Rustnstuff

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

A pair of Travellers' Shrines

Over the last few days I have been jumping around a bit making different pieces for different purposes as time has allowed: ladles for Maleny Additions shop; Peace Book Pendants and small bowls and Pods for our open studio; a pair of Travellers' Shrines and finishing off a third shrine; as well as helping Craige with the extension to the driveway (a deck thingy for cars).

Today I committed to finishing the 3 Traveller's shrines (two were commissions); and am happy to say I completed the task.

The new pair of shrines were cut from a small worn drinks tray - silver plate over fairly thick copper - very old and a gorgeous pattern and patina. As with my Travellers' Shrines each is made up of: the folded and riveted metal box lined with felt; a small offering bowl (can double as an incense bowl); an incense stick holder; some short lengths of Japanese incense; a peace leaf; and a small mat to set out the shrine. Photos of the competed pair follow.

I am pleased how these shrines turned out. They are smallish - about 8-9cm long and 6cm wide. I like to think that they will bring a little peace and stillness into the lives of the owners (travellers).

Sunday, November 10, 2013

A few more COMA images

As readers of my blog and Facebook would be aware this weekend has been pretty busy with the Printmakers and Holden's Gallery exhibitions. But no rest for the wicked: Fiona and I have another 601mvr open studio coming up on 23-24 November; and Ken M - the world wandering coordinator of COMA - reminded us that the information of our COMA pieces was due on 15 November, pieces were to be delivered to Tree Frog Gallery by 21 November and the exhibition opening was on 22 November. So I thought I'd better finish my piece.

This COMA exhibition is based on the theme of memories. Well trees have always played an important role in my inner self - so I have created a mini tree that is loosely based on an old Mango tree that was on the bank of a river in my small western Queensland country town. When I was a young lad I and a few friends raided this tree each mango season - it was always always one of those wild joys - it represented freedom and the abundance of nature.

My wee tree (The Mango Tree) is made from: recycled copper wire; brass plate from a building sign; and a brass curved piece from the base of a brass pot. The tiny leaves (31 in all) are made from fine brass sheet. As per Ken's instructions regarding 3D pieces, the tree is 300mm high and about the same in diameter (from leaf tip to leaf tip). The leaves vary in size from about 12mm to 25mm. A few images of the tree follow.

Now all I need to do is get my exhibition form filled in and sort out my 100 words before 15 November. Thanks Ken for coordinating this from Spain; and thanks Heather for hosting the exhibition.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Joining a couple of artists in the Holden's Gallery exhibition

I was asked by the Phil and Jenny Holden to submit a body of small indoor 3D works to complement the paintings by Gary Myers and Jo Duckworth in a November-December Holden's Gallery exhibition. I agreed to show hammered bowls - some pieces from my studio-gallery and a number of new pieces.

The exhibition officially opens in Holden's Gallery Coral Street Maleny at 12noon tomorrow (Saturday 9 Nov). The exhibition runs for a month; but there is a special showing this weekend (both Saturday and Sunday 8-9 Nov).

All works my works are made from recycled metal and objects. Most of the pieces I am showing are as follows:

Holden's Gallery is just across the road from 37 Coral Street where the Printmakers exhibition - Pearls from the Press is being held - so you can check both exhibitions out this weekend.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Prints coming together

It has been quite a task to produce 10 original prints and 10 copies of each. And of course as Fiona indicated it does not finish there as there is: signing, photographing, packing, putting stickers on and doing a one page catalogue.

But below you will find my 10 prints (no expert photography mind and they are cropped). Each print is an open edition; and at this point in time I have made 10 of each print. Each print is 13.5cm (h) X 11.5cm (w) and fits into a CD case stand. The size and weight means they are great gifts for posting.

I have done an Urban Elements series….

A few landscapes ….

A couple of different bowls …..

A pair of daisies

And a beached fishing boat ……

As Fiona said in her post, prints that don't sell in the Maleny Printmakers exhibition will be for sale at our Open Studio on 23-24 November. If you will not be able to make to the exhibition or our Open Studio feel free to email me and I will see what we can organise.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Art on the block is nothing without a Peacock or two

Fiona captured the photos in this post on Friday afternoon whilst I was cutting down weeds with the whipper-snipper.

A couple of Peacocks came to visit from the gardens in the valley below us. I just loved how they ranged over the block seeming to check out the art works and new building works. The white Peacock was an unusual sight. The other Peacock has visited before.

Just thought I had to share those. And yes they did wander home. Almost scared the living daylights out of me as I saw them out of the corner of my eye - I was not sure what the large dark shape was that suddenly appeared beside me. I had earphones on and engine running so I did not hear the darker Peacock approach; and I knew it was not a wallaby.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Fireplace flue makeover

I had an unusual request - could I "do something" with a length of stained and burnt stainless steel fireplace flue so that it could become a feature in a garden.

Well, what else could one do but surround the flue with a spiral of patinated copper leaves on a twined copper vine.

As part of the process I made the leaf forms (made from recycled copper from a shower base); and riveted thick recycled copper wire into the leaves.

Lovely fire colour when the leaves were annealed before opening.

And then: polish; add a dash of patina solution; spray with fixative; and polish off the edges.

Twine them all into a long strand before attaching them to the pipe.

All round good bit of recycling. And creating "something' for the garden. Now I'm off to drink some bubbles.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Circular Personal Shrine

I have completed a circular Personal Shrine. I was asked to make it with a moon and stars theme to it.

My Personal Shrines differ from the Travellers' Shrines in that the former are used to create a personal and sacred or quiet space in a home; whereas the Travellers's Shrines are able to be taken on journeys. The shrine is about 32cm in diameter and the shelf about 10cm wide.

This shrine started its life as: a couple of large serving trays; the lid of a food bowl; cogs from old clock; large brass and copper tacks; and a scrap of 10mm thick marine ply.

These all come together in a shiny way to form the shrine.

Of course as a shrine it also gets an offering bowl and an inspiration leaf (peace).

This Personal Shrine is now ready for a new home; and to create a sacred-quiet space.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Progressing a bunch of things

I have a number of projects on the drawing board at the moment. The projects include: a circular Personal Shrine; Daily Words sets; a Leaf Spiral around a stainless steel cylinder; and a 3D piece for COMA. I have decided to progress them together as tasks permit. Spare time over the last couple of days have been spent mainly on cutting up and doing some initial hammering and polishing.

Mind you one casualty of all this cutting was my small guillotine. I don't know my own strength - I busted the stainless steel handle.

I cut and hammered pieces for the circular Personal shrine; and then managed to drill and polish those pieces for assembling.

Thanks to Kim S for rescuing the two trays that have gone into this Personal Shrine. They looked in pretty bad shape; but after quite a bit of polishing they have come up OK. Shows you can't judge metal by it grime.

Cut lots of fine brass sheet for leaves for my COMA piece.

Cut and did the first stage of hammering of 10 Daily Word bowls.

Cut the metal for words for Daily Words.

And cut and annealed copper for the leaf spiral.

And because I was in a cutting and polishing mode I made a wee book for the Maleny Celebration of Books team (which includes Fiona) to mark the completion of this years huge and successful effort. I cut the CoB brochure down and included it in the riveted book.

A good weekend of work in the studio-garage. I will get to finish a couple of the pieces during the week.

The person who commissioned the Steampunkish magazine rack paid for it and took delivery of it today - a happy client.