A Consortium Approach
Executing monumental public art requires a synthesis of highly specialized disciplines. Our studio operates as a consortium, bringing together master-level expertise in heavy timber logistics, fine art detailing, and executive project management. This structure ensures that every phase of a large-scale architectural commission is executed with precision, safety, and uncompromising quality.
Frank Dunn | Managing Partner & Co-Lead Sculptor
Bridging the divide between fine art and structural execution, Frank directs the studio’s large-scale commissions. Holding a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and bringing extensive executive experience as the President of Audacious Investments Corp, he applies a rigorous corporate framework to the creation of monumental art. Frank ensures that complex timelines, multi-artist coordination, and architectural safety standards are seamlessly integrated from the initial conceptual rendering to final installation. With dedicated time and comprehensive operational resources, his project management guarantees the gallery-quality standards of the partnership are maintained at any scale.
Bud Smith | Principal Sculptor & Master Carver
Holding a doctorate and possessing over 40 years of experience shaping raw timber, Bud anchors the studio’s fine art execution and traditional carving methodologies. As a highly sought-after master carver, he continues to lead select, exclusive workshops at the prestigious John C. Campbell Folk School. Outside of these rare instructional engagements, his primary focus and expertise are devoted to the studio’s monumental commissions. His deep academic and practical understanding of wood grain topography ensures unmatched structural and aesthetic integrity. Specializing in the capture of kinetic energy and organic realism, his four decades of mastery guarantee that our high-tonnage public installations retain the lifelike, intimate detail of a master-level gallery piece.
Louie | Heavy Timber & Scale Specialist
The foundation of any monumental installation relies on the safe and exact handling of raw mass. Operating as a full-time, dedicated professional in heavy timber logistics, Louie leads the studio’s initial spatial blocking. Working with salvaged native timber—including our studio’s extensive inventory of Great Smoky Mountains wood repurposed from Hurricane Helene—his expertise lies in aggressive stock removal, engineered weight reduction, and structural balancing. His capability to safely wrangle massive, multi-ton raw timber, while hollowing and reducing it to meet strict architectural load limits, establishes the essential structural core, allowing the detail carvers a stable, perfectly proportioned canvas on an accelerated timeline.
Our Commission Methodology
Bridging fine art with architectural project management.
Executing monumental public art requires more than a creative vision—it demands rigorous project management, structural foresight, and seamless integration with commercial construction schedules. Our studio approaches large-scale commissions through a highly structured, executive framework designed to mitigate risk and guarantee delivery on time and on budget.
Sustainable Heritage: The Helene Recovery Timber Monumental art should reflect the character and resilience of its environment. Following the recent devastation of Hurricane Helene, our studio actively secured and stored a massive inventory of salvaged timber directly from the Great Smoky Mountains. By repurposing these fallen giants, our monumental commissions do not simply occupy architectural spaces—they are physically forged from the living history, enduring strength, and natural heritage of our local landscape. This commitment to sustainable, hyper-local material sourcing is central to our architectural ethos.
Dedicated Studio Capacity & Executive Focus Monumental commissions cannot be executed in the margins of a part-time schedule. Our consortium operates with fully dedicated, uncompromised bandwidth. Unlike studios constrained by academic calendars or secondary commitments, our core team devotes full-time focus to large-scale execution. Backed by corporate administrative infrastructure, we guarantee that the hours, energy, and personnel required for monumental architecture are permanently secured for the lifecycle of the project.
1. Architectural Alignment & Pre-Construction Every major commission begins with a comprehensive structural alignment phase. We conduct rigorous kickoff meetings to integrate our sculptural timeline with the master schedules of general contractors and site architects. This phase ensures that load-bearing limits, site safety, and spatial flow are permanently baked into the conceptual design. By strategically designing ground-supported primary structures, we effectively bypass overhead weight restrictions, ensuring that any suspended kinetic elements strictly adhere to commercial ceiling rigging limits.
2. Consortium Pipeline Management To handle the complexities of monumental scale, the studio utilizes a specialized production pipeline managed by Frank Dunn. Rather than a single artist attempting to manage heavy logistics and fine detailing simultaneously, the work is strictly sequenced. Massive stock reduction and heavy-timber structural blocking are executed first, followed by the master-level fine detailing. This executive oversight ensures that each phase is handled by the discipline’s dedicated master, maximizing efficiency and structural safety.
3. Milestone Transparency We believe commercial clients and public committees should never be left in the dark during the carving and refinement process. Our project management framework includes scheduled milestone check-ins, allowing stakeholders to review the physical progression from raw timber to the final, high-fidelity architectural installation.