"Assemblage is art that is made by assembling disparate elements which are often scavenged by the artist, or sometimes bought specially."
http://www.crafthouston.org/exhibition/commonplace-objects-by-barbara-smith-ryan-takaba/ led me to Barbara Smith who, for one particular work, Bundles, in which she worked with solely luggage tags. I often use luggage tags, not as the final piece, but within my work and sketchbook so I instantly liked the look of Smith's work.
However, the exciting thing about this idea is that the tags are not ordinary, they are instead crafted out of metal:
"Through repetition and accumulation of handcrafted replicas, metalsmith Barbara Smith creates work that references utilitarian items found in our daily routines. Her piece, Bundles "334", "1110", "1124", "1125" and "1915", mimic tags - like those ripped from luggage or clothing - and is created from more durable and valuable materials: copper, sterling silver, steel and vitreous enamel. By mining the commonplace as her course of inspiration, Smith suggests viewers reconsider their daily routines and the items that exist in those everyday moments."
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| Bundles by Barbara Smith There is something satisfying here (and most definitely within this photo of the work). |
I then went on further to explore the artist, however it is rather difficult to find much about her (one link sent me to Bristol pensioner, 72, who stabbed husband John...). I was led to http://local-artists.org/node/88926 but even this direct link was limited.
However, the website did offer more of her work and once again, there is something definitely satisfying in her use of commonplace items; hair grips, keys, hooks (all found in her portfolio).
I have gone on to find a link to the artists own website: http://www.barbarasmithart.com and was so excited by the artist!
Bundles consists of copper, sterling silver, steel, vitreous enamel, cotton, paper, masonite, pine, paint, dust.
"Archive tags were translated into copper and etched enamel. Each tag was torn along a perforated line, causing the copper to record the form of that gesture. Re-collected into bundles organised by colour, they become a new archive."
I feel there is rather a lot I could explore with this idea and also many more of the works produced by the unique artist, primarily focusing on Archive the project in which these works feature.
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| Hair Grips formed in a line drawing inspired manner. |
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| Duct tape used to continue white lines of the parking spaces. |
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| Hair collected from clothing over a week and reapplied. |
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