Mail Art - Art Jam Challenge No. 2

For Art Jam Challenge No. 2, the Art Jammers created mail art to send to one another. My mail art is recycled art made from CD cases, cardboard, wire, and leftover sculpy dough. Here are images at the Mail Art party.

Mail Art overview

Pieces with easel extended

CD cases and cosmic models

Detail of Cosmic model unleashed

Hollow Wood Surf Board

This is an old project that I completed in 2007, or abouts. It's a hollow, wood stripped surfboard. I rode the board for a while until I hit a rock, causing internal leaks. I haven't had time to track down the leak so it's on hiatus until I get back to it.

Under construction with solid wood nose

 Aligning the fin box

Completed board

Completed board

Completed board

Telescope Project

After visiting the Chabot Space and Science Center, Natalie and I decided to build our own telescope. We researched the different types, components, ease of construction and developed our own design. We decided not to grind our own mirror and purchased a 10-inch mirror from eBay. Here are some of the pieces to our Dobsonian scope:

This is the mirror-holder made of plywood, springs, and clip angles

This is the secondary mirror made of PVC pipe, hacksaw blades, and springs

The completed telescope in our dining room

Another view of the completed telescope

Photo of the Moon using our point-and-shoot camera through the eyepiece

This is the luanr eclipse on December 10, 2011

We had fun building the scope and learning about the various objects in our solar system.

Jammin'

I've been going to Alameda on Wednesday nights to attend "Art Jam", an artist get-together jam session, similar to what musicians do. It's been really fun and a great boost to my productivity. I've finished several paintings, some that have sat around for years in semi-finished states. Art Jam has also sparked my creativity with new ideas, projects, and potentials shows to develop exhibits.


Here are some Artist Trading Cards (ATC) that I created for an "assignment" at Art Jam. ATC's were created in the 80's by an European artist wanting to introduce himself to artists around the world. The Artist Trading Cards are traded between artists, used to meet other artists, and can be collected as fine art. I made a handcut stamp for this series of ATC.

More to follow...

BJ

Back yard deck design

The back yard deck needed some updating and repairs. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to construct the darn thing to meet the Boss' deadline. But, I managed to design it to the Boss' satisfaction.

We called upon a trusted contractor to finish the work. It looks pretty good, better space too.

 

Custom cabinet doors

So, after the contractors completed the upstairs remodel, they left me a load of scrap wood: redwood, Doug-fir, poplar. The idea was to purchase custom size cabinet doors for the hallway cabinets. But, after seeing the available leftover wood, we decided to build our own.

These are simple frame and panel doors with European hinges. The original design had partially recessed doors with a 3/8" lip overlay. It was impossible to find a readily available hinge for that installation. So, I opted for standard face frame hinges. They turned out pretty nice; just have to paint them now.

Gallery rush

So, Darlene informed me that Pro Arts e-mailed and that it was about the gallery installation for this year's Open Studio. I checked the message and the installation was... THIS WEEKEND!!!

Yikes, I didn't frame anything yet. The pieces have not been coated, highlighted, polished to a fine hone. Well, I threw one piece together in time for the gallery on Sunday - it was quick, it was dirty, but it turned out OK.

I get to the gallery and my spot is way up on the top row - 8 feet up. My piece is a small, intimate work, 6 inches by 6-1/2 inches. No one will see it. Ah, that's the joy of these public art shows. You never know what you're gonna get.

Oh well, at least I turned it in.