The GIANT Circus Peanut is finished. It’s installed on Mount Royal Avenue in Baltimore, by MICA, and will be on display through November as part of the Here, There, Anywhere exhibit. This is the “making of” post. I had some help and thank the following peeps.
- My friends who lent their ears, ideas and support. I promise to stop talking about circus peanuts soon. Very soon. I swear.
- Kim Domanski and ArtScape 2010
- RJ spent a hot afternoon in the July sun moving it.
- My Dawn gave me gallons of painting advice and spent a full day applying Spackle. She made sure it kicks ass.
- My little peanuts helped paint it, and provided a lot of company, interest and opinions.
My initial thought was to use a metal pipe in the center, and build an armature from chicken wire that I could then “paper mache” with house wrap, Baltimore City Papers and the like. My concern was that I’d have to shred the house wrap into slices so thin that it would take weeks to get it smooth, and also that it would be too heavy.
Here’s what I ended up doing instead.
I made a template by piecing together paper into an 8′ x 4′ sheet. I cut out the shape of the peanut and taped the edges with packing tape.
I made the base of the peanut from 2×8′s, held together with decking screws.
I put half-inch PVC pipe in the base for support – very light, and very strong. And, as a bonus, I put some actual circus peanuts into the pipe before gluing the pieces together.
I was going to have three pairs of pipe support, but it was too much, so I removed the center section.
Once the base was assembled, I cut out the “slices” from sections of Owens Corning foam insulation. I used vinyl gutter downspout sections as spacers, held in place with heavy duty foam safe construction adhesive. The bottom vinyl spacer is screwed and glued to the base, and then glued to each section of foam. It ended up being very sturdy.
The original idea was to sculpt the sides to be somewhat rounded, but it proved too difficult to accomplish (well) in the time I had left, so I removed them. I used bamboo skewers as supports between the layers. They are cheap, strong and I needed something to hold the foam spray in place until it hardened.
I’ve used this foam in my home before – it was satisfying playing with it here. Once it cured, I carved the exterior shape, and the divots on the face.
Dawn did most of the spackling and made it look awesome.
I’m pretty sure it weighs over 300 lbs – it was difficult to move and harder to install. :) Just ask RJ.
Please come to ArtScape and see it in person!
Words cannot describe how awesome this is. I’m impressed, dude. Well done.
Great work Mr. Peanut. For the record, I do not like them… in a box or with a fox. But they make a great sculpture!
Mrs. Peanut – I can’t thank you enough for putting up with this and for your help/advice.
Scott – thanks dude! Coming to ArtScape???
that peanut was hella heavy! lol
but this huge piece is absolutely awesome.
“i love your peanut!” =)
Jim….you never cease to amaze me!!! Your creativity knows no bounds!!!
Wow! That is an amazing circus peanut! I’ve always felt that they look so much better than they taste. I hope no one takes a bite of it.
Hi Jim! WOW! What a project!!! Very interesting and cool.
I know I’ve eaten these as a kind, but that was like 50 years ago and I don’t remember. Terrible–I can’t vote until I find some and try them again.
oops, that should say as a KID, sorry
I’ve been thinking about it and I think that I liked these, as a kid. But I will try to find them and taste them.
Those are some really cute kids! :-D
What an ace sculpture – I’m very impressed (and more than a little hungry).
holy. giant. circus. peanut batman!!! love the layering, great solution. excellent, impressive, and may i have your autograph please?
Yes, we’ll be there. When are you going to be? Lets get a lemon-aide.
Wow!!! If you can do that, you can do ANYTHING!!!!Mr. and Mrs. Peanut you are a great team, and an inspiration to peanuts everywhere. Thanks for thinking up such cool stuff and then DOING it.
Love ya,
Sharon
PS we bought a bag of circus peanuts in honor of you, and wanted to make some small scale creations…but I have an adolescent monster trapped in my house, so that thought ended quickly…who knew they were actually edible..are they?
Very cool, I feel my teeth reacting to all the sugar rush I’d have eating that Circus Peanut……….rt
RT, I don’t think it tastes very good – although, there ARE some real circus peanuts in the PVC pipe supports. You know, just for good measure.
I thought I smelled actual circus peanuts… but it could just be this thing’s overwhelming psychic presence. Freaking brilliant engineering and orangey absurdity. It’s gorgeous.
@chas – nice tire swing.
Nice work buddy!
I would bet the chemical components of PVC/Insulation-Foam are quite similar to actual circus peanuts.
BTW, a donor who shall remain anonymous gave me a bag of them. I’ll take your survey after a careful taste test.
This is great fun. Great as in “big,” as in “wonderful,” as in “worthy of fame.” Every definition of great! As a family & friends effort too, it’s even more special :-)
Hmm, as I stare at its huge sweetness… I have the gnawing urge to add 3 or 4 giant ants… opaque black tights, stuffed with styrofoam-ball head & thorax. Nerf football = marquis-shaped abdomen. Tie off bug segments, then add 1/4-inch thick copper wire legs, sprayed black. I could have strapped them on to cling invisibly, using 10 lb. fishing line… under cover of night, for surprise & anonymity…
Best part: I live so far away, you’d have never suspected me, blaming Peggy or Chas instead. HA!
Saw it in person yesterday. Em was impressed too.
@hennie HA! Actually, you need not bother. We’ve had a roaster of a drought for the past three weeks or so, and the ants are all over EVERYTHING.
Once the peanut was in place, I noticed that a lot of them came along for the installation from our yard. There was a steady line a marching ants on the base to the peanut all weekend.
It added a lot.
@scott – sorry we missed you guys. We got a late start on Saturday.
Hey,
FWIW I know someone who says the BEST brand of circus peanut is Here’s Howe. I never knew there was a difference…Maybe we should conduct a blind taste test.
@Q – I suspect there are slight differences in taste from brand to brand, just like different brands of nail polish remover taste slightly different. Or insect repellent. Or oven cleaner. Or bleach.
However, I may have to pass the torch to another (hint hint) – I was merely interested in gauging the popularity. Perhaps someone else would like to contribute to http://orangenuts.com/?
AMAZING work!!! As for me, I don’t like circus peanuts one bit – but I sure love your sculpture!! Good job, Jim and clan. :-)
Thanks, Mae!
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I am in awe of the magnificence of the Humongous Circus Peanut. I am saddened that i missed the opportunity to see it in all its glory. I’m afraid to ask, but does it still exist in some Circus Peanut Hall of Fame somewhere?
Thank you, Linda. Currently, it’s in my yard. :)
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How bittersweet coming across your magnificent creation. Each year on the anniversary of my mother’s death ( she lived to be 92 because she took circus peanuts every day – just like she would take any of her RX medicines), I google images of the circus peanut in memory of my mother. They (circus peanuts) were like “gold” to her – so much so that she would hide them under the cushion of the couch she sat on – along with her little pair of scissors, cat nail clippers, coupons, peppermint patties and occasionally peanut brittle and ribbon candy if her dentures were secure. Every once in a while when I went to visit her unannounced, she would greet me with a controlled smile trying to conceal her bulging cheeks filled with circus peanuts. Those circus peanuts brought her so much delight. I’m sure there is a giant glowing circus peanut in her hand in heaven right now- the highest honor that could be bestowed on a circus peanut. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Jim for your wonderful contribution. I’m sure my mother was right over your shoulder guiding you throughout the whole process. God Bless You!
Thank you, Sue!