Using, "all that stuff" part 2

It is almost the end of another semester. I have been taking art classes at our local community college, and for the past few years have become, 'stuck", in the medal welding sculpture class. Our teacher has created an advanced class, for those of us who have become, "perpetual students." Now we have studios at home (we prefer things like plasma cutters, angle grinders, and other tools for Christmas and our birthdays) We have developed strong friendships, enjoy getting together for inspiration, and also like to help the newer students.

This is my latest project, called: Moonglow Mother's Garden 8 1/2 X 13 inches, aluminum on wood, steel and vintage Lucite sewing buttons

These buttons, made of Lucite plastic are called, "Moonglow', by collectors of vintage plastic, especially sewing buttons and jewelry.

The first plastic was developed in 1862, and until the present day, many types have been invented. Lucite, was introduced by duPont in 1937 and the molded form, sometimes called thermoset or Moonglow, was very popular during the 1950's and 60's for buttons and costume jewelry. It was probably called Moonglow, because of it's glowing colors and similarity to moonstone. The aqua necklace is vintage 50's. It was very typical for jewelry to be made in sets, called parures (a demi-parure is missing a piece) of a necklace, earrings and bracelet, sometimes combined with gold or silver plate. To me the designs are still fresh today and can look very modern.

This sculpture was inspired by the jewelry, that the women in my family and I wore, during the 50's and 60's. We, "dressed up", in those days.

My Mother loved to garden and always had flowers in the house. Sunday is Mothers Day and it reminds me of how my sister and I would get up early, to join our friends in the neighborhood, to pick and make corsages for our Mothers to wear to church. At that time of year there wasn't much out besides violets, but we had fun, and our Mothers proudly wore our creations.

Using, "all that stuff"

Some of us seem to be born with a gene that compels us to save everything. We may save many things because they have family connections or remind us of an event or experience. As an artist, I can't help saving things that I, " just like", because of the workmanship used, it's material, shape, texture, or color.

I thought that I would share with you a few pieces of art I've made, using some of the things I couldn't part with. I love texture and color, and find that using items I find around the house, often gives me inspiration for a new piece.

Cuff Bracelet- steel, silver and aluminum, about 1 1/2" wide, forged & welded. I made this after watching Ken Burns documentary, "The war'. Both my Grandfather and Uncle saw heavy duty in WWI & II which had a big influence on our family.

Pendant- aluminum, silver and a found vintage piece of enameled copper. I was experimenting with heating aluminum, and loved the way my torch shrunk and distressed it.

Round Bobbin Case Sculpture- welded & forged steel with vintage sewing bobbins & wire, about 18 X 18 inches. It represents the development of the bobbin case which was a huge mechanical development (still studied in engineering schools today) and important for women worldwide. After the bobbin case was invented, which allowed the sewing machine to use two threads, the use of the home sewing machine spread throughout the world. It was the first labor saving device for women and the first thing to be sold on an installment plan. The first Singer sewing machine cost $3,000, which was years pay in 1850. Men wouldn't buy it because it was too expensive and also, "women are not fit to operate mechanical machinery". Singer started to sell it on the installment plan. Now only did it save women time but for many it gave me their own source of income and another way to express themselves creativity. I often thing of how excited a women, way out west, must have felt when the railroad brought her first machine.

Yellow Wall Sculpture- torched & hammered copper, painted with translucent oil paint on a wood, with torched and hammered aluminum. It represents artifacts, from the towers at ground zero, on display at the state museum in Albany, and the mystery that an object that has been misshapen with age or damage holds, 14 x 14 inches.