Chauncey gets superhero look

Chauncey is about to go superhero on us.

Teaching associate and sculptor Logan Woodle has been busy sculpting a 17-inch Chauncey from classic clay. The “mini-Chauncey” is in a boxer’s stance with his two clenched fists ready for attack and an angry looking face. By now, you might be wondering – do chickens have fists and faces?

This one does. He is the model for the larger, 7-foot Chauncey that will be cast in bronze and placed in front of the new baseball/softball complex, which should open in formal fashion in February 2015.

“We took our standard Chauncey and put him on a diet,” says Woodle of the trim, muscled Chauncey who has almost human qualities.

The bronze mascot project has been a collaboration that began with Arne Flaten, chair of the Department of Visual Arts, who had the idea to build a kiln and cast the bronze piece in-house rather than paying thousands of dollars to commission a scuptor to create the giant Chauncey.

“We talked a lot about what we wanted it to feel like,” says Woodle, who teaches sculpting classes and who is excited to be spearheading the construction of an outdoor kiln for sculpting projects. The kiln will be in the exterior courtyard of the Edwards building.

“Coastal is a really extraordinary place in that it has been 100 percent supportive,” says Woodle, referring to the purchase of costly kiln equipment. “Instead of commissioning this piece, doing it ourselves will benefit the whole program. It will be a great investment for future student sculptors.”