Signs of protest

I'm really liking the design of the '70' protest signs in support of Tim DeChristopher (see www.bidder70.org or http://www.peacefuluprising.org/climate-trial).

Simple, elegant, and repeatable.

Evolution Benches, part 2

These benches are made of reclaimed pallet wood and decommissioned aluminum bomb fins.  I named them the 'Evolution Benches' because I wanted a project that would represent the next step in the evolution of human interaction.

Specifically, I used symbols that resonated with a way people could interact with each other that would be more productive than the current status quo of political, religious, class, gender, and economic division and antagonism.

This is a representation of the 'Beard-Pullers' motif found in many Celtic designs.  The Beard Pullers are characters that struggle with each other to each's benefit.

These are crows, commonly used as trickster archetypes, especially in Native American tales.

This is an image of the Green Man, another Celtic design representing the change of seasons and our interaction with nature.

This is a Celtic knot, one continuous strand that weaves upon itself to symbolize the connection people, places, and things have with each other.

Many fascinating wood grain designs buried within the raw pallet lumber became apparent when the wood was milled down and finished.

The Woolf Table

One of the great things about collaborating with other artists is that ideas spring up that otherwise wouldn’t have. 

I’m working on part of an installation piece with Stefanie Dykes, a local sculptor and printmaker for a show starting this March.  The focus will be on using printmaking, paper sculpture, and reclaimed wood to create a piece about the power of literature and the womens’ rights movement.  Specifically, we’ve been looking at Virginia Woolf for inspiration.  Having a ‘room of one’s own’ (both metaphorically and physically) is important for many marginalized groups to regain their voice.

I especially like using reclaimed materials in this context.  Things that no longer serve their purpose to the larger society, whether shipping pallets or the energy that fuels misogyny, are ripe to be repurposed for a greater good.

Sketches of the overall table design

Donor pallets

The reason many pallets don't fall apart earlier is because of these spiral nails.  They also make taking them apart difficult; this table is using the wood from 7 pallets and it took 16 hours to pick out and mill down the usable wood.

Removed pallet wood  drying -- usually the wood is very well dry by the time I get it, but this had been out in the snow for a season.

The rough-cut cabriolet table legs of laminated wood.

Some of Stefanie Dykes' book sculptures to be added to the table top.

The Canyon Table -- Part 6

The completed Canyon Table:

The carvings on the surface are of the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers in Utah.

The leg design was inspired by the Gamble oak tree branch structure.