"Come To The Edge"

"Come To The Edge"   ●

    I absolutely love this quote, which is widely attributed to Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918), a French poet / writer of Italian birth and Polish descent, was hugely influential as a Modernist poet and as a spokesman for the Cubist painters.

"Come to the edge he said. 

They said, we are afraid. 

Come to the edge he said. 

They came. 

He pushed them, and they flew." 

   I have made two other pieces using this quote, and I think many other people really like it too, because I continue to have more requests for it in my art.
   This scrabble tile art piece is constructed inside a wooden frame, covered in various tissues. The tiles are placed atop a cut portion of the lid of a wine box fitted inside the frame.  Six inches of vintage wooden yardstick finish the piece.  A colorful Mexican parrot, and a small brass bell, calls you to 'the edge'.
   One thing I have not been able to figure out about this quote is: What was Apollinaire referring to when he wrote this.
Do you know?  Share with me if you do.

"Stages"

"Stages"  ●

This piece was commissioned by Kim from Virginia, who saw my work on this blog and wanted to surprise her best friend Paula who lives in Massachusetts with a piece of scrabble art for her birthday. Over the phone, Kim told me that she and Paula had been friends since they were young girls, and.now with families of their own, and living in different states, they don't see each other as often as they would like. She asked if I would create a scrabble art piece with a sentiment that expressed her appreciation for her life-long friendship with Paula.

Kim provided the quote, which is attributed to Jane Coltrane by some sources and to Anonymous by others.

“Everyone has a best friend during each stage of life. 

Only a precious few have the same one for all stages of life.”

She left the rest up to me. This is what I came up with. I shipped off the finished piece to Paula last week, she will have received it by now. . . . I do hope she loves it.

 

 Wooden tray holds scrabble tiles spelling out the quote. A metal picture frame was cut to make the corner embellishments and 3 heart cookie cutters finish the piece. The back is collaged with a vintage map of Australia (just because it looked good) and overlaid with McCall's pattern tissue.  Ready to hang.

It's Still Life . . . .

I am thrilled to let everyone know that one of my photographs will be featured
in Seth Apter's blog, The Altered Page next Sunday,

August 5th as part of his series ‘It’s Still Life’.

Do check it out!

"More Than Words"

 

"More Than Words" ●

This piece began with a 'mannequin' head, the kind used by cosmetology school students to 'practice' cutting/styling hair and or applying make-up.  First, I cut the hair, then shaved the head smooth.

Initially, I was taken by the lack of expression on the face of the mannequin. However, when when I started layering it with vintage text, it began to take on a persona all it's own, really. 

When I started working on this piece I was not sure where it was going. The text came from a 1926 volume of the 'Book of Knowledge" destined for the dumpster.  The tissue-like texture of the pages was easy to work with, the paper clung to the mannequin head without a fuss.

Initially I was only going to use pages of text from the book to cover the head, but in the end the book itself became part of the finished piece. I was drawn to the wear shown on the hard cover of this near 90 year old book. The gold imprinted lettering seemed to be desperately clinging to it's cloth cover.

It seems odd to say, but this piece practically made itself, telling me what it wanted to become. The stainless steel drawer pulls anchor the piece. The lazy-susan component from the bottom of a revolving spice rack was the perfect addition,  allowing the head to turn this way and that.

The black beads around her neck are from a broken abacus from my stash and the colorful beaded sash on the side, adds the needed splash of color.

Words can speak volumes, but there are times when words simply aren't enough.

I came a cross this Stephen Hawking quote, that seemed appropriate:

"For millions of years, mankind lived just like the animals. Then something

happened which unleashed the power of our imagination. We learned to talk

and we learned to listen. Speech has allowed the communication of ideas,

enabling human beings to work together to build the impossible.

Mankind's greatest achievements have come about by talking,

and its greatest failures by not talking."

"Abject Objects" (continued)

"Abject Objects" (continued)
   A few weeks ago I posted the first 2 of 5 new pieces I completed for a new show at The Sebastopol Gallery which is where I show my work on an ongoing basis as a Member Artist. You can see the first two here and here.
   My inspiration for these 5 pieces came from Dayna Collins' series of works she called "Curious Elements". If you missed it, do go over to her blog "Art Alley Studio",  where you can see all 120 of her creations or just click here you can see a good sampling.
    Here are pieces 3, 4 and 5:  titled (in order of appearance above)

"Summer Moon" - The Moon, as Shakespeare suggests in Romeo and Juliet, is fickle. Its orbit moves it swiftly across a wide tract of the night skies, changing its appearance continually in both bold and subtle ways. 

A half-moon section of a vintage bar stool, supports a vintage door plate, with an amber half marble.

"Summer Solstice" ● -  The first day of summer—the summer solstice is the longest day of the year, the Sun reaches its most northern point in the sky at local noon. After this date, the days start getting shorter. 

A vintage water faucet handle, and clock gears make up this whimsical piece of things that are round.

"Cloverdale Roller Canaries"- What Is a Roller? It is a breed of canaries bred solely for their distinctive voice. It is soft with long, intricate rolls or tours. Color is variable. They are also great mimickers. 

Wooden door from the back of a vintage mantle clock, collaged with ads for Roller Canaries. 
 

   After hanging the new show at the Sebastopol Gallery, I stood back and looked at all 5 pieces on the wall. I thought about each of the items I used to make these pieces, the patina, the rust, the nicks and bumps. Although the parts are seemingly unrelated, all probably originated around the same time (40's-50's). Each of the disparate items used in making this series appear to have lived a full and productive life when they were new. Eventually, and over time, their original usefulness ended and they were cast aside. On the wall, it seemed to me that they had found each other again after many years of being apart. Now all have found new and beautiful careers as pieces of art.

     All 5 pieces came together easily, gracefully and decisively.  All are ready to hang.

"Ungepatchged" — Yiddish for all mixed up . . . .

  

"Ungepatchged" — Yiddish for all mixed up . . . . ●

(update: In my original post I asked for help with the translation of the word "Ungepatched". 

I received a copy of a most helpful email from a woman in Israel, giving me the correct 

spelling and better understanding of the word "ungepatcheged". Please read her words below.

"So I think the mirror is beautiful although it is ungepatchged (not ungepatched) which usually means something done with no taste with too much on it (for example a dress with many designs and a few kind of materials and on top of it some bottoms  etc., and than with shoes which also don't match). Or a painting which someone just put colors and items which is with no taste. 

And yes the mirror has a lot of things in the frame of many themes, however, although it is "ungepatchged" it still is beautiful."

Thank you for this - it all makes sense now.  

Original Post:
A customer came to the gallery a few months ago and saw "Mirror, Mirror", and really seemed to enjoy the piece. She left a message for me saying she was interested in commissioning a similar piece, and wanted me to contact her. We exchanged a couple of emails and phone calls and finally we had a chance to meet around the first week in June. She was very careful / cautious not to 'give me too many "do's and don't s " about what she wanted in her mirror, fearing that it might inhibit the 'whimsy' of the piece. . .  but she did say she wanted lots of silvery stuff, and that she liked black and white as a background color . . . and that was all she gave me. While we talked, I noticed she used the Yiddish word "ungepatchged" a couple of times while describing what she was looking for. In the end we agreed that "Ungepatchged" is what we would call the piece when it was done.
   Well, as you can see the mirror is full of whimsy, and full of 'stuff'. In addition to the many bits of bling the mirror has several interactive pieces to amuse and bemuse the viewer. There are things that are full of imagery, some that stir up wonder and delight while other bits are meant to trigger the memory to produce a set of fond mental pictures. On top there is a black galloping horse, a flower garden, a silver fan, buttons, and a corkscrew. Below there are vintage Volkswagen keys, a sea shell, a dragon fly and a gazelle. There are cat eyes, coins and a bottle cap.
   But the pièce de résistance is a beautiful face plate from a 1930’s Singer sewing machine atop a silver skull with red rhinestone eyes.
   Among the interactive pieces, there is, a magic wand that sits behind the sea shell, an optometrist’s lens that swings from the horse, a vintage metal paper clip, and a tiny vintage level that sits in the lower right hand corner.
   It doesn't feel as though the photographs do it justice.
   By the way, the client picked up "Ungepatchged" last weekend, and I am told she really loves it!

PS: if any of you speak / understand Yiddish and can offer me a better translation of  ungepatched, please share with me.

"Muse's Museum"

 

"The Muse", "Don Door Knob", "Mr. Puzzle Wood", "Secret Tea-Ball", 

"Kaleidoscope", "Magnet Man", "Shake It-Don't Break It", "Love Letters"

 "The Muse"

"Muse's Museum"

I adore interactive art pieces.  I love being able to touch, hold, and play with the parts and pieces that amuse and bemuse.  This piece is an assemblage that begs you to hold and touch and play.

A vintage oak file box, fitted with parts of a wooden spice rack tower, and covered in green tissues and overlaid with sewing pattern tissue.  The 8 slots are filled with unrelated items that are interactive and hold secrets of their own. A harlequin doll head filled with glass beads and sealed with a glass stopper, a vintage wooden door knob, a wooden puzzle, and a tea ball with a surprise inside.
Next in line are a kids' kaleidoscope, a strong magnet and ball bearings, a wooden shaker and a small jar full of "love letters".

 A vintage fishing lure hangs on the lid - when you pull the lure it will gyrates as it retrieves.

The fun is in the viewer's imagination . . .  what do you see?

"Memories and Treasures"

"Memories and Treasures"●

"Memories are a way of holding on to the things you love, 

the things you are, the things you never want to loose." 

                                                              Kevin Arnold

A dear friend, Tracy, commissioned a memory mirror a couple of months ago. She gave me very few 'specifics' about what she wanted, so I had to work on instinct. I know she loves purple, and I knew it was going to be a larger format than what I've done before, and I knew it had to be bold.
I could not wait to get started. I have known Tracy for many years, and I wanted the piece to contain memories and treasures that would amuse and bemuse, I wanted the piece to be happy, and I wanted it to be fun.
The piece includes hundreds of bits of this and that. Some of the bits are pieces that have a strong personal meaning to Tracy. Many of things incorporated onto the piece are found objects that came together just because they looked good. Some of the objects are mere fun and full of whimsy, while others still, are curious and interesting.
(Tracy tells me each time she looks at it, she sees something new she had not seen before.) I hope it brings her many years of enjoyment.
What is really amazing about 'memory mirrors' is that the experience is different for each person who views it.  The piece is meant to engage and involve each viewer, and allow them to reflect and remember. As each person looks at the piece something will catch their eye, that will appeal to their sense of humor, and hopefully stir up their own fond memories.
Wood framed mirror with shelf. (17"x24"x4"). Covered in several layers of art tissues, with a final layer of McCall's pattern tissue, and embellished with silvery-blingy bits, crystals, a rusted metal lid, jacks, magnets, bottle caps, glass beads, and many, many other things.
Very difficult to photograph. . . .

"Time Was On His Side"

 

 

"Time Was On His Side"
This assemblage began with the image of the handsome young man inside the clock box, whose identity I do not know . . . I found the photo tossed inside a large bin along with hundreds of other vintage photographs. When I was looking through the pile of images, this one literally jumped out at me. His fresh face seemed so full of promise, his eyes so full of hope, his future so bright. I wondered what became of him? Did he live a life fulfilled? Did he achieve great success? Was he generous and kind? Did his grandchildren look up to him? Or did he loose his way somehow?

Vintage wooden clock case contains an acrylic skin of the young man's image over a background of sheet music, and the original Baby Ben clock face. A tiny metal Model T in the forefront. The outside of the clock box is embellished with a single strand of glass beads holding a silver key on the end. A metal leaf from an Italian wall sconce, and a small brass spinning wheel add interest. 

"Music Level"

"Music Level"
 A couple of weeks ago I posted the first of 5 new pieces I recently completed for a new show at The Sebastopol Gallery which is where I show my work on an ongoing basis as a Member Artist.
You may recall, that I got my inspiration for these 5 pieces from Dayna Collins' series of works she called "Curious Elements". If you missed it, do go over to "Art Alley Studio" ,  where you can see all 120 of her creations or just click here you can see a good sampling.

This is my #2 piece :  titled "Music Level", and it came together easily, gracefully and decisively. It was as if these 2 disparate, unrelated items, probably from the same time period (40's-50's), found each other after many years apart.

The level, was from my father's tool shed, from many years ago. The clock chime bar is from the inside of a mantle clock, also from the 40's. When you run your fingers across the 5 rod chime bar, you will hear the wonderful chime sounds.

Although each of these items lived a full and productive life when they were new, their original usefulness eventually ended. Now both have found a new and beautiful career as a piece of art.  Carpenter's level and 5 rod chime bar, ready to hang.

"Time Watch"

"Time Watch" ●
A few months ago, I was 'overly' inspired when I saw Dayna Collin's "Art Alley Studio" series or works she called "Curious Elements",  you can see all 120 of them if you go to her blog and search under "Curious Elements" but here you can see a good sampling.
I have to say, I was 'taken' by the entire series, and I knew I had to try my hand at it. . . . They say "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery . . ." I prefer to think of it as 'pure inspiration ". . . although I cannot say my pieces are anywhere close to the quality of her work, (her's are truly amazing) I wanted to take a stab at it, and this is the first of my five.
Please do take a look at her work, here is another post, all of it is amazing, and I am hooked. I will post the rest of them over the next few days/weeks.

"Time Watch" is a small (2"x2") box containing a convex mirror and clock gears. . .  simple, yet elegant.

"Words Escape Me"

"Words Escape Me" ●
I love to make assemblage works.  If you follow my work, you know that I often incorporate collage in to my work. I rarely use paint, because I have found that paper creates texture and depth, in a way that paint cannot.

On long road trips, I will bring along a couple of grocery bag fulls of old magazines, and use the hours in the car as a passenger to comb through the magazines and cut out images and words that catch my eye. I save these in folders marked "birds", 'faces", 'religion', and 'words' among many others.

Eventually, many of these images and words will be used in my work.  This piece came together as a result of a bulging "words" folder in my studio.

I love words. I love the different fonts and fanciful styles of words. I am thrilled when a few words can tell a complete story.(i.e., "The Little Brown Saint" or "Because The Sky is Always Falling").

This piece represents words in in our heads. 

What we think . . . What we say . . . What we wish . . . What we understand . . .

To use  these words in a 3-D collage, demonstrates the beauty and versatility of collage as a medium. Collage can bring together my found disparate words, and by arranging the papers in no particular order, will create a whole new conversation.  The process of collage is meditative and personal for me. Now I can touch the words and think about them, and have them near.  In a larger sense I am able to bring order to my love of words.
A foam head form covered in layers of words and tissue, a Japanese text book about the Jewish religion, sit atop a wooden revolving spice rack base, also covered in Japanese text. A vintage thermometer in the eye finishes the piece.

"Moon Rabbit"

"Moon Rabbit" ●
The Moon Rabbit in legend, is a rabbit that lives on the moon. Based on pareidolia that identifies markings of the moon that resemble a rabbit.

The story exists in many cultures, including Korean, Japanese, Chinese and more interestingly it also exists in Aztec mythology

But my favorite is the legend from the Native American, Cree Nation. This legend tells about a young rabbit who wished to ride the moon. Only the crane was willing to take him. The trip stretched Crane's legs as the heavy rabbit held them tightly, leaving them elongated as crane's legs are now. When they reached the moon Rabbit touched Crane's head with a bleeding paw, leaving the red mark cranes wear to this day. According to this legend, Rabbit still rides the moon to this day.

A small wooden clock box is gold-stained on the outside, and holds a fanciful china rabbit inside. I replaced the back of the clock box with a vintage glass pane that has a silhouette of a tree painted on it, allowing the viewer to see straight through the box. A small wind-chime is attached to the side of the box adding whimsy. You can see a sterling silver moon in the upper right hand corner of the back glass. A vintage wooden drawer pull finishes the piece. 8" x 6" x 3"

"All That Remains"

"All That Remains"
Several months ago, I came across a vintage printer's tray type case drawer. In its original condition, the oak drawer measured 32"x16", containing over 90 compartments!

To make it more manageable, I cut it into three equal parts. It worked great, but still, this one has 35 compartments!

The back is covered with a map of the United States followed with a layer of pattern tissue to mute the colors of the map (love the lines). Next I began to fill the tiny compartments . . . each one contains bits and pieces of this and that, each one tells an entire story on its own.

If you would like to see the details of each compartment, click on the image to enlarge.  See if you can find: the little green monkey, the '72 toy Volkswagen, the 3 tiny brass Buddhas, the 3-minute egg timer, and the Queen of Hearts.

To finish the shadow box, I added a vintage brass drawer pull, and glass cover. The pieces is ready to hang on the wall or sit on a stand.

"First Kiss"

"First Kiss" ●
A dear friend from Chicago came to visit last month. She had made special arrangements for us to attend a private wine tasting at Smith-Madrone, a winery in Napa. The tasting took place in the small but efficient, and authentically dusty wine cellar, where we were entertained and charmed by Charles Smith, the owner-winemaker. He shared with us many interesting stories of his 40 years of making wine in this beautiful vineyard/winery setting. 

Looking around the cellar, there were many things that caught my eye, and Charles generously shared their history with us. One item that was of great interest to me was a funky black board, the kind you might see at an old neighborhood tavern, with the following quote written on it, in chalk:

"We are all mortal, until the first kiss and the second glass of wine."

Eduardo Galeano

I am always on the lookout for quotes I can use in my scrabble art pieces.  

Needless to say, this is one is my new favorites.  

A small cabinet door found at my local Habitat for Humanity Re-Store, is collaged in layers of colorful tissue and over-layered with sewing pattern tissue. Scrabble tiles spell out the quote, and 2 butterflies finish the piece.  Ready to hang.  14" x 5"
(click on image to enlarge)

"Reflections In Time"

"Reflections In Time"●

A new memory mirror finally emerges from the depths of my studio. . . . 

This small vintage mirror, probably from the 30s was a bit beat-up when I found it at the flea market, but I loved the thickness of the mirror glass, I loved the overall sturdiness of the frame itself and the thickness of the wood.  The piece charmed me, in that it could either hang on a wall or sit on a table or dresser.

I first covered the frame in my favorite spring green tissue papers and then did an overlay of sewing pattern tissues. Then I embellished with 'bits' and 'bling' in brass and gold tones. Hard to photograph all the details, but there are many sweet, interesting and wonder-filled objects collected as souvenirs of events or experiences familiar to us all. 

There are vintage buttons, political pins, bottle caps, religious metals, a tiny toy metal airplane, a watch face and a #3 house number.

Don't miss the little red rhinestone shoe sitting on the shelf next to the #10 gym locker number.

You'll see a wand with a cut crystal topper piercing through the upper left of the frame. On the very top, I attached a part of vintage brass cork screw with a brass screw that allows it to swivel back and forth and doubles as a nice handle.

The dimensions are 7.5"x10" with a 4" shelf.  The piece is ready to hang on a special wall, or happily sit on a table or dresser top.

"Memories and Reflections"

"Memories and Reflections" ●
   A couple of months ago, I was invited to work with 5th grade students at Oak Grove Elementary School in Santa Rosa to create an art piece that would be auctioned off at the school's Annual Gala Auction and Dinner / Dance Fundraiser   I have to admit I was honored to be asked, and excited and nervous at the same time.  5th Graders! YIKES!
   The school's Arts Program Director had seen my work by way of this blog and loved the idea of re-using materials that would normally be destined for the landfill. She wanted to hear my ideas on what project we could do with the 5th grade class, who would be graduating from elementary school to middle school soon.  I thought the idea of making a 'memory mirror' would be perfect!  We would ask the students to bring in 4-5 small 'silvery' things, from bells to bling . . . to use on the project.
   She loved the idea, and we set a date for the art project. Soon I was off in search of the perfect mirror. The next weekend, I found it at the flea market. I made a list of items the students might want to bring, and I sent it in.
   Next I prepared the mirror, by covering the frame in several layers of colored tissue. For the top layer, I used vintage sewing pattern tissue.
   On the day of the project, the students were sent in in small groups with their 'silvery' things. After a brief discussion about the project, they each came up and told me where on the frame they wanted their item(s) placed, and I attached each item, using tiny nails, screws, wire or glue, as appropriate.

   Next, the students were asked to sign their name on a piece of  pattern tissue, which would later be put on the back side of the mirror, finishing the piece

   The mirror is now finished. I am happy with the results. The whole experience was terrific!

I will deliver it to the school next week, where it will be on display for parents and students to see until the day of the auction, which will be May 12th. 

   I hope it brings in a bunch of money for the Arts Program!

   There is lots to see, these images do not do it justice. To see details you will need to enlarge the image.