Hi guys: I've added a little balancing rock garden to the top right cubby. You'll notice that the top two pieces of the rock pile are balanced to the far left (thank God for epoxy!). I alslo pieced some broken ceramic from the mug that was in my Construction box and placed it at the top center. To the right is a small thimble with baby's breath. All in all, I was trying to create some harmonious scene. Don't know if it worked but it's staying.
In the center piece of the box I pasted two old magazine covers from the early 1920s. The top illustration comes from a magazine titled "The American Home" and the second piece is from an old advertisement for Victor Bicycles and it says "The Victor" It shows two young men who are waving their ahnds and the word "Victor" on their shirts with a bike in the middle. Well, you can put two and two together for the meaning you think is represents in this piece for "Construction for Humanity." But just in case you need some nudging, let review.
"The American Home" -- Isn't that what we are representing. Building homes for families through "Habitat for Humanity" — homes that families can feel safe and secure. We are the "Victors" in all this — victorious. Hey, it works for me!
I added a large assembled figure using a number of pieces that I had in my studio. I add three things that came in the construction box. The white cotton cord I used around the figur's waste. It has been tinted/stained. The yellow fabric I drapped around the figures neck and down the side were from the box. The two ends of the scarf are hanging off of a broken handle that came off the ceramic mug. It's glued to the side of the frame box and is hanging on that. The figure's body comes from an old spanish doll form that I had from Spain. The wings come from an old angel ornament. The arm comes from a religious statue. The head also comes from the religious statue that is attached to the body. I stained the figure to give it a vintage look.
Okay class, what does this figure represent? No? Don't know? Here goes—This is the angel "Charmeine" who represents the angel of Harmony—it shows us how to bring harmony into our lives. She represents joy, happiness, friendship and love. So there you go. That's all I'm doing for now. I am not done with the piece, just taking a break. Signing off. Anastasia S. Weigle, In A Bind.
Today I decided to skip the gym in the morning, cancelled a meeting and got busy.
Man, there is so much different fabric that I am trying to incorporate a piece of everything while keeping the design cohesive. You’ll notice that I am spending a lot of time prepping the box, painting and shellac. I do this because it is a form of meditation for me. As I work on the box, I am not really thinking so much as feeling the motion of the brush, the colors that I see, they way the different mediums I use and how they react to each other. As I am doing this, thoughts/ideas pop up into my head about the box and the message I want to convey. It’s an entirely organic process for me.
First thing I did was sand the back of my box and then used yellow oxide acrylic and a clean cloth and rubbed it over the existing color I had. I then dry ragged it to remove the excess. This continued to create an old patina to the back. You are wondering why I am bothering to do so much to the back? Because the back of this assemblage will be equally important as the front. It, too, will have some sort of assemblage/construction/art.
I cut four small pieces of the white fabric that was in my construction box and lined the small drawers. Each drawer houses an assemblage or object that represents to me “Harmony” or “Living in Harmony”. Nature (organic) and construction (inorganic) are the two driving themes when I say “Living in Harmony.” I also brushed some Calypso orange to the front drawer and dry ragged it off. I tinted the knobs as well.
In drawer one I assemblage a small bird. I started with a small white bird you would buy at a craft store where the wedding items are. I removed the tail and wing feather.
I then took the chip brush that was in my Construction Box and removed the bristles.
I then took a portion of the bristle and created a new tail and added a small metal heart that I clipped from a bracelet and adhered that tool. I added two new wings that are curled and covered them with green cloth that was in my box. I then used a small aluminum coin and using a jeweler’s anvil hammered it to create a small curve that I glued to the back of the birds head. I used the tip of one of the nails for its beak. I added a small curled vine twig to the top of its head and a piece of bauble on its chest that reads “love” on one side and “inspire” on the other. I then tinted with stain. This bird represents beauty and harmony.
In drawer two is a small plastic vile and stuffed in it are the dry petals from a pink carnation. The top and sides of the vile/tube was deliberately cracked and broken. I stuffed the top with a speckled pebble from the beach and wrapped elastic cord around the tube. The piece represents man’s futility in trying to control nature, hence the cracked plastic tube. On a side note, I chose to use plastic because I felt it represented inorganic waste/trash.
In drawer three, I have broken bits of marble, slate, stone and concrete that was in my box. These represent the enduring strength of nature. That no matter what we do, nature will, in the end, prevail over man.
In the fourth drawer is a small bundle of incense wrapped with unbleached cotton ribbon. Attached to the incense are small pieces of curly vine. The sweet aroma of the incense symbolizes something pleasing and acceptable being offered to God who gave us authority over the planet. The question we have to ask ourselves is have we taken that responsibility to heart?
Each box has a small tag attached with string. Each tag was created using the small round dots of the colorful fabric that was in my box. A word is written on back of each tag. I use letters torn out of my vintage magazine collection. I used the following words to represent each drawer:
1.Bird = tag: Spirit
2.Vile with petals = tag: Futility
3.Rocks/Stone = Strength
4.Incense = for God
I also used that fabric to line the cubbyhole that is above the four drawers. Once that dried I brushed it with tinted shellac. I then painted the shelves cadmium orange and then dry brushed transparent raw sienna acrylic over that. It seemed to match nicely with the color Calypso Orange. I then finished it all off which images pasted inside the back wall where the drawers go in and glued pieces of rulers
to the shelf front. This is all part of the assemblage process that I describe as “automatic writing.”
I've been working since 9 am and it is now 3:30 pm. I am done for the day. I think I earned a burger and a beer so I'm off to get that! Signing off. Anastasia S. Weigle, In A Bind.
Good evening everyone: I'm standing here with the small can of paint that came with my box of construction items. The color is called: Calypso Orange and I really like it. I decided to paint the back of the frame the orange color. I added heavy coats mixed with shellac and uneven brush strokes just to make it look old. (image 1).
I painted the drawers on the outer part the orange. Then I will lightly shellac the drawer covers, let them dry, treat them with a wash of orange and shellac again. (image 2)
I am going to use four different fabrics for the inside of these boxes. You can see above on the left photo, the fabrics I chose and on the right the lining of the fabric in the boxes. (image 3).
This took me about three hours. Tomorrow I am going to finish the interior of the box and start to assemble to put into it. Tomorrow I am going to finish the interior of the box and then start assembling objects to go inside. Signing off. Anastasia S. Weigle, In A Bind.
Okay gang. I came home after a very long meeting, had some good dark beer (Old Rasputin) and a Lean Cuisine (Well I have to cut calories somewhere—dark beer is heavy)!
I am now building four little drawers for my construction. I am using my he-man tools for this (my beloved table saw). I am going to use the nails that were in my construction box for the drawer pulls. But, wait, do I hear something calling me. Hmmm.
Those nails seem a bit too plan for my style. That's when I heard the broken dishes calling me over to where they were laying on my studio floor. I picked a few pieces up and noticed at the back of each piece was a stamp of the makers name "Union Stoneware." The stamp had a nice nostalgic look to them—like a historic artifact. Most of you may not know, but I am an archivist and anything that looks ephemeral or historical catches my eye. So I decided to break up the pieces of dishes that were in my construction box but leave behind the stamp and epoxy them to the end of each nail.
There is an open cubby hole above the four little drawers I built. I will be adding something into it. Not sure yet but it'll let me know. I'm thinking inside each drawer will be items that represent nature and harmony. Don't know yet what that'll be, but will know when the time comes.
When I create an assemblage, I don't think in advance. I may have an idea or a word. I build the piece and the idea or word blooms into something concrete. It's the piece that tells me what it needs, not me. See photos below.
I use a small hammer to break up the plate around the symbol and then use a wire cutter to trim the porcelain away. I dont' mind if the symbol is partly cut off. I like the look.
Here are the pieces I am using. You can see in the next set of photos on the right—first the nail is hammered into the front drawer and then I epoxy the ceramic piece. Rememer, the nails and ceramic were in my box of construction goodies.
And you can see the four little drawers I built with the ceramic knobs. Above the four drawers is a cubby hole. Can't wait to see what I am going to put in there.
Tomorrow is another day! Signing off: Anastasia Weigle, In A Bind.
You have to use all (or most) of the materials in the box for your original piece.
You can add anything you want to the piece in addition to what's in the box.
Your finished piece should not be any larger than 3' x 3' and we ask that it be a hangable piece of art.
My challenge is I have to use all (or most) of the items. Hmmm? Well, just like any construction job, there is always left over materials. For example, you have a bundle of shingles to fix a roof and you always have a few pieces left over. You put new siding on your home, but you always have left over materials. So in this assemblage, I will use everything but will have left over materials. For example, I have about 4 yards or yellow material. There is not way I can fit all that material into my assemblage/construction, but I can fit in 1/2 yard of materials. In this way, I am still using the material, just not all of it. Let's face it, I need to create a cohesive design that will tell a story.
First things first, I will need to have a frame with backing. This will become my canvas. I have a fairly large deep frame that I purchased from Grapheteria before they moved to their new location. It's a beautiful piece and it will make an excellent box to start working with. This will be one of many contributions toward the piece. I will then back it with the large piece of tongue and grove wood that was in my box of construction supplies. I'll have to cut it down to make it fit height. However, it won't fit across the entire back width. There will be an open space on the right. But that's okay because I can build small drawers on the right using the piece of clapboard that was also in my construction supply box. I did back the frame with wainscotting that I had in my shop (aka basement). See photos below:
The frame is 23" high x 15" wide x 3" deep. You can see on the right the piece of wood doesn't go all the way across. However, you can see that I did back the frame with wainscotting. The open part on the right of the frame will accommodate drawers that I will build with the piece of clapboard wood that was in my box. So, this is what I've done so far. Anastasia S. Weigle of In a Bind.
I'm pretty excited because I am one of twelve artists selected to participate in Maine Home + Design "Construction for Humanity" project.
A special art auction of constructions and collages made by Maine-based artists will be auctioned off to raise money for Habitat for Humanity. The timing of the auction will coincide with the Midcoast Home Show - Saturday, June 5 from 10A to 6P and Sunday, June 6 from 10A-4P at Point Lookout, Lincolnville, Maine.
Up to 12 artists from across the state who work in construction (assemblage) or collage were asked to create an original piece of art that will be used in the auction.
Materials provided to the artists will come from the exhibitors participating in the Home Show. These materials can be scraps/refuse/odd items that are donated to the project.
The art auction will be held online prior to the Home Show and as silet auction at the Show as well as promoted via Facebook, Twitter and other participating show organizations. All pieces will be displayed at he Home Show and will be a key part of the exhibitor party "Connections: An event celebrating our exhibitors sponsored by "Cellardoor Winery."
All exhibitors who donate material willb e mentioned in all materias promoting this effort. All particpating exhibitors will be mentioned on mainehomedesign.com web site during the silent auction period and at the show where the pieces are displayed ad at the summit during Saturday evening's event. All material promoting this will contain particpating exhibitors names.
I am going to post photographs of the pieces I received and a daily journal of the assemblage I will be buidling for the auction. Below are two photographs of the items that were in my box. You can see I got lots of fabrics, lumber, imitation slate, slabs of marble, concrete, stone, brushes, broken dishes. Oh man, lots of stuff. Anastasia S. Weigle of In A Bind.
