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(lics O)ldchiurg sllgllg the rCope which h l I xniill iCed According to Oldenburg and Donald Lippincott, Stake Hitch is the most complex work on which the two have collaborated, since every production stage required an innovative solution. The sculptures subject necessitated using materials which suggested apparent strength but which were light relative to the scale. The crimson stake, for example, is intended to resemble steel but is fab- ricated of painted aluminum with a steel-reinforced, hol- low core. What appears to be a remarkable extension of rope consists in reality of three strands of flexible, 8" industrial ducting, woven together with 2" foam rubber rods glued to an outer surface which has been sprayed with fiberglass to create a fibrous effect. Because of its size and weight, the knot, itself, required a crew of ten men to tie it. Afterwards, a urethane foam that expands before solidifying was injected in both the rope and the knot at two-foot intervals to provide a taut, inner strength. To complete the illustion of hemp, Oldenburg then hand painted the rope, using several colors to achieve a weathered look.
Scalfolding \an c erected in the barrel Vault in order to lower the stake head through the knot and to attach the rope to both the knot and the ceiling.
