When we included my Eiffel Tower sculpture in the shipping container for our move to France last fall, I could not have imagined that this would come next:  preparing an installation for Extraschict 2014, a spectacular art event in Essen, Germany.

As one of the Art Surprise artists, I have been invited to exhibit at a one night spectacle of art, light, and music. Over 150,000 visitors are expected on site at Zeche Zollverein, a Unesco listed industrial site in northwest Germany, which is now a cultural hub.

The Tour d’Inquietude is to be installed in the Umformerhalle, a vast space filled with industrial generating equipment. At 6m (20′) high, the tour has an ominous tilt, and is encircled with ravens, thus fulfilling its role as a scarecrow structure.

I am assisted by the talented Jan Farrant, who has crafted lightweight steel coils to suspend the ravens, and is transporting all the elements to Germany.

Below are some photos of the process thus far. Will post images of the final installation.

A tilted tower, anxious ravens

Room for Art Surprise installation

Art Surprise installation in red building near entrance to site.

Overpainting the original Eiffel tower panels.

The original Eiffel Tower on Saltspring Island

Coat hangers re-purposed.

Add chicken wire, and black spray paint….and a ginky eye!

The master Jan Farrant coils 6mm rebar

Jan undertakes a test flight for the birds.

Conferring in the Pézenas garden

Steph & Sharon assist with final details