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Sarasota News Leader January 18, 2013 Page 67 VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY Although volunteers have come from all over the community, a sizable number are RCAD MEMBERS Although Dougherty is the artistic force behind the project, there is no way he could possibly construct the ambitious edifice on his own over the course of three weeks. Fortunately, more than 100 community members volunteered to help him. students who were recruited directly by the school. Vivian Bomblat and Miranda Thomas, who were threading branches on a raised platform on Jan. 11, told the News Leader they have really appreciated the experience. "My favorite part has been climbing down and stepping back and looking at it," Thomas said, Although all these volunteers are never on the adding she had not realized how long she had site at one time — they work in shifts of 15 been working without taking a break to note or so to prevent the area from becoming too the progress. "The time goes by really fast." crowded —Volunteer Coordinator Bob Ripley is constantly at Dougherty's side; he will stay The opportunity, they said, is somewhat unthere eight hours a day for the 17 days expect- usual. ed to complete the project. "I'm just grateful to have had the chance to "He's very easy to work with; he's very patient; work on this, really," Bomblat said, "because, he's very instructive," Ripley told the News as [RCAD] students, we don't really get to step Leader when asked about working with the off campus very often, for art purposes." sculptor. She added that she has become somewhat attached to the project: "It's like a baby that you As Dougherty's right-hand man, Ripley has get to see grow." become attuned to what needs to be done to complete much of the project. He says volun- Despite that sentiment, however, Bomblat teers catch on very quickly as well. said she is not concerned about the sculpture's eventual demise. "We all know it's going "A lot of these people, they've been on the site to decay," she said, "but as long as it's here, for more than one day or more than one shift, it's kind of special and it's good to know that so they in turn become mini instructors," he we were a part of something that was here." said. FULL SPEED AHEAD When it comes to more complicated parts of the project, Ripley added, Dougherty works If they want to see the SMOA break ground directly with the team to make sure proce- before Dougherty's sculpture is taken down, dures are completed properly. the museum's board members have to keep the momentum going. In light of that need, "It's not rocket science," Ripley said, "but it's they have plenty of other projects planned. … kind of fascinating, actually, as to how everything comes together. I mean you look at For example, in addition to inviting people to this pile of wood like this and say, 'How does witness the construction of the sculpture, the this become that?'" he continued. "Sweat. SMOA is calling for them to photograph the scene and submit the results to the "Sticks Sweat and his know-how."