Laws of Unintended Consequences

"Laws of Unintended Consequences'●

In the social sciences, unintended consequences are outcomes 

that are not the ones intended by a purposeful action.

 
An interesting concept, wouldn't you say? 
I believe that when most people take an action, they do it with good intentions. Unfortunately, there are factors, often out of our control, that come into play. Sometimes the outcome of our actions are favorable, sometime they are unintended.

This piece speaks to so many of the consequences that are a result of human actions. Work, love, marriage, education, war, health, the environment and the arts . . . sometimes things work out the way we plan other times they do not.

* * *

This piece began as a beautiful wooden box that formally contained a bottle of 30 year old whiskey.

Inside mementos reflected by a mirror in the back of the box include a tuba, a small circuit board, a white heron, a soldier in a test tube, a bride and groom, a 6-pack of beer, a hammer, and a porcelain doll's hand . . . to name a few.
Do you see Mickey's ears?

I find myself working in smaller and smaller formats. Most of the time I love the end result, small formats, however, make it extremely difficult to photograph a finished piece, so here are additional images to reveal the detail.

This piece can be wall hung, or displayed on a table top.

The Hand-Off

"The Hand Off" 

This is a piece I made a couple of years ago, around the time of the BP oil spill in the Gulf.  I remember feeling so helpless, as CNN and all the other networks would show image after image of the devastation as the well continued to pump hundreds of thousands of gallons into the Gulf, (200,000 gallons per day) for almost 3 months before the well was capped. 

The only thing I could think of was "what a mess we had created" for ourselves and for the generations to come.  And it was not just the oil spill, there were so many world issues, many of which are still with us today:  the global economy, the wars in the middle east, climate change, and on and on and on . . .

This piece was  made to express what I was feeling at the time, and what I was hoping.  We are handing the next generation a 'messy world', my hope is that the next generation will learn from our big screw-ups, somehow be better able to care for our planet, in doing so, they will be able to take better care of themselves.

I was pleased with the way the turkey claw looks so ancient and the small hands reaching from below so young and pure, and full of hope.

Mixed media assemblage containing turkey claw, ceramic doll hands, wooden fish, dice and vintage papers. (11710)

"Secret Lives"

#5

"Secret Lives"●
This assemblage was made as a special  auction item for Face 2 Face, a local non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by HIV.  This box is full of mystery, music, and muse, with images and tiny objects that may cause the viewer to become absorbed in thought; as they turn the imagery over in their mind meditatively and inconclusively. 

The box, formally a small clock box (7"x 6" x 3") is painted red, and covered in green tissue. The front of the box is metal, and I used acrylic paints (nail polish) to add color. A small metal medallion in the opening where the clock used to be is also painted. On the back are magazine and book images in brilliant colors of birds, flowers and Frida Kahlo. Inside are many tiny found objects to ponder.  I invite you to click on image #5 to enlarge it and take a closer look. 
I will only add that the music box plays "Pop Goes the Weasel".

"Home Bird" and "Home Camel"

 "Home Bird" and "Home Camel"
These 2 smalls were made using tiny wooden boxes I found at the flea market.  I have never worked in such a small format before, and besides the obvious challenges, I must say, I love the results.
     "Home Bird"● is contained inside a tiny mahogany box (3"x3"). The hand carved embellishment is the roof of a vintage cuckoo clock I took apart last summer (see Edna). A small ceramic bird sits a top an amber colored crystal, while looking over the metal house in the corner. A brass bell on the side adds interest and noise.
    "Home Camel"● this mahogany box (2" x 4") is embellished with wooden wings and a brass bell on the outside.  Inside the box, a tiny camel patiently waits by the house ready for flight.
     Both are ready to hang. (click on any image to enlarge)

"House of Spirits"

"House of Spirits"
A brightly painted blue box incorporates religious imagery from several continents. I do not consider myself particularly 'religious', but the images associated with religion, more specifically the christian religions, are powerful, and always bring on overwhelming feelings left over from childhood experiences. Visit any church in any country, and the "spirits" can be felt or seen or perceived no matter what your own inclinations may be.
On the back is a black and white image depicting a church in the background, embellished with a hand made and welded 'spoon-handle' cross, and finished with a vintage brass Jesus.  Inside and behind glass is a colorful wooden egg, a miniature wooden harp, and a small flower vase.  2 colorful fish hang from the ceiling.  Wooden blocks for feet, and an amber glass drawer pull on top.  A brass bell hangs on the side. (click on any image to enlarge)

"Selected Endings"

"Selected Endings"  ●
A vintage oak file box has been converted into a (black?) magic box . . . containing 8 ways to choose your poison . . . sort of . . . will it be a vice? a vulture? drowning at sea? or death by gun shot?  Mystery and misery contained in lovely little glass bottles to be examined and explored. . . .   this is the 3rd of 8 new pieces created for the upcoming Day of the Dead festivities.  (click on any image to enlarge)

Currently all 8 pieces are on exhibit at Dimensiona Galleria in Petaluma, CA.  More images of new pieces to follow in the next few days.

"Las Canicas de Dios" (God's Marbles)

"Las Canicas de Dios" (God's Marbles)  All the roadsigns are there, the trappings, the rules.  We can choose to obey the rules or we can find our own way. Who's watching?
    This mahogany box is embellished with a vintage brass door plate and a doll's eye . Vintage papers cover the inside. Juxtaposed on an iron stand, Jesus wearing the 'key', looks longingly towards his guitar. On the other side, is 1/2 of a vintage clock face and a glass enclosed coca-cola box handle with three red marbles that move back and forth. The vintage compass is continually pulled by a magnet attached to the top knob. (click on image to enlarge)