Addendum to the Grand Providentia Projections Pitch
If you’re a new visitor to this site, or you’ve visited on occasion but you’re unfamiliar with the details of the Grand Providentia Projections, please allow me to direct your attention to the comprehensive overview (pitch) I published in May of this year – https://grandprovidentiaunited.blog/2026/05/18/actualizing-the-grand-providentia-projections-peace-power-love-and-riches-going-global/ – Today’s post is an addendum to that comprehensive overview, so the substantive developments I’ll be discussing here will make more sense when they’re considered within the broader context of the project pitch.
An Open Gateway to Opportunity?
Yes, I believe it is!
I’ve had multiple phone conversations over the last couple of weeks with past clients, employees, and business associates concerning a major shakeup in the bronze sculpture industry here in the southeast. The first conversation I had was with Charles Wambold III – President, Founder and Foundry Master of American Bronze Foundry in Sanford, Florida. I’m grateful to say that I’ve regarded Charlie as a good friend and trusted associate for more than 20 years now. American Bronze has been my foundry of choice since I left Bronzart Foundry Inc. in 2008, and I exclusively sub-contracted ABF to “cast and blast” all the bronze work I produced during my eleven years as a business owner in the commercial sculpture industry on the west coast of Florida. Charlie called early last week to share the happy news that he was selling his facility and retiring at the end of the year. He further explained that the offer to buy his property came unexpectedly and confessed that it was an offer he couldn’t turn down. He’d already been planning to retire for some time but hadn’t figured out exactly how to make it happen, until now. I’ve long admired Charlie for his impeccable work ethics and unflinching dedication to the art of bronze sculpture casting. I can’t help but applaud his enduring commitment to the sculpture industry, having experienced firsthand how physically demanding and emotionally stressful the business can be at times. Charles, his wife Renee, and the rest of the Wambold family have persevered through damaging hurricanes, oppressive heat and the highs and lows of the Florida economy for 35 years, ultimately creating the largest and most capable art foundry in the Southeastern US. ABF is located 44 miles northeast of the Universal Orlando Resort. For those of you who are interested, here’s a link to American Bronze Foundry – https://americanbronze.com/
One of my most memorable visits to American Bronze Foundry – In 2013, professional sculptor, Loura Parks Dobbs (center) commissioned me, with Charlie’s consent, to apply the faux granite patina to her 15′ “St. Michael the Archangel” bronze monument at the foundry in Sanford. Charles Wambold III stands with his back to the camera in the third photo (he’s the one without any wings).
Universal Dreamer or Well-grounded Entrepreneur
Well before Charlie had finished filling me in on the details of his unexpected liberation from the responsibilities of Foundry Master at ABF, and furthermore, his newly found pathway to retirement, a familiar sense of wonder began to well up within my mind and spirit. I refer to it as a familiar sense of wonder not because it happens often, but because this particular brand of wonder is almost always associated with sensations brought on by the astute recognition that synchronicity plays a major role in orchestrating the circumstances of life. In other words, I’ve become intimately acquainted with the dynamics of manifestation, and when I perceive that the signs and synchronicities are in alignment, I experience the sensation of knowing that the Source, or the Universe if you prefer, is about to manifest a new expression of reality in a positive and powerful way. Specifically, though, in the context of my conversation with Charlie, I wondered immediately whether his situation, his new reality, was directly connected with my own. Since the beginning of this year, I’ve grown increasingly convinced that NBCUniversal is actively pursuing the development of the Grand Providentia Projections and is possibly closing in on a greenlight for the inception of this worldwide production. If my intuitive sensibilities are as keen as I believe them to be, and my convictions are correct, then it isn’t a very broad leap for me to imagine that the NBCUniversal group might be involved with the purchase of the American Bronze Foundry. After all, the facility is located just north of the largest Universal theme park in the world. With all those resources, human and material, just minutes away, it would be an ideal location to begin production of the flagship GP Projection which I suspect is to be installed somewhere on the east coast of the USA (North Bergen, NJ?). And even if that whole scenario is a figment of my imagination, or simply wishful thinking, there are other, more empirical reasons, that Charlie’s news has the potential to significantly impact the future of my professional career in the visual arts.
For the sake of clarity, before I get into the rest of the conversation I had with Charlie, I’ll back up a bit and recount a yearslong discussion I’ve been having with Mike Elwell, another long-term friend and trusted associate of mine. I met Mike in 2007, when I worked for Bronzart Foundry Inc., Sarasota, FL, and indeed Bronzart’s struggles in the bronze business have been the subject matter of our ongoing discussion. Mike called me about a week ago, just a few days after Charlie’s call to ask if I had any ideas how he, or we together, could help Bronzart survive in the business of bronze. In the interest of brevity, I won’t get into the nature or the origins of their troubles in this post, but I will say that Bronzart has been in steady decline since the passing of its President, Founder and Foundry Master, Richard Frignoca in 2014.
Now, back to my phone call with Charlie. I asked if he knew what kind of business would be moving in when he moved out. He said that he didn’t know, but he didn’t think it would be a bronze foundry because they hadn’t expressed any interest in the equipment or the contents of the buildings. That was when he gave me another bit of info that piqued my interest in an entirely different way. He told me that he’d be attempting to sell all of his foundry equipment from front door to back for $300,000, but it would need to be cleared out by the end of January 2027. He also told me that he wasn’t taking on any new projects because he had to finish up everything currently in the works. Then he mentioned Bronzart, or at least he mentioned all of the panicking clients of Bronzart who had been calling him or dropping in for a visit to ask whether ABF could finish their projects, many of which had been stalled for months due to his primary competition’s rapid disintegration and steady movement toward insolvency. Charlie told me he regretted having to turn down all that business, and that he was sorry to see how things were going for the west coast foundry, but reasserted that he was already committed to winding down his own productions at American Bronze. He elaborated further, telling me that he’d also turned down many other projects, “…including seven life-size figures during the last two weeks alone.” Sensing my interest in the foundry equipment he was planning to sell, Charlie told me that he couldn’t let it go until the end of the year, because it would be in use until then, but preferably the deal would be brokered by that time so everything could be off the property in early January. One added benefit to the package would be his company website and client base contact information.
Taking all of this information into account, I’ll make the following statement – I know in my heart that I’m one of very few people in the states who could pick up where American Bronze Foundry and Bronzart Foundry Inc. left off. I would need to find an investor, or investors, to support me in the endeavor. I’d also need financial advisors and business management executives to help me run the day-to-day foundry work, but I know that my passion for the arts and my creative leadership style would add up to an extraordinarily successful bronze foundry. Time is of the essence, as usual, but I’m ready to get back to business in my creativity and this could be the start of an exciting new chapter in the “True story, as yet unfolding…”
Naturally Progressive
I’ve often professed to being a pragmatic dreamer – unafraid to trust in my own creative abilities, while also remaining grounded in reality – being able to discern the difference between achievable goals and flights of fantasy. Soulfire Creative is Plan-B. It could include a foundry facility, but not necessarily. I wrote a preliminary outline for Soulfire Creative in 2025. (see below)Written in the Autumn of 2025, this plan doesn’t take into account any of the recent developments I’ve detailed in this post. Starting out with a pre-existing client/project base from American Bronze Foundry, Bronzart Foundry Inc. and Moore Art Expressions would surely bolster Soulfire Creatives’ potential for short-term profitability.
Earthly Dreams Prevail
I’ve never been one to dream in mediocrity. I see mediocrity everywhere, so I perceive that it must be an adequate goalpost for the less imaginative masses. It seems to me that mediocre dreams could be something certain people settle for because they’ve been conditioned to believe they’re simply not equipped to dream in excellence. When it comes to imagining new worlds into being, I prefer to dream in excellence. I strive to envision an improved version of the world; a world moving toward unity and away from intolerance; a world where it’s just as easy to imagine happiness as it is to imagine sorrow; and a world where dreams of peace aren’t summarily ridiculed as unrealistic imaginings.
I dream of a world where the “Grand Providentia Projections” are embraced as a universal expression of human excellence. NBCUniversal has rightly earned its reputation of excellence in the industries of film and entertainment the world over, time and again, for more than a century. In my estimation, this is a world that only NBCUniversal can help me imagine into reality. Together, is the ideal way to build adventurous new worlds.
Urgent call to action: Like so many creatives before me, I look to the world around me for moral and financial support. I need help to realize my dreams. I must confess that I cannot fully comprehend the enormity of the expense or the complexity of the production planning for this project, so I have only a limited understanding of the timeline necessary for development of the IP. Still, I must ask for some form of confirmation, perhaps including short term compensation. Might NBCUniversal offer to purchase an option on the intellectual property, if indeed they are intending to commit to the project? I hold firm that the Grand Providentia Projections will be a gift to the future of all life on Earth. I’m asking NBCUniversal to help make this gift a reality, and together, we’ll start to build a brave new world. A world that has been patiently waiting to be imagined into existence.
The story of Fortuna is as colorful and animated as the living koi fish she was patinaed to resemble. When I sculpted the original in clay, I had an entirely different vision and concept for the finished piece than what it has turned out to be. I’m so pleased to have let this one evolve into what she has become. Fortuna has metamorphosized from a sculpture that was intended as cynical commentary on the superficial pursuits of man into a beacon of good fortune and a recognition of the astonishing beauty of nature on our planet. Originally, this surrealistic representation of the fish as a metaphor for greed and selfish motivations was titled “Suckerfish Ball”. I’d had a vision of a fish standing on its head and writhing like a flickering candle flame. That was the vision out of which the ball and fish form evolved. The addition of dollar signs and stars and the stripe around the ball were intended to represent money, fame and play respectively, but these additions were all envisioned through the distorted lens of my cynical outlook at the time. I’m truly grateful that my outlook has changed dramatically since then!
“Fortuna” and “Suckerfish Ball”
“Suckerfish Ball” is the only other sculpture on the planet that is nearly identical to “Fortuna”. They’re pulled from the same mold, so that’s to be expected. The major difference between them is that the fish figure on the first casting was poured in white bronze which gives it the shiny silver look. “Suckerfish Ball” was purchased years ago and now resides in the collection of Phillip and Lynn Rogers. In my opinion “Fortuna” is the stronger piece of artwork. Not only is it warmer in color and concept, but it is also invested with positive energy and designed to bring good fortune to any home where it is being displayed. Now, those may sound like the words of a snake-oil salesman, and I could see why some folks might scoff at the notion of a good luck charm, but I can’t see where the harm is with a little bit of positive superstition being peddled between friends!
Physical Properties ofFortuna
Fortuna – Bronze casting mounted on cream colored marble base (pentagonal). The patina on this bronze is one of its most striking features. The opaque and creamy tones of the koi fish contrast nicely with the details of bronze dollar signs and the band around the ball. This was a sophisticated patina to perform given the fact that a patina finish can’t be built up like a paint job. The color that adheres to the metal is still only a few microns thick. It’s similar to a smoked glass process where what you get to stick is what you get to keep.
Dimensions: 27.5″ H x 10″ W x 8″ D ~ Weight: 32 lbs.
Approximate time involved: 180 hours from concept to completion.
Price: $9,500.00 USD – Includes metal pedestal shown in photos.
An Investment in the Future of Our Planet and Our People
The sale of “Fortuna” will forward the cause of the “Grand Providentia Projections” as it will allow my wonderful Dani and I to establish our physical home together on God’s green Earth. We’ve been growing our love (online) for almost two years now and we long to be married and live together somewhere in the USA. Together we are unstoppable, just as the GP Projections will be unstoppable with the collective positive intentions of our friends and supporters worldwide.
Almost one year ago (10/25/2025), I displayed “Fortuna” along with “Providentia”, “Return to Hope” and “Monkey Runs Amok” at an art festival sponsored by the The Landings Art Association and the Village Library at the Skidaway (Island) Village Green. Daniela shared in the ambience of the event with me, via Messenger facetime, during quiet times on that beautiful Saturday afternoon.
When it comes to the pursuit of our personal goals, dreams and aspirations, I believe that each one of us must determine, realistically, how much energy we’re willing to expend moving in a particular direction. Once we’ve decided that a certain direction has become non-sustainable in terms of energy expended vs. energy returned, and when it appears that the only realistic action to take is to move in a new direction, I think the obvious solution is to adjust the trajectory of our intentions. Over the past twelve months, since my graduation from SCAD, I’ve been investing the bulk of my creative energy courting NBCUniversal with straightforward intentions of either finding equitable employment within their worldwide entertainment empire or, morepreferably, entering into an agreement to collaborate with them on the production of the Grand Providentia Projections. In the face of my best efforts, all communications between us have moved in a single direction – out of me and toward them. To be fair, the Universal Orlando Resort has sent me a number of rejection emails in response to job applications, but they were all anonymous – no reply – form letters, affording me no personal communicative agency. Having spent a lifetime in the visual arts, I’ve grown accustomed to waiting for responses to applications and inquiries often without even knowing if my messages were delivered to the intended recipients. I’ve applied to art competitions, collegiate programs of study, calls for public art proposals, and creative employment opportunities; I’ve also participated in good faith negotiations with boards of directors, government art commissioners and individual art patrons. Ordinarily, and by nature, it doesn’t take very much feedback (return energy) to sustain my interest or enthusiasm in any endeavor that I’m creatively passionate about. And I can add to that with full confidence, that I’m not easily discouraged or deterred once I’ve set my sights on a desired outcome. I’d also estimate that I’ve received equal proportions of rejections vs. acceptances over the years. What, precisely then, elevates this highly ambitious goal of mine above the level of all the previous opportunities that I’ve applied to? And why do I feel the need to ask for, and indeed insist upon, acknowledgement from the enormous creative entity that I’ve been attempting to win over? If you’re willing to read on, I’m willing to answer these questions and a few others as introduction to the project pitch that follows this post.
There are a number of reasons why this situation is unique when compared to all the previous situations I listed above. Currently, I am on the cusp of a major transitional breakthrough in my artistic career, and the breakthrough is manifesting by way of intentional design. For as far back as I can remember, well before entering kindergarten, I recall having a burning desire to imagine and create worlds as yet unseen; as yet unimagined. Although I’ve allowed the circumstances and situations of daily life to distract me on many occasions over the course of this lifetime, I’ve consistently returned to the path of meaningful creativity, seeking the fulfillment of higher purpose and the rewards of personal growth. The qualifying difference between the Grand Providentia Projections and every other creative aspiration that I’ve applied my intentions toward, arises from the awareness of a continuous pathway of conceptual evolution which traces all the way back to the earliest artistic yearnings of my childhood. As a child, I was as naive as any other child, but I can attest without doubt that my mind was prematurely occupied with matters of injustice, inequality and the willful destruction of lifeforms, human and otherwise. I set realistically unattainable standards for myself and others, but I can honestly say that I usually set them with good intentions. Some say the road to hell is paved by good intentions, but I’ve always dismissed their arbitrary counsel as an obvious ploy to discourage well-meaning people from aspiring to do good things. The Grand Providentia Initiative is rooted in a philosophy that encourages humanity to collectively ‘do good things’ for the planet and the people. Unified by the desire to secure a prosperous future for all life on Earth and propelled by the zeitgeist of our shared indomitable spirit, we humans will rise above the chaos and divisiveness of fear-based collective consciousness. The ideal time to initiate this humanitarian project is now.
One fine day, my ego and I went our separate ways. We decided we could only ever agree to disagree, so after years of a love hate relationship, my ego screamed and wailed its final disapproval of the way I was living and I exiled the abhorrent creature from my presence indefinitely. That was the moment my life was transformed from a predominantly self-centered existence, full of angst and uncertainty, to one of self-confidence and genuine concern for the welfare of others. Many of you may be wondering how I manage to set goals, nurture aspirations, or follow dreams without egotistical assistance. Some of you might even be overwhelmed by angst and uncertainty at the mere suggestion of banishing the ego. In my personal experience, ego was the enemy within, always stomping out the fires of creative passion and distracting me from even the most reasonable hopes and dreams well before I could sow the seeds. As soon as I shut down all communications with ego, positive intentions, dreams and aspirations took the lead role, and ever since that moment, I’ve been dreaming inclusively. I want us all to live in peace and prosperity, but being a realist, I understand that not all people are seeking peace and prosperity, for the ones who are, I propose that we unite under the all-inclusive collective aura of positive consciousness.
Anyone who knows me, knows that the actions I take, including the writing of posts on this blog, are usually decisively taken with specific intentions in mind. I wrote this post to request a courtesy call (or email) from NBCUniversal. I’m not asking for definitive answers or an open avenue of bi-directional correspondence, just acknowledgement of intentions and an estimate of the potential for creative opportunities with Universal. I’ve chosen to wait patiently for this long and I’m sure that I can hold on a little longer, especially if I have some positive feedback to keep me afloat, but I will need to move forward soon because for me there is no turning back. The way I figure it, I have another two to three decades of meaningful creativity to get busy with, and long-term stasis or unconscious backsliding are not viable options. It’s time for me to seize the opportunities of tomorrow.
I’ve been broadcasting, receiving and stockpiling the high frequency conscious energy necessary to externalize 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 the discordance of cultural and political interactions on the contemporary world stage, I am convinced that the materialization of the Grand Providentia Projections 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 manifestation of this revolutionary collaboration 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, we’ll 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 Grand Providentia United 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 vast emptiness 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, instead we should ask – Are we consciously connected enough to survive our shared 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’s 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 attempt to explain 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 personal 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 ethnicities, 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 Projections are tuned properly, they should repel and repulse all forms of negative energy.
When cooperation takes precedence over competition mankind progresses steadily in the direction of our most prosperous future. This leads us to the question – Is it 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. Some say the answer is to wage a personal war against fear. I disagree. In all of my studies about success and the laws of attraction there’s been a common thread of wisdom that appears to be foundational regardless of which author or particular flavor of positive thought I’ve investigated. The experts are in agreement, whatever you focus your thoughts and intentions on, that is what you will receive more of in your life experience. If you determine that you’re against an ideology or a particular group of people or their actions and you protest and fight back, this will not only feed negative energy to whatever you’re fighting against, but it will also draw a continuous flow of negativity into your own life. Does this mean we should not protest when we feel there is an act of injustice being committed? No. It means that we should just be aware of the consequences of our thoughts and actions, especially if they are largely focused on the things we don’t want more of in our lives. On the flip side, if we primarily focus our thoughts and actions on matters that bring us peace and fulfillment as individuals, we’ll attract and enjoy an excess of these life-quality assets to share with the world, and in effect, we’ll bring balance to the levels of justice vs. injustice, inevitably tipping the scales toward stability and civility. For the willfully destructive, creative endeavor is perceived as a threat. For the willfully creative, destructive behavior is perceived as an invitation to reconstruct. The most dignified qualities we human beings possess have evolved in our species as potential pathways to transcend collective self-destruction. We have everything we need right now to rise in unity and reconstruct our perceptions of reality.
Physical Properties of the 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 transmit 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.
In the autumn of 2006, when I began sculpting the original Providentia, my creative aspirations were at an all-time high. So, despite the fact that my access to resources was exceedingly limited, I consciously set intentions to enlarge the design at a later date. It’s been nearly twenty years since its conception, and I believe that there’s no time like the present to manifest the GP Projections.
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 paragraph will be an abstract 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 unimpeded by 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 assert 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 Orbs – 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 four mono directional valves designed to eject these vibrational contaminates from the repository before they are broadcast and attract more of the same.
F. Receiving Ports – 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.
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, all four 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 craving more stimulation. 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.
Producing the Enlargements
Once the wireframe models are digitally altered to implement desired design changes such as removal of the attractor icon motifs, they’ll be scaled to the appropriate size and divided into manageable sections for the casting process. 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 surface 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. It would also be advantageous to cast the bronze sections at a reputable art foundry relatively close to the installation site. When all the bronze parts have been cast for the individual Projection, the chosen foundry can begin fabrication of the stainless-steel armature. The bronze skins could be welded to the stainless-steel armature without concern for galvanic corrosion, but I would prefer to use an engineered bolting system, so we’ll be able to attach the various components on site. This will also allow us to integrate any lighting, sound or elemental systems before we encapsulate the armature with the patinaed bronze sections.
Most of the final production decisions will need to be made strategically as the project unfolds. As of this moment, I don’t have confirmation that anything will unfold, or when it might unfold if it does. Thankfully, my life in the visual arts has given me the strength and determination to persist patiently while dreaming abundantly. I’m now eagerly awaiting the next unified steps we’ll be taking toward the actualization of the Grand Providentia Projections.
Filmmaking and the Grand Providentia Projections
To most people, the Grand Providentia Projections will appear to be an “art project” initiated with the primary objective of creating and installing large scale sculptures around the world. This assumption is key to one of the greatest strengths of the GPP Initiative. Having spent a lifetime in pursuit of a creative career, I’ve become well acquainted with the prevailing attitude that art is superfluous and innocuous. Many see art as a luxury reserved for the elite and this outlook disenfranchises the masses, leading them to conclude that art has no measurable impact on matters of import to the world of men. With our project remaining unaffiliated to any specific worldly groups or causes (remember my previous comments about radical inclusivity) we acquire the supernatural ability to fly under the surveillance radar of those who might consider our initiative a threat. It’s just an “art project”, after all, so how could there be any harm in that?
I’ve intentionally reserved this section of the overview until last because I believe that the greatest potential for return on investment, both financially and socially, can be realized through the art of filmmaking. Early in the development process of the Grand Providentia Initiative, as early as 2010, I began to envision this evolving story as one that could be told with astonishing clarity and power through two film projects. One being fictional – feature film(s) or a mini-series, and the other one, a non-fictional documentary (serial, surreal, both?). During my film and television studies at SCAD I further crystalized and externalized these concepts I’d been developing internally for many years. In my second year of the MFA program at the college, I wrote and directed a short thesis film titled *“Third Eye from the Sun” which I considered to be an introduction (proof of concept) to the fictional story of the Grand Providentia Projections. While earning the degree and being exposed to professional level talent in the film industry, I expanded my ambitions to include the possibility of inventing a uniquely ambiguous style of filmmaking – a style that invites the audience to discern where the boundaries lie between fact and fiction, the real and the surreal. Over the years, the GPP Initiative has metamorphosized into an artistic expression that now far exceeds the sum of its parts. Like the art of filmmaking, the Projections will employ a wide array of sensory stimulation in an attempt to captivate the minds and the hearts of an audience. This collaboration can be thought of as a modern age cultural hybrid that encompasses a broad spectrum of features gathered from the fields of contemporary arts and sciences. Artists in the film industry have been merging dreams and reality for more than a century now, and I’d venture to suggest that their work has manifested a large portion of what we perceive as our material reality today. For all of these reasons, I’m convinced that the art of film is the ideal vehicle to deliver the Grand Providentia Projections to the world.
*To watch “Third Eye from the Sun” navigate to the bottom of the ‘In Service of Humanity’ page on this site.
Projecting a Prosperous Future
I’ve lived this life in pursuit of a higher purpose. I meandered through the first three decades on a winding path searching for meaning and wondering whether there was such a thing as a higher purpose for me. I never gave up hope of finding higher purpose though, because of a promise I’d made to myself while growing up in a town called Hope that many of my friends had renamed “Hopeless”. Sometime during my thirties, it occurred to me that I could willfully create a higher purpose instead of searching for one; I could create it and claim it as my own. This sudden realization flooded my mind and spirit with a wealth of new understanding. Not only did it change the way I perceived the world, but it also changed the way I perceived myself in the world. In a moment, the path ahead seemed to straighten and level off, and although I was still physically me, facing all of the same physical issues that I’d been facing before this ‘flood of understanding’, it felt as though my spirit had flown home and settled into my body in preparation for the eventful journey ahead.
There’s one thing I’m sure of – the most basic connection between an individual and the material world they inhabit is a conscious connection. Our thoughts and actions, in combination with our deepest desires and intentions arrange and attract the appropriate energy to construct a world of circumstances and situations that makes sense to each of us, and this becomes our world view (outlook). Obsessive self-consciousness, as a world view, often leads to a life stunted by paranoia and anxiety, and poverty consciousness can eventually blind us to every form of abundance. Whether we’re consciously aware of it or not, we’re reinforcing our preferred outlook by reflexively choosing the path of least resistance or the road less traveled, so I think it makes sense to choose in awareness. It’s like a self-fulfilling prophesy; what you think is what you’ll become. In awareness, I’ve chosen to be an advocate for positive change in this world, and somewhere along the path I recognized that there was no drawing back or turning away from the higher purpose I’d created and claimed for myself so long ago.
Universal Potentiality
This comprehensive overview of the Grand Providentia Projections is the culmination of 20+ years of conscious intentions simmered down into a 30-minute pitch. Yes, it’s a project pitch. It may be non-traditional, but I’ve always preferred to create new traditions to pay homage to those who’ve created lasting traditions in the past. More than a year ago, when I graduated from SCAD, I decided to set my intentions on finding employment with one of the most celebrated film studios and themed entertainment producers in the world. My hopes are still high that NBCUniversal will bring me aboard as a creative team member in some capacity, but I would much rather go global with the GP Projections beneath the umbrella of their worldwide entertainment empire. NBCUniversal, this pitch is for you!
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!
I must admit, keeping this portal open requires far less energy than it took to open it. And before I could open it, I had to find it. I spent an enormous amount of time and energy out there searching for it – my ego monotonously insisting that it was there and then snidely insinuating that I probably wasn’t clever enough to locate it, let alone unlock it and move through it. I persistently disagreed and cleverly searched in all the places one might expect to find a portal. I searched in sanctuaries and cemeteries, in deep caverns and upon lofty mountain peaks. I studied books and looked where spooks and kooks were purported to congregate. On the way, strangeness became ordinary and commonplace places turned bizarre. A seemingly sound minded man with a dousing rod informed me that I’d created a positive vortex in my studio space. Ball lightning rattled the windows and doors each time the veil was over-thinned by my unadulterated desire. Signs and synchronicities were everywhere – all of them pointed somewhere but not a single one transported me anywhere. So, there I was, where I was, without a single portal to show for my efforts.
I’ve heard it said, when you least expect it, expect it, but in my searching, I was always expecting it, so when the portal opened, I almost overlooked it. I was sitting on a fallen oak atop yet another mountain peak, overlooking an icy gray valley below. The sun was just beginning to melt the frost on the leaf litter beneath my feet. It was Thanksgiving Day 2011, and I’d decided the night before to start the climb early enough so I could reach the summit before sunrise. The particular mountain I climbed wasn’t noteworthy, in truth I’m not sure if anyone ever bothered to give it a name. I secretly (and reverently) dubbed it Mount Epiphany in the months following the climb. On privately owned land, the peak was one of hundreds in the Asheville, NC area and one of thousands in the Appalachian range. For me, the climb wasn’t about the mountain, it was about regaining balance lost. An unanticipated divorce and the dissolution of our family unit following the financial crisis of 2008, had left me unmoored and adrift. Hoping to reset my internal compass, I’d driven from Port Charlotte to Ashville to visit my daughter for Thanksgiving. Victoria has always had a stabilizing effect on my personal perspective, but on the long drive north to see her, my mind kept returning to thoughts centered around the real reason for the trip. My intentions were set on calming the inner turmoil I’d been wrestling with and beyond that I’d begin charting a clear pathway moving forward.
On the mountaintop, the light of a new day arrived, filtering through low clouds on the horizon. I sat in stillness and practiced meditative breathing techniques. I focused my attention on the unfamiliar territory ahead and resisted the urge to look back on the painful events of the recent past. The only sounds were a few distant bird calls and the gentle breeze as it passed through the bare branched forest. As the moments passed and my loud thoughts faded to murmurs, a deep serenity washed over my weary spirit. In an instant perceived as timeless, I realized that I was one with everything and that everything was intricately connected to both my interior and exterior Self. For the first time in my life, I experienced undiluted joy on that mountaintop in Ashville. In absolute solitude, I’d uncovered an intimate connection with everything in existence and everything as yet unrealized. These words cannot express the fullness of the experience, so I’m left with the following description of the indescribable – It felt as though the purest white light of life was circulating through my mind and body with every breath I inhaled and released.
I’m still uncertain about the length of time that passed as I sat there, entranced by the ebb and flow of light as it coursed through my spirit, mind and body. What I am certain about is the fundamental change that took place within me during that time. The intensity of the experience brought on a steady flow of tears, but these weren’t tears of sorrow, regret or even relief, they were tears of joy and self-acceptance. On the mountaintop I came to the understanding that the enigmatic portal I’d been hoping to find out there had been inconspicuously opening in here all along. I know now that each one of us has a direct spiritual pathway to the Source of all that is or ever will be. Our conscious connection to the unfolded and enfolded universe also acts as an open portal to the collective consciousness of every sentient being on Earth. It takes courage and determination to venture inward and take an honest look at our motivations, our intentions and our true aspirations, but the perilous journey is well worth the life-affirming knowledge we gain for ourselves and subsequently pass along to the miraculous world we inhabit.
