Cello Art

The blank canvas

In December I answered a call from the Treasure Valley Artist Alliance to Artists to make a cello into a work of art. 2 artists would be chosen and I was one of them! Below is my proposal: 

 A few years ago I was given a violin in disrepair to use in my art. I had fun turning it into an homage to a Native American violinist. Researching Zitkala-Sa I used paint, found objects and collage elements to represent the musician. In this project I would use metal gears and chains and other cast off items to turn the cello into a steampunk cello. This idea sprang from my research on famous women cellists and I came across a current cellist who plays in the style of Steampunk music. I was intrigued by the name she goes by: “Unwoman” taken from the book “The Handmaids Tale” Unwomen are the lesbians, feminists and others who wouldn’t submit to authority. I related to Unwomans answer when asked about her creative process. She said each song might have a unique creative process since there is so much experimentation. Some of it is on the fly and some of it is labored over. In my art I enjoy taking items that no longer have an intrinsic value in and of themselves and relish turning them into something new to be enjoyed by someone else rather than end up the in the trash. I would be honored to be chosen for this project.

My first step in the process was to gather all my bits and bobs and see what I had. I needed a focal point and created a little Unwoman character charm. 

I started laying pieces on the cello but didn't glue them down as I kept shifting things around as I would find yet another piece that would look better in place. 

The butterfly wings were the perfect addition to fill out the top and the colors blended beautifully.

It was at around this point that I started gluing items down. I would just glue a few at a time and let them dry. I am fortunate to have a room dedicated just to this project. I queried the "WorldWide Assemblage Group" on FB as to which adhesive I should use. Amazing Goop came out the winner. It is thicker than E-6000 that I had previously used.  

Then it was time to start working on the sides.

Almost there...and more and more stuff to work with surrounds it on the floor.

The finishing touches were adding dots of paint to strategic locations.

Lots of fun stuff hanging from the top.

I have been collecting small items from friends for years. Broken watch bands and jewelry, belt buckles, buttons and pins.

I went for balance but not complete symmetry as to add some interest.

The butterfly body is antique mother of pearl handle to a mirror or butterknife.

I used a mixture of steampunk gauges and gears mixed with feminine touches of flowers and pearls.

I have pieces wired and hanging to add layers of interest. Watches, musical instruments, bells and locks.

Watch parts and chains and bottle caps and meat grinder blade. 

Zipper pull, light bulb charms, washers and bits of this and that. I laid them out by color, size and shape to all blend together around the edges. 

The other side. 

Gathering supplies to make a stand, had to make 2 trips to home depot as the first dowel I bought was too wide to fit in the hole in the bottom of the cello. 

Screwing into the base I had from something else...

Then screwing the dowel into the stand and sliding the cello down over the stick.

All told I spent approximately 20 hours on it spread out over about 4-5 weeks. I'm pretty happy with it. I am told it will be on display at several shows and then will be auctioned off as a fundraiser for the Treasure Valley Artist Alliance. 

Instagram

I don't know how many of you that read my blog are also on Instagram but it has seriously highjacked my postings on here! I had no idea I hadn't posted since November, I thought it had just been a few weeks as I post almost daily on Instagram. You can find me on there as @boiseartist. Be sure to comment and I will follow your photos as well!

It's Not All Black And White

Election Year

These two pieces were accepted in the TVAA show opening next week, "This American Life" at the Boise State Public Radio Station on Park Center

Entry for 6x6 show at Art Source Gallery in March

Lots of winter travel, fat-biking, cross country skiing snowshoeing and journaling

What else have I been up to? Have you checked out my blog...my lovely daughter is keeping it updated for me! http://boiseartist.wix.com/pammcknight 

I highlight of my week I look forward to is my friends studio night. I really look forward to these evenings where we not only catch up on each others lives but share our thoughts and observations about life and art. 

My website has all the shows I am currently in or coming up this winter/spring. Including a FREE Valentine DIY class, check out page 37.  http://parks.cityofboise.org/news/2015/12/boise-parks-recreation-offers-great-activities-this-winter-spring/

This is just a small part of what I have been up to...go to my Every Little Thing Face Book Page, my Instagram, and my Website to see the rest.

Thank for following me. Peace. Pam

Assemblage-en-Juin or Put-itTogether-June

Panel members introducing themselves to each other. Lots of assemblage art on display.
For a full description click on this link:

 http://treasurevalleyartistsalliance.org/assemblage-en-juin-or-put-it-together-june/

We had a full house!

The Panel discussion was on Monday night...

...then on Thursday night I was showing at First Thursday at Idaho Blueprint

On Saturday I met about 10 ladies and 1 gentleman at the Idaho Youth Ranch Outlet. For many of them it was their first experience and for others they came back for more fun. 

Items are not sorted, the fun is digging through the bins to see what you can find. 

"Hmm, I wonder how I could use this?"

"What do you think?"

Rows and Rows of stuff

This is what I bought for around $3

Then it was back to my studio to see what we could create with the items we found.

Most of the projects didn't get finished as they needed to be propped up to dry etc.
But they got a good start. 

Some worked inside where it was a little cooler. 

Who knew taking arms off Barbies was so hard...

We had to pull out the dremel.
I can't wait to see all the finished projects. The Next TVAA show  is in August called "Hunting and Gathering" I hope to see all of these pieces there. 

This was a cool surprise I got in the mail the other day from one of my high school friends, Lisa. Thank You!

Alaska

No, I have never been to Alaska but I know it is a beautiful state. I have been collecting items from different states for my mountain biking series but as I am pretty sure I will never be biking there I'm using the items for my color series.

 
 While starting the blue piece I came across the Alaska bag of goodies I had gathered over the years  and added that to the blue items I had been collecting. I tried the silver frame but it just didn't seem good. Too fancy.

I found this wooden tray and that was it, the collection found it's place. 

Alaska
7" x 15"
Available

It's Not All Black and White

This piece I completed a few years ago. The pigs on top I made in Sue Latta's resin workshop. They are glued on a block of wood. I was never completely satisfied with this piece and took some pliers and a razor blade to it and took it apart.  I am working on a series of pieces using plastic cast off pieces and wanted to incorporate this into that series. I was going to attach the whole block to another piece but when I glued the pigs on top they extend off the back edge so it would not lay flat.

 I painted this frame black and added a backing covered with black scrapbook paper. I still wasn't satisfied and took it over to my friend Marianne's Studio for input. She said it's too bad that all the black items are devils, guns etc. and the white items are cute bunnies and hearts. But that's the way these things come and my plan was not to paint the objects but to use them as they are. 

This is the final incarnation. I overcame the problem of all things depicted in white as good and all things depicted in black as evil by incorporating color. My mother tends to be a person that see's things as black or white. That has never been me. As a Libra I can weigh both sides of an issue and always try to see the others viewpoint.

So here goes- my 12" x 16" "Where's Waldo" assemblage I have included things that are controversial, American Flag = extreme right tea party vs a more liberal philosophy - the gun -2nd Amendment vs those that don't think we all need to be carrying guns) cellphone =radiation and government spying, Food=GMO's and what's gonna kill us or give us dementia or cancer, the stethoscope = the Ebola crisis, the Ken doll with the bicycle helmet = helmet laws vs personal freedom,  the computer- is technology making us all less social and is this just another venue for Big Brother to watch us?, The cow and the cheese = dairy, is it good for us, what about antibiotics?, The woman's torso with the red light pointing to it = body image issues and the media, high heel shoe's and surgery, the dice represent gambling (state lotteries giving $ to education?), Dinosaur, is the earth really only 6,000 years old despite scientific data?, and hence the Jesus fish. The white tennis shoe represents exercise- how much is too much?, The spider- people hate spiders but they are part of the ecosystem, the lamb= veganism, vegetarianism, is it healthier?,  lady bug=pesticides, Red Bull pull tab- really?, Eagle= new wilderness designations?, camera= photographing in the wilderness for a fee, coke= obesity epidemic, Halloween and Christmas. paganism or religious holidays?

Art in the Garden

 I was invited to apply for "Art in the Garden" in McCall, ID July 26th and was accepted. You could set up 6 pieces for the silent auction show. Here is my "practice display in my back yard. My husband attached stakes to the bottom of each foot of the screen so it would not fall over in the grass. 

 Here is our actual set up in the garden, the night of the show. 

 Here is John Killmaster, an artist I admire and is also a member of BOSCO and TVAA. I told him he reminded me of Monet sitting under the tree with his beard and hat. Just a perfect setting.

 A nice gathering despite many competing activities that night. 

 SOLD!

I was asked if I could put a logo on the truck at a later date. I said yes.

SOLD!

It was a fun show and I would do it again. 

Short and sweet is good. It ran from 5:00 - 8:00, 

there was food, they handled the $ and it was in a beautiful setting with shade.