I don't know why I should think that Fridays are not going to be full but I seem to have an image in my mind that I'm going to cruise through the day with a gentle intersperse of art. But they are always busy and in the main always joy filled. Today has been a full and joy-filled day.
Got a walk in before coffee; put up signs for printmakers exhibition and dropped in to say hi to Julie and Sonja who were opening up today; spent several hours cutting up metal making an anvil and lots of copper for Japan; starting my coffee mugs for the Coffee Essence exhibition; progressing the timber top for the book wall; and cutting weeds.
 |
| ©2013 Barry Smith - Scale encrusted copper pieces before annealing |
Fiona and I are going to Tatebayashi, Japan in late May as part of a sister city art-culture exchange. One of my activities will be to demonstrate metal work at a city festival for a half a day. I needed a portable anvil - so I cut one out of a thick piece of steel I had in the rust bank.
 |
| ©2013Barry Smith - Portable anvil with rubber feet |
 |
| ©2013Barry Smith - Portable anvil with rubber feet |
As you can see from the photo above - after grinding and sanding it looks ok - still has a lived in used look about it; and after a leaf making trial it also works ok. The portable anvil is about 15cm long, 9cm wide and 1.2cm thick. Some one suggested to me recently that if you add a couple of earth magnets to a small anvil it takes the ring out of it - I tried this and it works - you can see three 20mm earth magnets stacked on the anvil.
And of course one needs copper to demonstrate with - so I cut the edge off a shower recess and used a mini guillotine to cut 60-65 pieces of copper about 8cm long by 3.5cm wide.
 |
| ©2013 Barry Smith - Sixty pieces of leaf forming recycled copper |
 |
| ©2013 Barry Smith - Sixty pieces of leaf forming recycled copper - annealed and pickled |
The first photo shows how much scale was on the pieces before I annealed, pickled and washed them. So the anvil and metal is ready for the festival - lots of demonstrating and leaf forms to give away.
Now it is off to wrap Fiona's birthday present; and of course enjoy a Friday wine or two.
Your traveling anvil is gorgeous and a work of art all on its own. Can't imagine the beating it will take. Such exciting news about Japan!
ReplyDeleteBy the way...when is Fiona birthday?
J - thanks - I agree - funny how functional things can be a tad arty as well especially with rust. I will give it a bit more of a work out before we head to Japan. Tomorrow is the day. Go well. B
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jennifer - such a lovely anvil!! That sounds like great fun to do an exchange with Japan.. they are in for a treat! Cool about the magnets, too.
ReplyDeleteOh Yum going to Japan, wish I was going too but I have other things to do this year. The anvil looks great, do you have special weight alowances for the flight?
ReplyDeleteyour portable anvil is making me drool B!! seriously! all we get are the 3x3 ones and for that I even have to import ...Haizzz... Malaysia is not exactly a very friendly place for metal workers. I also just realized that there's no one here that supplies liver of sulfur! can you beat that??? my fren who is a silversmith told me that for all of 15 years she's been working as a silver jeweler, she hasn't found an LOS supplier in Malaysia. i think it's becos asians like their silver jewelry shiny and not patina-ed. which makes me realize (i already know actually) that my stuff could never sell here ...
ReplyDeleteAnyhow ... rambling!!! everything on this post is making me drool! Trip to Japan!!! woah ... how cool is that!!! and those beautiful copper pieces, all 60 of them ... what a feast! i think i could just eat copper and live a happy life :)
truly a good day! and great news about japan! wonderful.
ReplyDeleteIt 's always a joy to see the most mundane things take on an air of grace and beauty in your talented hands. Beautiful job with the anvil! Japan is in for a treat! Hope it is a wonderful time for all.
ReplyDeleteB, I thought your pieces of copper in the first photo looked great and then the next photo! Oh wow! So very beautiful. Interesting about the magnets helping with the ringing on the anvil; I hadn't heard that either but good to know. Your luggage will be heavy with anvil and copper added! The trip to Japan will be wonderful - lucky Japanese people to be about to experience your leaf forming!
ReplyDeleteVA, P, LT, V, AA & C - anvil lovers of the world unite - it is so true the mundane and functional can take on its own beauty - a little shine emerging through the rust. VA & P - Japan will be exciting because of friendship links but Tatebayashi has one of the best old fashioned Japanese hardware stores - drool. LT - you make me realise just how fortunate I am to live where I live with access to all my junk and all the copper I can eat. V - yes a very good day and now getting excited about Japan. AA - given your handle and work no surprise that the anvil appeals. C & P - I talked to Noela today - she offered to carry the copper and anvil as she is putting her luggage through whereas Fiona and I are just doing carry on. All - enjoy the extraordinary ordinary things of life. B
ReplyDelete