Wednesday, September 23, 2009

bottle cap project

I had another "imagining" about the bottle cap project ....
.... I imagined a South American workshop/shed with artisans pounding out and embossing all sorts of tin.
Turning one persons trash into treasure.
The sort of thing made with humble hands and then sold in upscale boutiques in America.
That part of the story is yucky to me.
I'm certain the humble hands only hold pennies in return for their work.

I embossed a blackened piece of tin,
lightly sanded it and then filled in the crevices with yellow paint.
A technique I also used for THIS project.

I have humble hands too ....
... but I'm an American who doesn't need to do this in order to eat.
It's a strange world we live in.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Stunning! I think this is such a unique and creative piece of art. Well done!

Nettie Edwards said...

I would never have thought of using bottle tops to make something so lovely. I bet ponding at these is great for relieving tension x

nancy neva gagliano said...

YOU did the tin frame? you're amazing....and yes, the world, strange. our play, their work. thoughts of african artisans, too..

Viv said...

Great work!

Willy said...

Great piece, Kimmie!

Erin said...

Wow, very cool artwork. :)

And yes.. it is a strange world we live in. Sometimes I have to stop and remind myself of the luxury and freedom some of us have (and often take for granted) of being able to create, not out of the need to survive.. but simply for the pure joy of it.

*jean* said...

so very true...

i love your tin work...it reminds me of being a little squirt, hanging around in the garage with my daddy...he used to give me pieces of wood and tin and nails...i used the nail to hammer the words MOM into one piece of tin and DAD into the other...then i nailed them onto scraps of wood...key holders, my mom still has hers...sweet, american, childhood memory...

ooglebloops said...

That is beautiful!!!And, aren't we lucky - the same creativity, but to different ends...............

Elizabeth said...

Strange indeed, but I'm certain that you're many steps "ahead" with your honorable intentions --

Diane said...

Wow, Kimmie - this is amazing! Diane

shayndel said...

PS whenever I visit here I feel inspired and wonder "when am I going start making things from my finds?"!!!

Jane said...

Unique piece, Kimmie. Excellently executed as always!

(BTW - I've moved. Click my link to get to my new home.)

Kathy said...

Oh, I like this. Reminds me of a paint set.

~*~Magpie's Nest said...

a perfect compliment to your bottle cap chains
Love what you do with metal Kimmie!
not to mention your always thought provoking posts!
Happy Friday and Weekend my friend!

Hermine said...

Awesome

theMuddledMarketPlace said...

calling to mind memories of small files, hole punches, metal and a class of 5 year olds doing similar stuff

happy days!
thank you for this

Rebeca Trevino said...

hi
i was visiting your blog and came across this post from 2009 - i just love the piece. what were the dimensions of this piece. i can envision a large scale piece similar. would you mind telling me how you pounded the bottle caps? i have often thought of tossing them on my drive way and driving back and forth on them till they are all smooched! i have tried a hammer, but it seems like it ruin them . . . i must be doing something wrong.

after you smash them you must put them in the bleach-baking soda, etc solution you described in a more recent post?

i love love love this technique.
thanks.