Friday, February 4, 2011

A Friday font

It has been a bit of a lean week from the creating art perspective. Fiona and I travelled to Adelaide for friends and family and used the visit also as an opportunity to catch up with the a few galleries - both community and government run. From an art point of view the galleries were a source of inspiration. Yesterday and today we have 'paid the price' for our ventures as we have had to do some serious work-work catch up. But thankfully we have also had the opportunity this afternoon to do a bit of work in the studio and to review where we are up to in the production of pieces for our March exhibition.

Barry Smith © Huon& brass font
I completed my wood and metal font. Why a font and not a birdbath I hear you ask. I see a piece such as the one above as being used to create a still or focal place. It can be used inside as a bowl for holding special bits; or outside to gather the dew and rain.

Barry Smith © Huon & brass font

Barry Smith © Font detail
The base is made out of a piece of salvaged Huon pine - including a burnt area. The bowl of the font is from a jardiniere and a bras-zinc pump-pack; and the brass fingers are from an old yabbie pump.

Barry Smith © Burnt
I have include the detail of the burnt area - just because I like how the grain and the burnt section flow and contrast.

10 comments:

  1. I really like this one, Barry. The burnt section of the wood is a great find! And the metal looks almost like something once used in war - a plate from armor, a shield perhaps, and now retired to more tranquil purposes. There is a nice tension here between associations with fire and hardness or harshness and then a feeling of fluidity, serenity and balance. Love it!

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  2. wow!! this is beautiful! the burn on the wooden base adds such character to the font. the patina on the font mirrors the burn mark perfectly ... i must tumblr this too!!

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  3. yes, this one is quite fine. i think it really flows. and also the disparate elements hold together. i can see it in the garden.

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  4. exquisite...and much too fine and sophisticated to be a bird bath..

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  5. TT, AA (L), JG, V and L - Thanks for checking this posdt out and comments.

    TT - love the idea of a shield becoming a font about peace and stillness.

    AA (L) - I always smile when a counterpoint appears in my work.

    JG - thanks for visiting may we continue to connect.

    V - most of my fonts are meant for the garden - to create destination points.

    L - lol - guess birds also need quiet safe places?

    Go well - B

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  6. A beautiful piece, and that burnt patch on the timber is exquisite, as is your photograph of it.

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  7. H- yes it has that old salvaged beauty about it.

    C- glad you loved the photo of the burnt bit - I couldn't resist the contrast.

    Cheers. B

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  8. This one is particularly beautiful. It looks as though it should hold rain and seems to shimmer like a pool of water.

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Comments are welcomed - it is good to connect with fellow travellers.