"I discovered an interest in steel sculpture in the early 1990's, while watching the construction of the steel support structure for the University of Virginia Hospital; the process of joining I beams together fascinated me. So I took a course at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Center (CATEC) which taught the fundamentals of welding, utilizing oxygen and acetylene, arc, tig and mig welders. For my final grade, I built a stick figure of a man doing a tango-like dance, using rebar. It was so exciting to finish this piece that I bought the necessities to continue on my own. Now I have a studio, AC and AC/DC arc welders, and other cutting and grinding equipment.

In December 1998 the Charlottesville, VA Daily Progress newspaper included an article outlining my work in sculpture. In February 2001 my piece Hip Biomechanics was shown in an exhibition sponsored by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery in San Francisco. In April ³Hip Biomechanics² was shown in a similar exhibition in Washington, DC.

The Biker was inspired by my competing in several near by mini-triathlons and originally completed in 1997. After display at two local businesses I modified it by smoothing uneven surfaces with epoxy. It then spent over a year at the Ivy Nursery. In preparation for display in the Art-In-Place exhibition a friend who does autobody repair and with whom I have collaborated on other projects, Herman Johnson, repainted it. It is meant to show a cyclist making a banking turn."

Richard Whitehill, MD
Red Barn Studio
Charlottesville, Va.