Sunday, November 4, 2012

Recycling, repurposing, resurrecting ....

From time to time when I'm doing a post and choosing labels for the content; when I'm writing descriptions for items going into my online shop; or describing my work to visitors (e.g. during our  open studios events) I get to thinking about what describes what I do with the metal I salvage and use.

There is no doubt that I'm recovering and recycling metal salvaged from donated, found and purchased objects such as trays, pots, jardinieres. But I tend to respond to and work the metal in different ways.

When I cut up silver plated cake and biscuit trays and brass and copper jardinieres I am usually just interested in getting a stock of plate metal.

©2012 Barry Smith - Cut up silver plated EPNS trays - metal stock
I then beat and fold form this flat metal into bowls and leaf forms. This is very similar to what other metal workers do when they buy sheet metal stock.

© 2012 Barry Raised bowl beaten from silver plated EPNS flat metal

©2012 Barry Smith - Beaten brass bowl made from recycled flat brass 
©2012 Barry Smith - Leaf form foldformed from silver plated EPNS flat metal
I use the offcuts to make riveted earrings and stamped inspirational words - again recycling and pretty standard metal and jewellery making work.

©2012 Barry Smith - Brass and silver plated EPNS flat metal
©2012 Barry Smith - Stamped words - silver plated EPNS flat metal
But in other instances I cut forms from objects and in some case rework them. For example, I sweat the stems off silver plated EPNS or copper wine goblets and cut the bowl of the goblet down to a size that suits me; and then after annealing the shape I beat it into the form that I want such as the bowl for a ladle or a small tall sided bowl. I also take salvaged metal tubing from old spirits stoves and reform it into rings. I see this as a form repurposing as I don't create the original shape from flat metal but rather reform and enhance what exists to give the section of the found object a new purpose a new life.

©2012 Barry Smith - Ladle 'bowl' reformed and repurposed from small silver plated copper wine goblet
©2012 Barry Smith - Small bowls reformed and repurposed from small silver plated EPNS wine goblets
©2012 Barry Smith - Ring made from brass tube from old spirit stove
And of course there are times when I simply find shapes in the metal offcuts; and give them a new life as is the case with found earrings. I don't have to do much more than harvest and polish such bits.

©2012 Barry Smith - Earring drop cut from a biscuit tray handle
©2012 Barry Smith - Earring drop cut from the edge of a silver plated EPNS tray 
So in fact at different times I simply recycle plate metal but at other times I repurpose forms and resurrect existing forms. I know this is not a world shattering revelation but I think it is useful for us as artisans to stop and reflect on just what it is that we do.

8 comments:

  1. this is a fantastic post B! before, i had a vague idea of what you do ... but after today, i know exactly what you do. the visions of you beating metal in my mind is not fuzzy anymore. thank you for sharing your varied processes with us! i really never thought of the 2nd process, until you wrote it here ... and then i think ... that's totally awesome and a totally natural thing to do! reform something which is already in the form you want but adding your style and touch to it! this is great stuff!

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  2. B - I truly enjoyed this reflection. I think it's good to stop and think about what we do; because each of these processes IS different from the other, and there is a talent in determining which approach to take, and a skill in identifying the potential for each within the scraps you find. Just great!

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  3. there is something so wonderful about seeing your hammer marks on the metal. The texture is beautiful. Each piece is a joy to see.

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  4. Wonderful photos, great creations, the ring is gorgeous, good compositions, my favorite is the third photo, greetings.

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  5. B, this is a glorious overview of your work! Inspirational and magical. Thank you for sharing these photos,

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  6. B,
    I really enjoy your blog and have learner much about looking at repurposing with more open eyes than I once had. I realize I can use items I once questioned and I am loving it.

    Living in "the sticks" as they say, has meant I'm self taught. This is a blessing in many ways, but in some it means digging around more for safety's sake if anything.

    Thank you for being so inspiring.

    A

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  7. LT, F, TL, L & C - glad you enjoyed my musing on my approach to metal. LT & F - I always feel a little like I have cheated when I reform; but then again there is the skill in seeing the shape to be harvested and then the skill in reforming the piece. TL - hammer and fire you can't really beat them for textured and colour on metal. L - glad you like the pieces. C- an overview is good. All go well and harvest well. B

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  8. A stunning showcase of artworks and images you've got going on there, B.

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