Concocting and constructing Forrest Dwellers
By Susan Farrington
Herald Correspondent
(reproduced and reformated for internet from the Wed, July 13, 2005 edition of the Sanford Herald with permission of the author FCG)

FEARRINGTON VILLAGE -On property that's slightly over an acre, Forrest Greenslade has established four worksite locations and a long linear garden that stretches between two streets. This enterprising sculptor makes a large number of garden pieces, most often with abase of cedar wood, which is chains awed to fashion a basic shape. Because of the mess it makes, this initial work is done out-doors. 

"Although finding what 1 need is sometimes difficult, I use cedar because it holds up despite weather conditions," says Greenslade. "Once this first stage has been completed, I carry the carved wood into my garage workshop and nail chicken wire to its shape. This allows for a strong bond between cement and wood, which gives integrity to the final work."

In the third work space, an attached potting shed, Greenslade forms a mixture of cement, peat moss, acrylic fortifier and water. When well-mixed, it assumes a rough, clay-like texture that is applied to the object. "It's another messy job, because you must push the mixture onto the chicken wire and sculpt it with your fingers while it's wet," he explains.

After "curing" for several hours, the piece is ready for detail carving. "This is very high tech stuff," says Greenslade. "My tool is a chopstick that's been ground to a fine point in a pencil sharpener." Then a surface patina, which can be bronze, pewter or acrylic colors, is added. For this final step, Greenslade usually works in a large upstairs studio over the garage, unless the sculpture is too heavy to carry up a flight of steps. 

After these processes the finished work requires almost a month to cure. During this period, a chemical reaction known as hydration takes place, producing in the end a rocklike composite. "Each comes with a lifetime guarantee," says Greenslade. "But the small print explains this is my lifetime, and I'm an old guy."

A different method of sculpting involves shaping a body out of numerous plastic bags stuffed inside another bag, then wrapped in a chicken wire armature. "I have people all over saving plastic bags for me. Turning trash into art is the ultimate in recycling," says Greenslade. Once the creature he envisions has emerged, the same mixture of cement, peat moss, acrylic fortifier and water is added and shaped with his fingers. 

Greenslade follows a similar process for wall or tree hangings, which begin life as a paperr plate or an old tool, and also for giant rocks that are too heavy to move. Often these have to be done on site for clients.

"I have the same goal for everything I make," he says. "1 want to create objects that have personalties. Want them to express an attitude or emotion that's instantly recognizable, even if offbeat.

"Generally I'm happiest when I'm working, so l decided to try something new after studying clay sculpting at Arts Incubator in Siler City." He's calling his newest venture, a series of small clay birds covered with a metal patina, Auudubon Impressions." With these, as with everything he makes, accuracy is never an objective. I want to create objects that are stylized ...in this case ones that suggest what Audubon saw."

Greenslade's fascination with John James Audubon dates from the time he was working on his Ph.D. at Tulane University in New Orleans. 'As a biology major, I had access to elephant folios containing Audubon's original woodblock prints. It was a fantastic opportunity that is doubtless no longer available."

Happy with his successful foray into home and garden sculpting, Greenslade is now concentrating all his energies into this late-in-life, immensely satisfying pastime. "I can't tell you what it means to join this year's Studio Tour, for which I'm constantly working to add new items." Large outdoor pieces, which are displayed in different settings on his property to give people ideas on how to use sculpture in their own gardens, range in price from $200 to $500. Greenslade also presents a line of "Magnetic Personalities" with faux animal faces, refrigerator magnets of plastic, chicken wire and concrete that sell for $7.50 each. He believes in offering some-
thing affordable for everyone, who's interested in Forrest Dwellers.

Read Susan Farrington's Sculptor creates capricious characters