Creativity Abounds in Friendly Concrete Competition

Freedom from the Shackles Daniel Watson of Southbound Designs Yakima, Washington
Freedom from the Shackles
Daniel Watson of Southbound Designs
Yakima, Washington
Birth of Creativity Josh Thiel of Thiel Studios West Palm Beach, Florida
Birth of Creativity
Josh Thiel of Thiel Studios
West Palm Beach, Florida

It’s not a secret that Buddy Rhodes built his concrete career as an artist who wanted to be able to use concrete and concrete-related materials in artistic ways. Buddy approached concrete as a ceramist who wanted a way to meld the warmth and earthy handmade quality of pottery with the strength, versatility and architectural applicability of concrete. He found a way to do that and more.

Art Is Not a Thing, It Is a Way Yolanda Ramirez Aguirre Esquer of Touvlo Mesa, Arizona
Art Is Not a Thing, It Is a Way
Yolanda Ramirez Aguirre Esquer of Touvlo
Mesa, Arizona
White Bowl Marek Anthony of Blue Star 88 Design Dallas, Texas
White Bowl
Marek Anthony of Blue Star 88 Design
Dallas, Texas

A recent blog post on BuddyRhodes.com talked about wanting to make bigger, better objects. But because they strive to do the unexpected, they put forth a challenge to see what artists could do to make smaller objects instead.

Concrete Sunglasses and Carrying Case Jimmy Hazel of Clastic Designs Sparks, Nevada
Concrete Sunglasses and Carrying Case
Jimmy Hazel of Clastic Designs
Sparks, Nevada
 Concrete Chain Brian Maloy of Fusoform Custom Concrete Birmingham, Alabama
Concrete Chain
Brian Maloy of Fusoform Custom Concrete
Birmingham, Alabama

To that end, several artisans around the country were sent a bucket of 10# Artisan Concrete Mix along with the freedom to turn it into whatever they wanted. Their only limitation was that they could use no more mix than what was in the bucket. The objects would be judged and voted on by people from the Haven Conference, and the winner would win a free ride to EPIC, Blue Concrete’s three-day gathering to learn about and share the possibilities of artisan concrete. The Haven Conference is a gathering of a community of bloggers and creative home DIYers that was held July 10-12, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Handcrafted Bowl Andy McDaniel of BDWG Boone, North Carolina
Handcrafted Bowl
Andy McDaniel of BDWG
Boone, North Carolina
Carved Concrete Pedestal Jack Smithson of Cathedral Liquid Stoneworks Cornville, Arizona
Carved Concrete Pedestal
Jack Smithson of Cathedral Liquid Stoneworks
Cornville, Arizona

The objects that the artisans came up with are fresh and beautiful. The only common denominator was that they were all made of concrete. Beyond that, their form, function and meaning greatly varied. The third place, second place and grand prize winner are at the end. Scroll through to see all of these objects that defy the conventional wisdom of what can be done with concrete.

Concrete Candleholders James McGregor of McGregor Designs Roberts, Montana
Concrete Candleholders
James McGregor of McGregor Designs
Roberts, Montana
Concrete Light Brandon Browning of Modern Edge Concrete Jackson, Tennessee
Concrete Light
Brandon Browning of Modern Edge Concrete
Jackson, Tennessee

 

Landscape on Canvas Beth Johnson of Boulder Creations Loganville, Georgia
Landscape on Canvas
Beth Johnson of Boulder Creations
Loganville, Georgia
Lifecasting Jake Brady of Jake Brady Concrete by Design Sarasota, Florida
Lifecasting
Jake Brady of Jake Brady Concrete by Design
Sarasota, Florida

 


FIRST PLACE Amplif-i Concrete iPhone Dock Jonathan Haywood of Epic Artisan Concrete St Petersburg, Florida The Amplif-i Concrete iPhone dock uses natural acoustic amplification for all generations of iPhone.
First Place: Amplif-i Concrete iPhone Dock
Jonathan Haywood of Epic Artisan Concrete
St Petersburg, FloridaThe Amplif-i Concrete iPhone dock uses natural acoustic amplification for all generations of iPhone.
SECOND PLACE Concrete Pendant Jason Pledger of Forever Design Springdale, Arizona
Seconnd Place: Concrete Pendant
Jason Pledger of Forever Design
Springdale, Arizona
THIRD PLACE Carved Skull Brian Cockrell of Greyscape Studio Boulder, Colorado
Third Place: Carved Skull
Brian Cockrell of Greyscape Studio
Boulder, Colorado

Got more questions about your project?

  • Drop files here or
    Accepted file types: jpeg, jpg, gif, png, pdf, Max. file size: 50 MB.
      Allowed formats: jpeg, jpg, gif, png, pdf
    • How would you like us to respond?

    • Note: Some questions will be published anonymously with their answers at the end of this story to share with other readers.