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Archive for the ‘unusual collection’ Category

Figure with River Sun Disk, 6/09

Today was the first classic hot and humid day at the bottom of the river.  It can be amazing how much can change in a week.  All the vegetation was approaching it’s greenist and the waves were rolling across the sand.  Another river sweep occured today and I did my part by making this sculpture.  I found the foam, sticks, plastic, etc…along a walk I did Saturday morning.  This post is as much about the power of context…same figure, but different backdrops within the park’s confines.  Different possible narratives are suggested by changing the locations.  The first picture is one my wife said I should put in.  She likes that yellow disk I found and set up for the photograph.  I found it on the water’s edge and equate it with the sun.  Moving right along…River Sweepers, 6/09..  …. .   ..  .    .    .

 

A scheduled river sweep brought a dedicated group of concerned citizens together to pick up trash around the interpretive center.  I intersected them at the fossil rocks.  I wonder what they think when they trip across my studios with their caches of polystyrene?  Bless them for their labors, but try as you might…you just can’t get it all.  I know because I looked over the other side of the dam!

Fish Dance, 6/09

Alive this was a really impressive fish.  Probably one of the larger Freshwater Drum I’ve seen here.  They are kind of common and considered more of a trash fish than table fare by the local fishermen.  I put the sculpture next to the drum…it’s one way to get the river’s fish in the picture.

Dancing figure, 6/09

With a foot wedged into the crack along the fossil cliffs…the figure becomes a graceful dancing character.  The leaning tree adds another point of interest in this design.  It still needs a little more light on the figure.

Head in hand, 6/09

The milk jug cap folded in two made a great mouth.  The nose is a cap of a pen or marker.  One eye is a fishing bobber the other is a round piece of plastic with a hole in it.  I added the blue insulation foam crest to increase the presence of the head.  One last image…from what proved to be fruitful day on the river.Sun Dish and River, 6/09

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Fruit Seller

So far, everything I’ve featured on this blog was made on site at the Falls of the Ohio State Park.  I do, however, make independent art works from the same materials collected in the park.  Over the years, I have removed more than may fair share of junk off the riverbank and to my wife’s chagrin, brought it home.  I do prefer working on site, but making more conventional art objects from the same found materials comes in handy for other purposes.  I have made, exhibited, and yes, sold work through various shows and galleries.  I have also given as gifts many of these sculptures to family and friends.  And I wonder if this is true in other places as well, but I do get many requests from not for profit groups to donate items to fund raising auctions.  Among Louisville artists there is ongoing conversation as to whether this is a good practice if you are seriously interested in establishing a market value for your work.  For the most part, I don’t worry about this and feel it’s up to the individual artist to do what works best for them.  When I can, and when I have a personal connection to the organization and or believe in their mission…I’ll give them an artwork.  The above piece is such a case in point.  I call this work the “The Fruit Seller” and it’s made from 100% found materials from the Falls of the Ohio State Park.  It’s the second piece I have donated to the park to support their “Rock the Rocks” fundraiser. The sculpture from last year did pretty well in the auction.  Materials gathered and incorporated include Styrofoam, driftwood, mussel shells (the ears), various plastics, fishing bobber (nose), and walnut shell (mouth).  Of course, all the plastic fruit is from the river as is the reflectors and beaver-chewed sticks used for the legs and even the painted base was found.  If anyone is interested in learning more about the park, here is their website’s link:  www.fallsoftheohio.org  The event is scheduled to occur on August 22, at the park’s Interpretive Center.

Fruit Seller, back view

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Bottle Collection

I posted a new collection in my pages section.  Comprised of images instead of objects, this “portfolio” features plastic bottles, some with contents, that have washed ashore at the Falls of the Ohio State Park.  This collection documents a family of objects we rarely pay attention to and yet comprises a noticeable addition to the river’s flotsam.

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superimposed toy boat

Well, I think I just made up a new word…although I don’t believe the Oxford Dictionary will be calling me up any time soon.  I just couldn’t think of the right thing to call these three images that seemed to fit them.  The idea is simple enough.  I overlay a found object ( like these toys) and take a picture that includes a backdrop of  the landscape they were found in.  Maybe, some wordmeister out there can hit the nail on the head.  This was a late summer image from 2008.

toy boat superimposed, 5/09

Another toy boat on the water from a couple weeks ago.  Photographed with the tainter gates as a backdrop.

toy helicopter superimposed, 5/09

Found this broken toy helicopter and thought it looked good against the blue sky.  Isn’t this what kids do…hold toys up and imagine they are somewhere else and real?  I don’t recall if I was making engine noises too!

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sign fragment detail

Just posted another in a series of river collections I have made at the Falls of the Ohio State Park.  This series can be seen in my Pages section.  The image above is a detail from one of the found signs.  What man created, nature altered.  There is a very contemporary feel to these lucky finds.

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fake food in styrofoam box, 5/09

I’ve started posting various collections I’ve formed of river junk found at the Falls of the Ohio.  Here is but a “taste”.  You will need to check my Pages for updates.  It’s all 100% stuff that has traveled down the Ohio River.  Above is my “Fake Food Collection” in the box.  In my collections section you can see the contents spread out.

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