Around the World Alone

(back view)

"Around The World Alone"

An art exhibit in San Francisco a few years ago featured the work of an amazing collage artist. The works were on 20 x 20" canvases, each piece in the series contained anywhere from 10 to 20 small collages created directly on the canvas, creating many small vignettes within each canvas.  The artist used layers of papers and medium and color to create depth and dimension.

Much to my chagrin, and my biggest regret, is that I did not note the name of the artist, for reference or credit. The work was exquisite.

When I got back into the studio from that trip, I wanted to try my hand at making something in this 'vignette' style of work.  However, because I work primarily in 3-D, I also wanted to add 3 dimensional objects.

The first piece I made in this style, was in 2011, and you can see it here.  Last week, I finished this one, my second.

I started with a 'box sign' exactly like this one, found at the flea market. Although I rather liked the "You are the cheese to my macaroni" quote on the back, I was pretty sure  this was not how this piece was going to end up.

The wooden box is 15" x 6". I covered it on the back side and on the inside with bits of tissues, magazine images, maps, and text. Each 2"x2" square block is individually covered with magazine images, vintage sheet music, maps, etc., then embellished with a treasured memento, or a special keepsake. Each one creates a tiny vignette, telling a story of a time spent with friends, a trip to far away places, or a long lost love.

The inspiration behind this piece is the memories and meanings held by the things often thrown away.

Parts of Me Are Everywhere . . .

"Parts of Me Are Everywhere"●
Last year, I participated in the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)  Book Show.
Although I often use book text in my art work, I don't often work in 'book arts', per se.
The piece submitted last year to the MOCA Book Show titled "Altered Alice,  started out as a vintage, tattered copy of the children's classic  "Alice In Wonderland".  I was pleased with the finished piece, that was sold off at auction, along with the works of other artists who created art pieces specifically for this annual event.

* * *

This piece is my latest attempt at creating an assemblage using a book focus. Along with the folded pages of a book, I incorporated the arms and legs of a porcelain doll onto a wooden box that formally held a bottle of whiskey. The face, albeit, a bit broken, seems strong, expressive.

BACK STORY:
When I started the piece, all I was thinking about was that I needed a smallish book with lots of text and no images.  So I selected a book with a green cover from my 'stash'.

After the piece was finished I googled the title of the book I had selected "Ascended Master Saint Germain" just to see what was what . . . and OH MY! . . . an interesting juxtapose . . . don't you think?

Home - A Soft Place to Land

 

"Home - A Soft Place To Land" ●

I came a cross this sweet, bird house at an estate sale a few months ago during our winter months. I remember, it was rainy and gloomy outside, and there was not much going on in terms of garage sales.

When I saw the plain white bird house, I thought of Spring, and birds and things that are green . . .  and I longed for the rainy season to pass. I thought, as soon as Spring time came, I would want to work on something Spring'ish.

To start this piece, I covered the outside of the bird house with bird images from a 'bird' encyclopedia. To embellish, I added a door plate, a vintage skeleton key, a brass plaque from Meadowood, Napa Valley, and bicycle chain.  A silvery seagull at the very top is mobile. Oh, yes, I almost forgot to mention the copper flashing I used on the roof.

The piece is ready to be wall hung or placed on a shelf.

Sign of The Cross . . .

My original intention was to finish 10 crucifixes for this series, but time got away from me, I finished 7.
The first 3 are posted here and here.
     Here are the final 4. Enjoy!

"Patron Saint"

A Patron Saint  is regarded as the advocate in heaven of a person, place or family.  
Patron Spirits is the company that makes the 'ultra-premium tequila'.
   To some, these are one in the same.
   A cross form is embellished with a sun face, arms and legs are made of dinner knife blades and the body is made of 3 wooden blocks covered in papers and the label off a Patron Tequila bottle. (6"x10") 
Tongue in check

***

"The Life of the Mysterious Mr. B"

"The Life of the Mysterious Mr. B"   A carpenter's level is cut and fashioned into a cross form and embellished with various objects to aid in balancing daily activities.

Carpenter's level, miscellaneous found objects include a vintage bottle opener, a metal "bib and brace" buckle, as well as a clock gear and some bling. (6"x8") Fun and whimsical.

***

"A Monumental Task"

"A Monumental Task" ●
Some days, the realities of what is good and what is bad seem overwhelming, don't they? Climate change/global warming, global financial crisis, world hunger, human rights abuses, nuclear weapons, unrest in the middle-East, natural disasters . . . the list goes on and on.
   So much of it is about one's own perspective and attitude.  But so much more of it is beyond anyone's control.  A monumental task, indeed.
   An over-sized hand-made wooden cross, made from the wood from a broken vintage clock box, covered in text from a vintage volume of the old testament, a flea market find. The text is in both Spanish and English, side by side. A smallish-Christ figure appears to be up for the task. (8'x16")

***

"The Lord of the Skies"

I just read this online:
     Amado Carrillo (1956-1997) became known as "El Señor de Los Cielos" (Lord of the Skies) because of the large fleet of jets he used to transport drugs. He was also known for laundering over $20 million via Columbia to finance his huge fleet of planes. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration described Carrillo as the most powerful drug trafficker of his era.  
   This is not the reason I chose this as the title for this piece. . . In this case: first I found the small metal airplane (a flea market find), then the 2 wooden crosses (from my stash), one slightly smaller than the other, and the title was automatic.         Coincidence?    Perhaps.
   Two small wooden crosses, the slightly larger one is painted burnt orange, smaller one is painted black and covered on the front with yellow reflective safety tape. A toy metal airplane is mounted on top. A tiny "one-way" sign, pointing the other way, is attached at the foot of the cross.  (5"x7")