Friday, May 15, 2015

For family on Friday

On my art to do list I have had a couple of art tasks to do for my brother and his wife: to turn three special vintage, but rusty, hammers into an assemblage: and to finish the small 'temple' bell I was making out of a small but thick walled aluminium gas cylinder.

©2015 Barry Smith - Detail of bell and Japanese mallet
We caught up for a couple of hours some weeks back and I made a commitment to myself that when the next art gap appeared I would do these tasks. We had discussed the form for the hammer assemblage - tripod in shape. Today was the day. I need Fiona's hands and eye and blutack to get the arrangement right; and to drill the holes for the bolt to hold it all together.

©2015 Barry Smith - Hammers 'tacked' in place; and drilled but not bolted
The  hammers were given a bit of straightening, good grind-clean; and then polish with metal polish and timber oil.

©2015 Barry Smith - The true beauty shines through
They were bolted together with a threaded rod and self locking nuts. The whole arrangement was set on a scrap of Camphor Laurel that was cut to size, sanded and polished with eco oil. The hammers have had one hole drilled in the handle of each - so they can be dis-assembled and used. The bolt and nuts have a degree of play in it so the hammers can be moved a bit to take on the tripod shape; and then lock in place and stand with no other fixture.


©2015 Barry Smith - Hammer assemblage on Camphor Laurel timber
©2015 Barry Smith - Hammer assemblage on Camphor Laurel timber
The bell was given a good grind to remove the thick blue paint - though I have left a few hints here and there - part of its history as are the stamped numbers etc. The threaded and drilled brass hanging arrangement was cut down and given more of a grind. And I covered visible brass thread with string; and added a white rope for hanging the whole thing up.

I have an old Japanese wooden metal working mallet - I'm thinking that could be the gong. I tested the mallet on the bell - it has a good resonance - bit crisp but that is the aluminium.

©2015 Barry Smith - Bell - about 30cm high and 15cm in diameter
©2015 Barry Smith - Bell and Japanese mallet
Now to make arrangements to deliver the pieces. But for now that is enough - Fiona suggests bubbles are the go for this Friday night.

5 comments:

  1. i love the experimentation and variety in your work. it is always fresh, but always unmistakably you. what kind of hammers are those? and were they used by your brother?

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  2. Oh, B, I think I have hammer envy! When I see how beautifully they came up I see what I should be doing with my collection. Cleaning them, not necessarily turning them into a fabulous work of art, though that would be a lovely thing to do. Inspiring, as always.

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  3. Hi J, MJ & C - thanks for checking out the hammers cant bell - and thanks for your comments. MJ - the hammers belonged to my brother's wife's father - in the early part of his life he was an upholster - he died at 90+ so the hammers are probably 75 years old. C - the grind and polish brings the art of the tools out - I'm sure you can get into it. All - go well. B

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  4. Hammers are so beautiful! I wonder how old they are. They are so beautifully made too ... i imagine a middle aged man working with them in his work shack. Pretty darn romantic if you ask me ...

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