Altered Alice

"Altered Alice" ●

The Marin Museum of Contemporary Art (MarinMOCA) is having their Altered Book Show/Auction in Novato, California. This year’s show will run from April 21 through May 26, 150 artists from all over the Bay Area will  create an altered book to be auctioned off to benefit Marin MOCA.

The silent auction will run for five weeks and conclude with a rousing live auction closing party. While all proceeds go to the museum, it is a terrific opportunity for an artist to have their work shown at Marin MOCA and to join with other artists in helping to increase public awareness and interest in the book arts.

Once again, Donna Seager of the Seager Gray Gallery  in Mill Valley will give a talk at the opening and will also select the “top three” award winners along with some honorable mentions. All very exciting. I feel honored to be a part of it..

This is the piece I made for this show.. It is made from a vintage and very tattered copy of "Alice In Wonderland", a book that had the appearance and wear of a book that had been enjoyed by many, over many, many years.

The mannequin head is set on a ½” thick machine gear found in my 'stash' of stuff.  Both are anchored on a wooden platform, that was formally part of a lamp. The wooden platform is covered with text and acrylic skins made from illustrations taken from the book. She is adored with clock parts from a Howard Miller mantle clock that was, not long ago destined for the landfill. Gears for ears and a gear hat. The neck embellishment is the clock's main spring, it is attached in such a way that it adds a kinetic element to the piece. She is beautiful!

"Dragon Ace"

"Dragon Ace"

 I love working with vintage measuring tools. I love the inevitable paint drips and chips they acquire. I love the endurance they’ve shown, the patina they now posses. These yardsticks, rulers and skirt makers have all had a long hard-working life . . .  and now they have a new career as art.  A red-eyed Dragon named 'ACE' sits on the side, holding a golden tassel.

A wooden frame holds vintage rulers, yardsticks and skirt markers. The dragon was formally an incense burner. The tassel, has been cut down to size, was from someone's 1987 graduation mortarboard.

The Edge

"The Edge" ●

"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."

This is a quote by Guillaume Apollinaire a poet, playwright, short story writer and novelist.

When I first read it, I knew I wanted to use it in my art. This is what I came up with. A simple  wall hung piece, spelling out the quote with Scrabble tiles and embellished with images of birds from an illustrated vintage bird book.

Afternoon Tea

 "Afternoon Tea" ●

   This is my most recent mirror project. Titled "Afternoon Tea" because its petite size makes me want to raise my pinky while sipping my tea. The 7"x11" framed mirror found at my favorite thrift store became the perfect foundation for this piece. The ¾" thick frame is perfect for attaching found objects using small screws and nails. I first covered the frame using vintage Mc'Call's pattern tissue over green tissue, front and back.  

   The gold-tone embellishment piece on top is one half of what, I think, used to be a fancy 'letter holder'.  Thankfully it is made of soft metal and I was able to cut it in half and attach it to the wood frame using brass screws and silicone adhesive. Other embellishments include a brass butter knife, United Airlines wings, tiny 'milagros' and many other fun, bling-thingys.   (click on any image to enlarge)