L.H.O.O.Q. it’s not.
Spring break arrives. I had a lovely time, working on various projects at home and resting up. Lee wanted to keep things light over the break so he assigned something simple. Or so he thought. We were to find a 2D readymade. Something that we found compelling and visually stimulating. As I have mentioned, I’m a sculpture major. I find 2D images static and thin for the most part. I decided to spend the week looking for an interesting metallic object that displays one of my favorite accidentally beutiful patterns. Galvanization. The plating put on steel through a chemical plating process to prevent rust. I know, I know total snooze, right? Well if you don’t know what youre looking at I guess it might be. I am a metals guy, so I love it. The pattern on galvanized is essentially a blown up look at the microscopic crystalline structure of metal. It shows, big as life, the inner workings of metal. Just thinking about the stressors applied to a crystalline form in heating and bending fascinates me. Try hitting your mom’s crytal vase with a hammer if you tink that the stucture of metal isn’t unique and inspiring. To know that the basic internal form is the same, but metal simply will not let go of itself is just about the coolest thing ever. To me. There is a problem however. When’s the last time you saw a peice of galvanized steel small enough to carry to class? I know what you’re thinking, “Why, in the electrical department at Home Depot, of course!” Problem is the assgnment was to find it, not to buy it. I also felt that I couldn’t cut one due to the restricion that the peice should be unaltered. You may think that I had no way out, but I told you, I’m a metals geek. About 10 months ago there was a demolition crew tearing down the old Cotton Mill Square building in Greensboro. I went and took photos. One of the shots I took was of a galvanized louvre in the sun. So, while I made the thing, I made it a long time ago. Does that count?
My ready-made
Since this shows my intended form, I’m using it.
Next class Lee adds to the assignment. Go to the Weatherspoon Art Gallery and find the “soul mate” of your ready made. Something to go with what we found that either compliments it or accents it in some explainable way. He jokes to the class, “It sounds weird, but when you find it, you’ll just know.” I, for one had loojed at the exibit already and was not thrilled with the prospect. I figured I’d have to force it, that there was no way that I would find something in there that went with a photo of a galvanized louvre. Boy was I wrong. I walked in to the exibit with my photo in mind and with out hesitation, without even having to look around, there she was, right across from the door. Beutiful in its simplicity. I was amazed that it was right there and I hadn’t thought of it before. I wash I could show her to you, I really do. The image is not available anywhere that I know to look. So you’ll have to go and see her yourself. Andrea Blum (1950) Untitled, 1978: pastel on paper. Enjoy.
