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The story behind this commission is heart-warming...
A devoted husband wanted to surprise his wife with a custom-made gift for their 6th wedding anniversary. The year # 6 traditional wedding gift is IRON, so he set out looking for a gift in that medium...
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 This slender sculpture emulates sea grasses undulating in the ocean’s current.
‘Underwater Wisps’ features textured tapers, a bulbous pod, and a hint of an anemone emerging from the base. The compact size of this piece makes it a suitable accent for a bookshelf, fireplace mantel, or desk credenza. Or as a gift to your favorite marine biologist!... ‘Underwater Wisps’ measures 15” tall x 7” wide x 3” deep. This commissioned paper towel holder is nature’s form turned into whimsical function at its finest. An anemone holds the paper towel roll in place. A strategically positioned coral arm serves as de facto ‘backstop’ for tearing off a paper towel.
I was asked to make this common kitchen fixture as part of a client's home renovation. I thoroughly enjoyed turning a common kitchen fixture into a featured item. (I also created a suite of bath fixtures for this client which you can read about HERE). I forged steel bar and pipe using my 25-lb. Little Giant power hammer and two different sets of dies (drawing dies and art dies). The base is torch-cut 1/2" steel plate. I used my usual method of sealing with a clear lacquer after cleaning the metal with a wire wheel. Jenny wanted a mail holder, not unlike my ‘armadillo mail holder’. Except she didn’t want an armadillo.
So I pulled an exoskeleton from my scrap pile of previously-started-then-aborted projects -- in this case, an attempt at a pea pod using my tack-and-bend technique. Each year I make donations of sculpture to non-profits. Balcones Forge and Child Advocates were the two most recent recipients of a pair of my elephant ear bookends to include in silent auctions at their annual fundraisers. Funds raised from my donated sculpture will go towards the mission of each of these non-profits. I wish them the best in their endeavors!
On Saturday evening, October 5, Third Coast Gallery in Galveston, TX, displayed a collection of my welded steel sculpture and hammered sheet vessels. Friends and family joined me for my gallery debut and celebrated this milestone with me. I'm so grateful for their support and for making the effort to attend ArtWalk, a coordinated opening of evening receptions and art-related events at galleries and art spaces held in the heart of historic downtown Galveston. The weather was lovely, and ArtWalk had a great turnout. Third Coast Gallery had good foot traffic practically the whole time, and I sold several pieces that evening. My pieces will be on display through November 27. If you stop by, please tell Jack and Charlie hello!  Pictured above is a variety of hammered sheet vessels, all made in preparation for my gallery debut at Third Coast Gallery in Galveston, TX. Gallery co-owners Jack Morris and his son, Charlie, liked a piece I made as a birthday gift for my mother. They asked if I could make a few more for their gallery.
For these shallow vessels, I hand-hammered 16-gauge sheet metal into the desired shape. I then affixed the legs that look best for that shape. For some reason, my vessels tend to have three legs. I guess I like the way three legs look. Regardless, the vessels are well-balanced and suitable as a curio by the door for keys, wallets, or candies. They also are pieces of artwork in their own right... I’m pleased to announce that each of these vessels includes my touchmark. I had to constantly remind myself to stamp the metal BEFORE hammering the vessel into shape! These hammered sheet vessels pictured above are about 4” tall. They range from 7-16” long, and from 4-6” wide. My mother turned 80-something on this day. In celebration of her birthday, she received 80-something roses (one rose representing each year!). They made quite a bouquet, just as all her years have added up to a rich, full life.
She also received 'Scrap Vessel I', a piece of art I made especially for her. (I had to practically pry it from a Galveston gallery owner's hands the day before, but that's another story for another day...and a good one at that!) To begin, I pulled a hammered sheet discard from my scrap pile. I edged the piece with 1/4" round rod to give it depth. The legs were inspired by bent 1/4" round rod scraps cluttering my welding table. I LOVE the unique legs on this piece! Mother's gift came with the 'touchmark chit' in the middle photo above. I tried marking the vessel itself, but my touchmark jumped around, so it wasn't very legible. It's not as easy for me to mark my work as I thought... Overall, this piece is about 16" long, 4" deep, and about 2.5" tall. I sealed it with with clear lacquer to preserve the raw steel color. |
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