Thursday, February 28, 2013

In Progress: A Question of Taste, Part 2.

Welcome back!


Now that my title brass plate is looking as I'd like it, I can put it aside and turn towards modifying the shirt-stud box.

 The top chamber's fabric is gently lifted away. I'll be saving this for something else in the future, perhaps.

 I'm fascinated to expose the hand-carved wood which hasn't seen daylight in almost 150 years. This was truly from a time when most everything was hand-fashioned.

 A circle is scratched into the leather covering...

 ...then cut from the wood to allow a lens to be fitted.
 
A gorgeous old science-instrument lens is chosen, with an amazing geometric mirrored focusing hairline.



 Now the bottom velvet is eased out. Not sure if I'll use this or not just yet.

Here's another quiet delight - the backing material for the velvet panel sports a fragment of mid-19th-century ledger paper. Yum. I ponder all the millions of hidden fragments that lie dormant behind old picture frames, inside book bindings, etc. This little discovery really thrills me.

 The inside of the box exposed. Now it's a blank canvas, just waiting.


Returning to the cello bridge, I inlay a lovely layer of paua shell laminate and grind down the diameter of two small lenses to fit the lower openings.

Checking out the fit and feel.


 As I return to the fork and prepare to bend the tines, I make two decisions: 1) the fork itself will be the element that holds the whole piece in the open position, and 2) from it will be suspended a small mobile.

 The tines ready.

 Off to my storage bits and pieces to find just the right material to fill the box. I find and settle on a spectacular 1787 book cover whose intricate marbleized end paper is perfect.

Cutting out the shape.

The hole in the center will be barely visible behind the lens.

Checking out the order of things...

 Now the interior is built up. Horseshoe crab spines encircle the opening.

In preparation for attaching the lens to the outside of the box, I wax up some heavy 1920's Irish linen thread.

Threading it into place.

  


The spines and book cover as seen through the lens.

The faces to peer from behind all three lenses are chosen from my archives.



 The engravings in place and drying.

 Now strips of text are cut to rim the interior of the magnified space. The man is peering at a green chalcedony, but I decide to replace it with a more subtle organic object:




The whole assembly in place and finished.

With the inner chambers complete up top, the piece awaits the bottom treatment.

Next week, the bottom of the box is addressed, the mobile is created for the front, and the hanging chain or cord is configured, putting the finishing touches on A Question of Gravity. Please join me for the home stretch.

Keith


16 comments:

  1. Totally amazing cant wait to see the next installment

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  2. Ok, I was with you all along....until you added the horseshoe crab spines. Then, I just fell off my chair and am still on the floor. Deep sighing wow...

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  3. you write just as you speak Kieth and I find it very soothing. "watching" you work like this is a peaceful, creative journey - no angst or decision making - just enjoying the ride. Ta muchly!
    x
    sue

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  4. Oh, your archives! Your collections! Your stash! All fabulous. And that's not taking imagination and abilities into account!

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  5. not sure what holds the horshoe spines and the image to the glaas...just pressure from the linen LOVE seeeing the progress!

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  6. Awesome process, Keith! Thanks for sharing.

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  7. Oh my - what a treasure to see those handmade marks in the wood. I wouldn't be able to cover it up!

    Really wonderful piece and your writing a treasure, too.

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  8. What an amazing journey it would be to live for one day in your talented and inventive brain......absorbing every nuance of your inspiring, wonderful work.

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  9. Just love it Keith!! Thanks for taking the time to photograph these steps, so cool! Riki

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  10. wow, it is amazing to peek inside your mind like this....scary and beautiful all at the same time!

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  11. Sublime!! What a fun trip this is!!

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  12. Having attempted to document my work and having seen what a massive amount of time it adds to the process, I really want to thank you for taking the time to make it happen in your studio. We obviously all like what you do, but to help us see the steps and the decisions along the way is the cat's pajamas.

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  13. incredible and beautiful keith! tx so much for sharing with us and allowing us to see a little of how that awesome mind of yours works and how you look at a piece of art you are working on! aloha, angi in hana

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  14. I'm enjoying this journey with you so much!! One question, how did you attach the horseshoe crab spines? Also, you might have covered this, but did you split one of the fork tines?

    Hoping to take your mobile class this year. ;)
    xo J xo

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  15. This will be a champion piece. Was it dap for the spines? I am loving the interplay of lines and shapes, the connotations brought by the materials, the unexpected associations, all of them coming together to provoke one's heart. I love that about you, Keith!

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  16. Simply amazing. Love your art work. I shared this to my sister she asked me to buy this lol.

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