mary's machine
The inspiration for this sculpture was a treadle operated sewing machine owned by my mother, a lifelong seamstress. I refurbished it, removed the wooden cabinet and replaced it with a stainless steel tabletop to hold the machine in the upright working position. The shaped metal surrounding it is 24 gauge galvanized sheet steel formed by hammer and English wheel. The outer surface remains untouched while the underside is painted bright orange.
Poppy Gate
This gate was inspired by the papery appearance of poppies when in bloom. The flower petal sections were made by pressing roughly circular pieces of reclaimed copper flashing into an improvised cup shaped die on a small press. As the press forced the material into the form, folds developed randomly and were manipulated to enhance the effect.
The central detail was made from salvaged electrical cable and, although slightly loose, is actually held fast in a shop built fixture which is also holding the rest of the flower. This fixture is welded to the one inch diameter curved pipe that forms the stem.The frame and wavy elements were made from two inch by quarter inch flat stock bent by hand. The gate fits a three foot opening and is shown here in my display stand.
Green Flower Gate
This is a large gate I built for a passageway between a garden and my shop. The petals of the flower were made from eighteen gauge steel and formed by hand hammering and English wheel work. The frame is one inch by two inch steel tubing with a curved top made on a hand roller. Although the piece is quite heavy the hinge side rests on concrete at ground level and puts minimal stress on the fence post.
Alice's Bench
Alice’s Bench was built from large panels of eighteen gauge steel, shaped and manipulated using almost the full range of metal working options including hand and power hammering and English wheel. The underlying frame was made from inch and a quarter schedule forty pipe and quarter inch by two inch flat stock steel. The backrest supporting elements are three lengths of one inch diameter solid rod, hand bent, ending in heat formed spirals.
Green Vessel
This is a companion piece for Alice’s bench; a large vessel, suitable for use as a planter or light fixture, built on a reclaimed cast iron stove base. The petals are clear coated sixteen gauge steel shaped on an English wheel.
Boxed Roses
I have made a number of these small sculptures and keep returning to this simple composition set in a sawn piece of heavy four inch square tubing. The flowers are hand hammered from eighteen gauge steel. The center swirl is eighth inch rod shaped with heat.
The Singer Piece
I built this as a birthday present for my mother who owned and operated Singer sewing machines all her life.
The idea for the piece began with the stamped metal Singer sign I found in a scrapyard years ago. The fashion illustration style I remember from 1950s pattern covers inspired the form of the dress.
The figure was made from hand bent one inch by quarter inch flat stock steel. The base plate is six inches by thirty eight inches, three eighths of an inch thick. The shape and size of the Singer nameplate became the waist of the dress, which dictated the proportions. The overall height is approximately four feet.
This piece, while extremely stable, flexes and moves at the slightest touch because of the single point of contact at the base.
Barbara's Red Dress
Barbara’s Red Dress is a larger, but simpler design, approximately five and a half feet tall. The belt was made from sixteenth inch by three inch flat stock, shaped by hand and finished with a shop built stainless steel buckle. The base, a large recycled cast iron pulley encased in a refurbished sheet metal dome cut from the top of a scrapped water tank , is very stable.
This piece, while extremely stable, flexes and moves at the slightest touch because of the single point of contact at the base.
