. When we enlarge the archetypal motifs on the other hand, to about 4′ wide, each of the attractor icons will need to be redesigned with more visual content added. Otherwise, using the designs and level of detail from the original, our natural visual appetite would be left wanting more. Another reason to increase the level of artistic detail in the Grand Providentia Projections is to capture the imagination of those who are attracted to the site. The Projections will need to be beacons of wonder if they are to inspire the masses to believe in their power to heal. They’ll need to be profoundly enchanting for as many of our five physical senses as possible if we’re aiming to allure and entrance our common sixth sense.
Making “Providentia” Grand
The molds for the original “Providentia” were produced in 2007 at Bronzart Foundry in Sarasota, FL, just about one year before I left the foundry and opened for business at S.M.art Castings & Sculpture Services, LLC. From the very beginning I planned to produce a limited edition of 5 from the original mold system. My plan was to sell the first in the edition to fund the production of the second casting and continue with that strategy until all five were sold. Over the years, I came close to making that first sale on a few occasions, but I was never able to close the deal. Meanwhile, the mold materials (rubber and gypsum) were gradually degrading in the extreme Florida heat. When I decided to move from Saint Petersburg, FL to Jenkintown, PA in 2019, I thought it would be wise to pull a Forton casting of the design and discard the failing mold system rather than carry it along with me. My son Christopher had become an expert at casting in Forton, so I entrusted the work to him as I was organizing for the move. Just before I entered into the MFA program at SCAD (2023), I brought the gypsum model to American Bronze and contracted them to make a digital scan from the Forton castings. The images below are digital renderings (scans) of the four separate parts that will need to be enlarged digitally.
Next Steps
Once the wireframe models are digitally scaled to the appropriate size, each section will be routed in medium density foam using a 5-Axis CNC machine. The machined foam parts will be skim-coated in oil clay, to add natural textures, giving them a hand-tooled finish. Then a large-scale mold system will be manufactured to capture the design and the detailing of the enlarged sculpture. The set of molds will be used to produce the wax patterns for the bronze casting phase of multiple GP Projections. Sometimes it makes sense, financially and logistically, to make two or more mold sets, especially if there is a desire to produce multiple sculptures simultaneously.
I’ll be adding content to this post during the days and weeks to come. Since I intend to make this a broad (yet comprehensive) overview of the Projections, I’ve decided it would be wise to ruminate on each facet of the project before publishing my thoughts.
Daniela and I are sending out vibrational hugs to all of our brothers and sisters around the world who’ve been visiting this blog and inspiring us to imagine the Grand Providentia Projections into reality!
A True Story, as Yet Unfolding... 