Rustnstuff: Book stacks

Showing posts with label Book stacks. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Books on the Block - some images of changes over time

I started using books in some of my sculptural work in July 2010. The book stack below dates back to July 2010 - almost 7 years. It gets a bit of protection from overhanging foliage.

The book wall has been in place now since April 2013 - 4 years. It is the most exposed structure; and because we grow orchids in it and at it's base it gets a lot more water sprayed on it. Some images of some great textures and shapes.

The book seats on the terrace and in front of the organic between the mango trees were built in April 2015.

And the most recent Small Book Wall on the terrace was done in Feb 2017.

I love the way the books are ageing; and yet retaining much of their form after so many years. None of the books on the block have been treated or protected in any way.

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Books stacks on the block

I was down the back of the block doing stuff when I noticed how much the old organ and it's book stool had changed over the last 12 months.

This lead me to go around and check out the book stacks on the block. All are doing their quite transitions beautifully - changing and growing wildlife and plants - so I thought I'd share a few images.

I do love the fact that these seats, walls and art pieces are part of our environment but are also gradually breaking down - creating a different beauty.

Friday, April 24, 2015

Art on the block

Art can take some unusual forms - including book stacks, book walls and book benches. In the garage-studio I have had a stash of: encyclopaedias (courtesy of the Local library and friends); and telephone books (courtesy of Ken M). As part of my current de-cluttering and reorganising of my work area I thought it was time to turn these stashes into functional artworks.

The encyclopaedias were to become a bench seat in a shady spot on one of the tree covered terraces.

And the telephone books were destined to become a music seat as part of the decomposing organ installation between the mango trees.

Whilst I was making the many trips backwards and forwards carting materials and books I paused to check out the creativity of the small birds on our block - a now used nest in the very thorny native lime bush which has lost its leaves.

I often think that the changes Fiona and I have made on they block are just part of creating an ever evolving major land sculpture; or at least our own sculpture gallery-garden. Enough for a Friday I think - time for a relaxing red.

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Is it a table or a bench?

The triple book stack bench seat I was commissioned to make was delivered and installed on Friday afternoon.

I wanted to cement it into place; but the owner wanted it to just be secured into the soil with soil and gravel. As I had included legs to be cemented into holes as part of the design we decided to use these to secure the bench seat.

And as you can see from the photos below the book stacks just look like they are part of the environment. Good gravel surrounds for drainage.

I spent quite a bit of time getting the stack level as well as secure. In the end we need to check the level in the mandatory way - a spirit level using three glasses of bubbles - which were also doubled as a celebration of the installation of the piece. So at this stage it became a table.

In the future the new owner will be able to sit on the bench with a glass beside her and just enjoy the view from under the shade of her trees.

This commission has turned out well - a very happy owner; and more Encyclopaedias saved from landfill.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Discovery regarding book stacks

My word for today was discovery; and discover I did.

I had two commissions for book stacks - one a set of three; and another a triple stack bench seat. As you know my book stack in the main are made from hard covered books, such as encyclopaedias and year books that are on their way to the rubbish tip. The woman who wanted the set of three stacks has provided her own encyclopaedias that had been in the family for a long time; and she wanted to repurpose them for sentimental reasons.

I tend to just let the stacks quietly degrade over about 5+ years. But both people who commissioned the stacks were not keen on the natural degrading process. They wanted to keep the books looking more in their original state for longer. I suggested we could spray them with a sealant (yuk); or we could coat them with pure beeswax. They went for the latter. The trick was I had not done that before. So after making the stacks I decided to paint them with molten wax. Fiona lent me her wax wok; and some of the wax we bought recently from a garage sale.

The painting process left a rough wax texture - I wasn't keen on that. I asked Fiona if I could borrow her heat gun so I could melt the wax onto the books like one does with some encaustic work. As you can see from the photo below the heat gun worked a treat.

So after a few hours I had painted and melted and ended up with all the stacks coated in wax - hopefully preserved for a while.

I must say it was a good learning for me; and I will use the technique again - when folk want stacks that don't degrade so quickly. And you can see the wax brings out the colour and detail of the encyclopaedias. I also went for a modified design with these stacks. Instead of drilling holes through the books I put the rods external to the books - hoping to maintain the integrity of the books; and I think it looks a bit finer. These smaller stacks can be used inside the house or in the garden

Enough of that - it is time for a red wine.