In The Studio and On The Set of "The Steps" with John McLeod

View through the window of John McLeod's sculpture studio

Pentax K200D, 28-80 mm FAJ AL, 0.3 seconds, f/5.6, ISO 1600.

by John O'Keefe-Odom

AgXphoto.info

While snapping some stills for director Dylan Kussman, I had a chance to catch up with John McLeod, one of Chattanooga's most dynamic sculptors, in his Red Bank studio.

Nestled in a quiet suburban neighborhood, behind a red house with a wooded yard and a swing on a large hardwood tree, McLeod has been cutting stone and welding steel to build a ten foot tall triptych sculpture.

There are clear echoes of the human form in McLeod's latest piece, but we won't give away the answer. An overview of his collected works shows an influence of classical figure, and themes of birth and death in his forms.

McLeod is the kind of sculptor who develops a concept, and can carry it out with structural soundness and merit.

One of his works is displayed on Main Street, as a part of Public Art Chattanooga.

This, his most recent project, has been funded through a generous fine arts grant by the good people at CreateHere, one of Chattanooga's leading arts organizations.

We found McLeod working with Tim Cofield and Dylan Kussman on their web series movie project, The Steps. John McLeod has acted in several speaking roles in the dramatic series; The Steps has also received a production grant from CreateHere.

Cofield and Kussman have been recording the next season of The Steps right here in Chattanooga. It features amazing locations and local actors.

It's obvious: Dylan Kussman's decades of experience as a working, Hollywood actor add impact, power and polish to the production. Some of John McLeod's acting has already been published in previous webisodes.

Webisodes are short videos published on the Internet. They're solidly constructed dramatic performances that are as good as anything on television, and better than most.

Check out the website for The Steps at followthesteps.net. You can see more of McLeod's sculptures at johnmcleod.net.

Detail of McLeod cutting parts with a torch.

Pentax K200D, 28-80mm FAJ, 1/30, f/5.6, ISO 1600

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