1Because of the sculpture’s large size and precise shape, Wiedl began by contracting with a local mill to cut from foam a perfect piece of the sphere – 1/24th, to be exact – via computer software. Using that first piece, Fast made three identical fiberglass products, then affixed them to one another, creating a product capable of producing a mold for one-eighth of the sphere.
2Using the mold, all eight pieces of the fiberglass sphere were made, then welded together into two halves, supported by an interior scaffolding built on site. A small door was cut in the sphere’s lower half for access in and out of Eye, and a circular iris was cut to be worked on separately.
3With a team buffing out imperfections on the main eyeball, Fast painter Kori Kowitz took charge of painting the iris, mixing colors and adding detail based on a blown-up photograph of Tasset’s eye.
4
Even before sanding and repair of the top half of the eyeball was completed, paint primer began on the lower half, preceded by an acetone wash. After primer came a pinkish-white hue to cover the white of the eye.
5Tasset, Kowitz and other painters added hundreds of red veins to the eyeball (Tasset likely worked his son’s name in somewhere, as he often does), while plans were made to cut the sphere into 17 pieces for the long commute to Chicago.
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Eye arrived from its 250-mile journey in multiple trailer loads over two days, the iris bringing up the rear on the third day after a trailer mishap en route. Upon its tardy arrival to Chicago, the iris was put in place and final buffing and painting ensued.
7
Days before its official unveiling, Wiedl’s crew continued to smooth seams and beautify veins. Eye will be covered for a night’s rest Tuesday, the eve of its unveiling.
