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Sorry for the delay, all. Here are the identities of the last round of objects (for those who haven't seen the last round, find them here:
#8: I marveled at this little personality when it came tumbling out of my Special K box one morning - as I was about to post my mystery objects, I thought it was an obvious sign from the breakfast gods. Couldn't bring myself to eat it though - it's now in my studio, awaiting.
#9: Corner bumper from an old suitcase - dragged from the Deer Island Dump in 1996.
#10: One of my early found items - it's the side panel from a champagne corkscrew, circa 1830's. It's one of the objects I think I would have wanted to save intact, but what did I know then??
#11: A fulgurite. This beautiful natural object occurs when lightning strikes sand or soil and fuses the surrounding ground into glass. Peering into the hole, you can think of it as a negative of a lightning bolt. Amazing. More info on fulgurites here.
#12: Good guessing, all - it is indeed a pierced brass cage for a work light, here shown open. I've flirted with making this into goggles since I found it way back.
#13: This is the inner plastic seal from a drink bottle, encrusted with sea life. Found on the beach.
#14: No one got this one. It's a Roman-era horse boss, which is a bronze decoration attached to the animal's harness.
Thanks for playing to those who gave it a whirl, it was very fun.
Lots to post in the coming week - firstly, I'll announce the winner of my upcoming DVD - those who sent me images of their own mystery objects were eligible. Look for that in a few days. Following that, I'll start you on the in-progress journey of my new sculptural object - another series of firsts for me. It's still being made now in my studio, and is coming along well - and is really unlike anything else I've made.
Ciao!
Keith
Unlike life's other great mysteries, this one can be cleared up now (well, except for one). I'm speaking of course of the first Mystery Objects post last week. THANKS to all of you for putting such brow-furrowed intensity (not to mention hilarious flights of fancy) into your study of these objects.
Here are the answers to the pictorial puzzles.
#1: This may be one of my favorite found objects in all my years of collecting, which is why it was first in the line-up. Congrats to Jo for guessing this almost exactly: it is a baby's plastic rattle, picked off of a chipboard floor after a fire. It has an unbelievably organic, hide-like appearance, until you pick it up and it weighs practically nothing, and still rattles. Excellent that it inspired a dream, Laura.
#2: This one eluded everyone. It's so beautiful, it's hard to imagine it's as mundane an object as it is. I picked this up off the street as I was crossing at a light one day. if you turn your orientation - that is, tilt your head to the left, it will be easier to read as the plastic handle off a paper shopping bag, with one side separated from the cardboard stapled inner support. The Asian quality to this object makes its real identity harder to parse. I adore this thing.
#3: Some of you got close, but no-one pegged it exactly. It is indeed a gasket of sorts. But it came off of a very old 1920's vacuum-cleaner bag. I've saved this for years hoping it would work its way into some eyewear.
#4: This one remains a total mystery to me. I bought it at an antique store here in Sydney about 6 months ago, and it was sold by a dealer who specialised in old childrens' toys. The long vertical slotted bit is loose but doesn't lift or swing too much. I just can't work this out - the closest I can guess is it's part of a handmade scale model of a catapult. I hope someone can prove me wrong….!
#5: Part of the inner carriage of a very old typewriter - it mounted somewhere behind the array of key arms.
#6: Most of you got this one - a rubber foot pedal cover from an old car - likely the emergency brake. I love what a graphically strong object it is when removed from its context. Can't wait to utilise this.
#7: Congrats go to Priscilla Moore for nailing this one. She emailed her guess to me, and even included a picture as backup - nice! It's a cattle tag, as shown.
I'll put up my next grouping tomorrow, so check back then.
And keep emailing me your own mystery objects - there are some real beauties - stiff competition!
Keith
All this pottering around in my lair pawing through amazing objects has given me two good ideas.
Number one: Below, I'm posting the first in a series of wonderfully mysterious objects - these are objects that have excited and baffled me. In fact, there's one below that I still know nothing about (maybe someone will illuminate me!). I am not saying what these are, but would love you to post, in order of appearance, what you believe them to be. I will include approximate sizes (Also, the first object is shown from three sides; the rest have single images). Click on them to view each one large.
I've shown the first two objects in past workshops to illustrate a discussion about mystery and identity, so some of you know what they are - don't post what they are if you're one of those people!
My next posting, next week, will disclose the answers, so you can check how you did.
Number two: Here's an OPEN CALL to all you collectors of bits and bobs out there. Email me images of your most mysterious object/s (email to keith AT lobue-art DOT com) with the subject heading MYSTERY OBJECTS. I will post selected ones to the blog and the guessing game will continue.
The person who emails me the most amazing and mysterious object will receive a FREE COPY of my new DVD 'Oneirocritica: The Found-Object Sculpture of Keith Lo Bue' upon completion. I'll be judging purely by the object, so no favorites will be played.
Good luck and happy fossicking (non-Australians, look that one up).
And now without further ado, I give you the first parade of mystery...
#1: Approx. 3 1/2" (9cm) tall
#2: Approx. 8" x 7" (20.5 x 18cm)
#3: Approx. 7" (18cm) wide
#4: Approx. 10" x 4" (25.5 x 10cm)
#5: Approx. 5" (13cm) wide
#6: Approx. 3" x 2" (8 x 5cm)
#7: Approx. 3.5" x 3" (9 x 8cm)Let the games begin. And taking images from you now...
Keith
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