BUFF/CUT

We started things off on the second story of Cal's approximately 4000 Sq ft barn studio with a slide show of what I’ve been up to for the past decade and a half. The last time I saw Cal was at Gallery YYZ on Richmond St in Toronto for a solo show. I was in my typical form for that decade of my life, high, drunk, and full of pep, as a result of the high element coursing through my veins. Cocaine and cocktails was my diet, and it was clearly evident in my demeanour. Things have changed regarding my dietary habits these days and it is clearly evident in my new found passion for life. I think this presented itself in my slide presentation of approximately 60 images of what I had been up to for the only relevant five years since I had seen Cal, 15 years ago. I rambled excitedly about Studio 34 (www.studio34.ca) and my successes, while trying to tie in some relation to my new methodology of working in Research Creation. We found that common ground we shared as colleagues at NSCAD which is based in our choice medium, steel; and extends to our artistic practice grounded in overly laborious tasks usually with a repetitious nature to them. We briefly shared on some aspects of working in this manner which found their way to this ‘Flow-State’ I’ve been currently researching. This paired nicely with our love for rusty steel objects, though Cal and I are on slightly different ends of this spectrum. While Cal searches for dialled back rusty patinas, which she will sometimes wire brush back in order to maintain the industrial quality of her material, torch cut I-beams. Her ornate patterns reveal the organic quality I aim to render in my steel objects, which are organic in form but not in material. So here I go for an overly rusted surface that is reflective of decay to imbue this ‘organic/industrial’ trait. We found this of interest, how we reveal similar qualities of our materials from opposite ends.

BUFF: This is where I began my work, in this lovely rusty pile of scrap steel, this was my kind of sandbox! Much like Cal I don’t like to waste anything! We view steel as a valuable, precious commodity, not to be squandered or wasted. My recent installation in Maffeo Sutton Park reveals this as it was constructed out of all the railroad spike tips I had saved up in a similar pile of rusty bits and pieces from previous works which I mined the rail spike heads for.

My new sandbox

So I happily stood in front of the wire wheel buffing away as the melody of the wheel passing over the edge of these miniature cast aways hummed a symphony of delightful sounds. This was the perfect space for letting the mind wander, contemplating future plans for some work I will leave on the 5 acre sculpture grounds of Lanes homestead. You’ll have to stay tuned in for what all this wondrous scrap will be used to fabricate. I was buffing the edges to allow Cal to weld these oddities together with a good contact point.

CUT: Day 2

Yet another beautiful sunny day in the Putnam Valley, Cal picked me up at the Peekskill Station and we set off for the studio. She yanked down from above the once horse stable framework of the barn one of many rubber maid tubs filled with hand crocheted doilies and other patch works of a similar lacy aesthetic. All of these tubs are archived with accompanying documents, the Library of Lace by Lane. From here she extruded a few choice patters which she laid out on 3/16" steel plate and stencilled on with white aerosol. This hits close to home and relates to the process of laying in my under-paintings. With a quick demo of what she was looking for the torch was passed and I was off, plasma cutting these ornate circular doily patterns. Only later that day did Cal reveal to me that it was great to have someone to assist in this cutting process, up until today she had never metaphorically or literally passed the torch. I'm honoured and over come with gratitude.

Off to hop the Chelsea Gallery District and check out the Rubin Collection of Tibetan Thangkas and bronze statuary tomorrow. See ya then, be well all.