A Matter of Balance

Why the name change from "A Matter of Balance" to Wade?
Peter originally named the structure A Matter of Balance because the structure not only represents the balance of a scale, but also the balance that humans must find between our need for food and the use of natural resources. The staff and students at IslandWood have nicknamed the structure Wade, giving a personal identity to the scale. Peter is aware of the name change and even likes that we have given his piece a name of our own.

What does Peter want students to think about when they use Wade?
Peter wants students to think about their role in contributing to the health of the earth when they use Wade. Students should be aware of the purpose of Wade, to raise awareness about the food we are throwing away on a daily basis, and to think about ways we can reduce the amount of food we waste. The structure itself serves as a reminder of our responsibility for the environment, with the earth at the base and the human figure forming the scale.

How was Wade made?
Peter started his design with a drawing before making a small model of the structure. The model allowed him to figure out the scale of the piece, make adjustments, and present his idea to IslandWood before beginning the finished piece.

The bucket labels and structural elements of the piece are made of stainless steel, cut using abrasive water technology. The buckets themselves are made of aluminum, spun from flat sheet material on a metal-spinning lathe. The globe is spun steel painted with sign painter's enamels. The three pound weights are steel while the one-pound, half-pound and quarter-pound weights are made of aluminum.

All of the metal surfaces were hand finished using a series of abrasive disks followed by hand burnishing with 3M Scotchbrite pads. To reduce fingerprinting, the stainless steel was then wiped with a light coating of mineral oil. The surfaces of the buckets were left uncoated as they are frequently cleaned