The Process
Highmoor Quarry - Tadcaster
Keith Ackerman choosing the stone with Bruce Davies for Jacob’s Ladder in the Magnesian limestone quarry. Book containing notes for the sculpture on the chosen stone.
Digger that the quarry workers used to move the stone into place for carving.
Stone being moved on the cutting table towards the band saw.
Base of stone being cut on the water-cooled diamond band saw
Base of stone being cut on the water-cooled diamond band saw
Base of stone being cut on the water-cooled diamond band saw
Stone (6 ¾ tonnes) standing on the newly cut base. Keith starting to mark out the position of the steps that he will carve onto the stone.
Two of the quarry workers, showing Keith and Bruce the 41/2 inch grinder and diamond cup wheel they use for cutting and finishing stone. It is decided to see if the project can get a loan of such equipment to use to carve Jacob’s Ladder.
Notebook Plans
Keith’s drawing showing the position of the steps. The profile of the edge of the steps is determined by the natural concavity of the stone.
Keith’s drawing showing the profile of the left hand side of the boulder (as seen from the front).
Keith’s drawing showing the working out as to how to optimise the use of the full depth of the stone. This will give the steps the maximum depth of tread that can be carved out of this boulder. The design is for 16 treads and 15 risers as there are in Jacob’s Ladder after Chillida which is the inspiration for this public sculpture commissioned by BasementArtsProject for Beeston.
Keith’s drawing of the right hand profile of the boulder with the steps carved into the stone.
Work Begins
Beginning to rough out the first step and to carve a channel which marks the front of the steps. This is done before carving the steps to ensure that the ladder is regular and emerges at the top of the boulder not part of the way up the boulder.
Showing the tools used by Keith to ensure that the channel is carved flat and at the correct angle.
The tools used by Keith used to ensure that the channel is carved flat and at the correct angle.
View down channel from the top of the sculpture.
View of channel from someone standing on the front of the boulder, which has been laid on its back, to make carving the steps easier.
John Barber who is helping to make Jacob’s Ladder by using the 4 ½ grinder to cut slots in the Magnesian limestone. The slots allow the stone to be removed quickly and is proving an effective way of roughing out this large sculpture.
Continuing to carve the channel marking the front edge (noses) of the steps.
Keith has found a powered tool (an air chisel) that he enjoys using and will enable the project to be completed within a reasonable time scale . The air chisel has been leant to the project by G Gibson & Co Ltd of Garforth. The air chisel is driven by an air compressor has been leant by Slung Low at The Holbeck
Good progress being made with the air chisel carving the channel.
Tungsten carbide rasp used to smooth the channel
Keith using the air chisel to widen out the channel to form a plane onto which the steps will be carved.
Slots cut by John with the grinder to enable rapid widening of the channel.
Progress widening the channel to create the plane. The sun goes down on another day’s work.
Progress widening the channel to create the plane.
Quarry face against a cold morning sky
Keith and John referring back to a photograph of Jacob’s Ladder after Chillida as the plane is developing well
Packing away at the end of the day showing the generator that has been leant to the project by Paul Warburton
Packing away at the end of the day showing the petrol can and the case of the 4 ½ inch grinder that have been leant to the project by Paul Warburton
Keith checking that the angle of the plane is correct using a protractor with a spirit level built into it.
Keith and John enjoying working in the quarry.
Keith flattening the plane with the air chisel.
Bruce having a go using the air chisel.
John using the diamond cup wheel to flatten the plane.
John clearing the plane as Keith uses the air chisel to widen it.
Keith and John using the set square and protractor with spirit level to check the angle and flatness of the plane.
Plane developing well.
Practicing, on a spare piece of Tadcaster Limestone, a method for cutting the steps:
· Using the grinder John cuts slots :
a. 10mm from tread to 25mm depth
b. 25mm from tread to 19mm depth
c. 40mm from tread to 15mm depth
d. 55mm from tread to 12mm depth
· Keith then air chisels out the stone.
method of measuring to ensure steps are carved at correct angle and depth.
Carving the first step using the air chisel only. This method is accurate but slow hence we devised the method above using both the grinder and air chisel, which is significantly quicker.
Beginning to rough out the first three steps. The second two steps using the slot and air chisel method. The lines further up the plane are the slots ready for the steps to be air chiselled out.
roughed out steps looking down the plane.
detail of previous image from another angle
Covid-19 Lockdown
2020 It was shortly after this point that things took an odd turn as the Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic took a hold of not just the UK but the world. Work on Jacob’s Ladder came to a halt, along with much of the rest of the world, as everybody was forced to leave their work and head indoors to isolate themselves against the disease.
In the office under pandemic guidelines holding a Zoom meeting with Keith Ackerman as we look at images of progress on Jacob’s Ladder and discuss new timelines and strategies for when we are finally able to resume work. #BasementFM Goldie: Timeless
The Overgrown site at Tunstall Road - late 2020
UNLOCKED Moving from quarry - site (Tunstall Road, Beeston) May 2021
Back to work
Beginning to dig the foundation I
Beginning to dig the foundation II
Dimensions of the foundation
Liverpool John Moores University BA Museum & Exhibition Studies group visit
Liverpool John Moores University BA Museum & Exhibition Studies group visit
Autumn Leaves