-
Jackson Pollock
awards
signs of progress
National Novel Writing Month, 2007
call for submissions
• Third Person Press •
what: Undercurrents Anthology
speculative fiction/poetry
who: Cape Breton Island writers
when: deadline March 15, 2008
how: click for detailed guidelines -
fly your colours
-
Nancy's Images
www.flickr.com 
nuanc's ones I like photoset
like The PCQ?
take this for your blog:
(click to see all your choices
and to get the code)
-
the PCQ flickr group
Apr
11
Naturally Good
April 11, 2007 |
[-art, alterations-]
by Nancy S.M. Waldman
Yesterday, rocks. Today, leaves. Naturally good.
Norman Sherfield, who made “six pac” for a class he took with John Garrett, is a fiber artist who creates wonderful sculptures, often using basketry techniques. This is perhaps not typical of his work, but it does have the natural elements and whimsical qualities that his art exudes. He says of this, “Recycled beauty, ephemeral sculpture.”
This is art, folks. It’s not only visually interesting, it’s referential in a way that makes the viewer react. I look at it and immediately know that it’s made from cast off plastic six pack rings and dead leaves. The juxtaposition makes me think twice. I have associations of those usually discarded beverage holders and this isn’t it!
Then, I settle in to the image itself. It’s a familiar form - a basket with handles - and yet it’s completely different. Visually, I’m struct by the layering of rings, the way they’re connected with careful fiber threads, the fact that they’ve been altered from container-holders into a container.
The leaves, also often thought of as refuse to be packed into plastic bags and thrown away, are raised to a level of importance by the fact that they are being contained. It begs several questions at once: what is trash and why? can trash be seen as important and therefore, be elevated in some way? is it necessary to throw things away? what is the relationship of the biodegradable leaves and the non-biodegradable plastic?
Art is supposed to make us think and feel and react. Norm has created a sculptural container that succeeds in all respects. Lovely work. Click on the image to see more now. And please, check out Norm’s blog.
many thanks, norm!
Norman’s work is also featured in the New Again, an Alterations Challenge
See all our Alterations articles
Originally published in the March 2006 issue of the Practically Creative blog; edited slightly for re-publication
also posted in: Art - process, craft, tutorials , Art , Collecting , Alterations , Inspiration , Motivation , Creations , Contributors , The Original PCQ, 05-06 , Craft
tags: 84rms, alter, art, basket, bio-degradable, container, create, example, learn, leaves, natural, naturally, norman sherfield, plastic rings, point, re-purpose, re-use, recycle, relationships, think, trash
Comments
-
Words of Art
Write Words
"It's none of their business that you have to learn how to write. Let them think you were born that way."
- Ernest Hemingway
-
Results of our previous poll
What is your biggest creativity problem?too many projects at once can't get in the groove not enough time everything else takes priority self-doubts
other ['not enough talent']27% 20% 20% 15% 15%
5%
