Rocket Man is an idea I have had for a very long time.  Using a record player, sculpt a rocket that will fly around.  The original 1972 45rpm record is mounted on a black marble disk.  The turntable itself is, what I believe to be by the sticker inside, a 1947 Tele-tone direct drive turntable.  (Elton John co-incidentally enough was born in ’47).  I love direct drive vs. a belt.  Belts tend to break or slip or stretch.  With the added weight of the stone, direct drive is preferred but not always available.

The plan is to tie in an MP3 player, load Elton John’s Rocket Man onto it and then cut the headphone buds off and tie into the record players built in speaker. The idea is it plays the song as it rotates. I wanted a cheesy sci fi movie rocket, so I carved one out of stone and attached a wide plastic tip from a pen.  The rocket and the record are attached with a stainless steel rod.  I then sculpted in little windows for that classic Sci-Fi space ship look.

 I have used the idea for Gypsy, although I never did photograph with the turntable other than when it was set up at Leighton Art Centre. It was “sold” at that show, as my abstract Stevie Nicks form dancing in circles proved way too tempting for one little guy. I was able to reasonably repair Stevie and shipped it down to the family in Calgary. I did have that incident in mind and hopefully a little one’s hands couldn’t damage this one by grabbing it.

The sculpture can be displayed with the full turntable or can be shown as an independent sculptural piece separate from the record player.

 I added another element, the black marble base that the record sits on has some of the songs lyrics hand written into it.  When I hear the song, I can see the Rocket Man either writing in a diary or writing a letter to home.  So I wanted to write some of that letter or diary entry into the marble. What I wrote was… I miss the earth so much I miss wife, It’s lonely out in space. Oh no no no, I’m a rocket man.  Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone.

For those who have purchased my sculpture in the past , this is not my plan or future direction, this was simply creative fun.  I will do it again as it is a lot of fun creating these types of pieces.  I plan on submitting Rocket Man to The Alberta Ballet show to the music of Elton John playing in both Edmonton and Calgary.  I had made She’s Like the Wind specifically for a similar show and Time was also displayed.  I did get a second turntable this past week and if time allows, I will do another, but the Art of the Peace Symposium will now be my main focus, but if the creative urge strikes, I have to play.

Rocket Man gets a back stage pass

Rocket Man Launches to new heights!

To the untrained eye, this is my Rocket Man sculpture on a black stand with a black back drop. To those in the know… this is actually in Sir Elton John’s dressing room waiting, you see, Elton plays in Grande Prairie this Thursday night (April 26).

I have no expectations of any sort but I have left a black sharpie laying on the stand beside the sculpture, just in case.

I want to thank Cari at the Crystal Centre for the huge opportunity and also to the ASA for letting me ship it late and just under the wire for the Alberta Ballet shows.  Love Lies Bleeding is an entire ballet performed to the music of Elton John through May and June in Edmonton and Calgary.  Watch for the art show that will run in conjunction with the ballet.

Again, no expectations, but if there are any interesting pictures of either Elton’s signature on it or a picture with him and the sculpture, they will be posted.