I do not consider myself an artist, at least in the sculpture/painting/performance/display sense, but I have always admired those who do this. I’m thinking about lawn sculpture made out of discarded auto parts welded in imaginative ways to look like a bird or a butterfly, for example.
I had an uncle who used to find an interesting piece of driftwood such as a branch that had been stripped by waves and bleached by the sun. He would mount it in a pot somewhat like a Christmas tree, hang objets d’art (whatever) with tiny lights on the branches at Christmas time. Not your conventional tree, to be sure, but much more interesting IMHO.
For years, I have been collecting discarded materials that are useless after their original purpose is gone, like plastic packing material, accessories with no longer any use, etc. One example – every disposable razor has a tiny plastic cover for the blade. Most people would throw it out, but I have been saving stuff like this for years, hoping to eventually make some use of free stuff that normally ends up in landfills.
I only save stuff that is clean, or can be made clean by rinsing away food. Nothing oily, nothing dangerous to handle. It’s amazing how many small objects can be collected from everyday activities – buy some socks and you have plastic hangers; laser carts have throwaway plastic covers; inkjet carts have plastic clips; coffee cans have plastic lids. I don’t live in Portland, but it seems a shame to throw all this away.
I guess I could string things like this together, like a popcorn string. Maybe use it to decorate a folk-art “Christmas” tree. My lack of artistic chops prevents me from using much more imagination, but I hate to throw away what might be a treasure trove of material to some artist.
Has anyone made any “sculpture” along these lines? I’m open to ideas!
I knew a fellow who built a conical “tree” from emptied beer cans, the structure lit from inside by a stolen highway blinking light. Simple but effective, if unstable.
When I was a kid, one year instead of a Christmas tree my dad hung a giant tumbleweed from the ceiling and pasted a toothy smile on it made out of shiny paper. We just went with it.
There’s a shopping center I go to that has a food drive going on. Different groups have built holiday themed items out of cans of food. The color of the labels is part of the patterns. Of course all the cans will, after the holiday, be donated to local food banks.
Think dellarobbia wreath (usually fruit and leaves)
Get a straw or foam wreath shape. Glue all your small pieces in a pleasing pattern or randomly. Spray it all gold or silver add a bow. Instant (almost) door decoration.
I’ve done a similar thing on cone shapes with my huge button collection.
Hate to be the one to break it to you, but if you’re thinking like that, you ARE an artist.
Why not try a small version of what you’re thinking. See how it feels.
Because there are two issues here. The work and the result.
Work: either you’ll think “This is a blast!” or “This is tedious.”
Result: either “Wow!” or “Ehhh…”
Hopefully you’ll have the first reaction to both aspects. But if you think “This’ll look great, but it’ll take a lot of time, and it’s boring.”… that’s when you get help. Either have an amish barn-raising, only with junk. Or hire some neighbor kids/students/welders.