40 years of Metals at University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse

March 27 and 28th. Metalsmithing Symposium at UW-L hosted by Bill Fiorini. Bill has unofficially decided to retire and has put together an event to help celebrate his accomplishments as a Professor of Metalsmithing at UW-L. Dale Wedig, James Viste, Becky (Chader) McDonah, myself, and Brad Nichols, will be presenting demonstrations and showing 'n' telling about current and/or in progress work. Topics: Dale Wedig, Angle-Raising and manipulation a raised form; James Viste, Textures and further discussion of texturing die production for both ferrous and non ferrous metals; Becky (Chader) McDonah, Mechanisms/Captures and etching with PNP; Tedd McDonah, torch-fired enamels and threaded connections; Brad Nichols, chasing and repousse.

Thank God I was on the Dock

As anyone who fishes for Northerns will tell you, "careful, they've got long, sharp teeth." This day, that was the last of my worries. If they have enough energy, they will continue to fight after they are out of the water. Well this little guy sure did. At this point, the bend of the hood is visible. It hadn't always been that way; as I was holding the fish in one hand and reaching for the pliers (to remove the hook from the fish), with the other hand, the slippery dude opted to fight some more, and "good for him" I say, keeps things interesting. The hook had been buried to the point where there was no light between us. And, oh yes, it stung a little. I tried having my 6 year old son try to remove the hook with pliers - bad idea. Grasping the fish with one hand, and the other, as you can see, tied up, gave me some time to think... ooh, go get the camera! Long story short; I finally got the hook out on my own.

Don't Think Out Loud

When I bought my first computer, I thought I'd be a graphic artist. Then I realized how much I start to squirm after a few minutes of being lashed to a computer. Fast forward a few years, then a few more, couple more, yep, a few more, ok then couple more. So here I am in '08. Image before you was done last year. I remember now why I didn't go the graphic route. I like to doodle on paper, as well as, the screen...

Heavy Duty Hanukkah Menorah

Celebrate!

This Menorah was built back in 2003 for the 3rd Annual Menorah Exhibit, at the Janice Charach Epstein Gallery in West Bloomfield, MI. The Curator was Janice Wetsman. This was my first, and to this point, only menorah. To do it over again, I probably would've made it slightly smaller. It measures about 27" wide, 30" tall, and 8 inched deep (at the base). And yes, heavy.

New Work

First piece in a new series (hopefully), I've decided to call "Intuitive Afterthoughts", or maybe "My Autonomous Art." Many of the elements come from class demo samples. This one is 11"x3"x2". There are references to several functional devices, but as it is, this one simply rests.

Work to be Published

This image was chosen to be in Lark Books upcoming book entitled 500 Enameled Objects, by Juror Sarah Perkins. I'm very excited and honored to be included.

Michael Perry and the Clodhopper Report

If I ever forget where it is that I came from, or maybe a touch of the home-sick, I read one of his books or watch one of his "Clodhopper Reports." The Clodhopper Reports are featured on Wisconsin Public Television.

Enjoy!

PS. Notice all the salt being spread on the highway from the red dump-truck. Typical winter strategy for preventing the roads from "freezing over." It really takes its toll on the northerner's vehicles. A couple of winter's worth of driving, and you can just about hear the rust starting to chew away the precious sheet-metal. OK, so that just may be the spray from wet roads, but it really reminds me of the types of road maintenance trucks and the salt/sand mix they dump/spread.

Fish on

Cockamamie Candleholder #3

This is, to date, the final of the candleholder series. I should mention #2 was completed in 2004, this one in 2006. There was a Heavy Duty Menorah produced in between #2 and #3. I'll post it as well.

Unlike CC#1 and CC#2, CC#3 has some traditional joinery (collars), whereas the first two are strictly welded in construction. Also, there are no pre-made or "found objects" in this composition; all elements are forged hot, scrolled, twisted, bent, smooshed, or manipulated in some other way. Dimensions: 35"X14"X11" (w/o candle).

Cockamamie Candleholder #2

This is the Second in the series of three (so far). I choose to use fewer elements than in the first and third. Forged and fabricated, found steel objects, as well. Dimensions: 28.5"X16"X13.5"

Cockamamie Candleholder #1

First in a series of three (so far). Forged and fabricated steel and found steel objects. This one made in 2003, while living and teaching in NW Ohio. Dimensions: 35"X11"X8" (w/o candle).

Moke-A-Bou Musky Lure

Decorative Fishing Apparatus