Snow Catcher Arch
Snow Catcher Arch was installed at Red Deer College, in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada in 2010. The project occurred in 2 phases. The first phase was to assemble and carve 1500 wet clay brick obtained from a brick factory in Abbotsford, British Columbia. The arch was assembled in 3 parts; two tapering columns and the arch itself. Once the bricks had been stacked into the appropriate shape and size, the bricks were faceted with sharp steel palette knives. An iron oxide wash was applied to the surface and the cut and carved brick were left to set for a number of days. When the bricks were stiff enough to handle without distorting the edges, the columns and arch were disassembled for the drying period. Each brick was incised with a number as the bricks came off, and a map of the brick layers were recorded to assist in re-assembly.
- 2010
- Red Deer, Alberta
- 8' Wide x 2' Deep x 9.5' High
Once dry, the bricks were fired in an atmospheric reduction kiln. A foundation slab was poured with rebar reinforcing throughout and elevated rebar stubs to tie the columns and arch together and to the slab. The arch was then re-assembled working with the numbered brick and the recorded map drawing. Snow Catcher Arch was designed with the winter season in Alberta in mind, and collect snowfall on it’s layered edges, creating an additional surface, color and texture.