Jubilant Junk Art --by RusticWoodArt

Jubilant Junk Art

As an artisan and worker of wood,working in the medium of expression that I call ‘wood art’, I looked upon this Summer’s Awards 2008 with anticipation at being able to transform what some would call a burn pile of junk into a medium for creating art. This aspect of wood is not new to me, for if one was to come and visit where I am to be found, out in the woods and across the land, one would soon notice little and large exhibitions of ‘junk art’ all around.

First of all if there be some that do not know or have not heard before the term ‘junk art’, I will pause and link to the Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary, 10th Edition of: Junk Art where this form of art is defined as; ”three-dimensional art made from discarded material (as metal, mortar, glass, or wood)”. Now having said that I now proceed to add one word to this which in my way of seeing and working, relates to the transformation that comes about between myself the artist and the subject that I am creating with….my art. The word I have felt and used in this mental synthesis that then comes into manifestation is ‘jubilant’. Again I will refer to Webster's Revised Unabridged, 1913 Edition of: Jubilant and the definition being; ”....uttering songs of triumph; shouting with joy; triumphant; exulting.” Therefore ’Jubilant Junk Art’ is the declaration of what comes forth from my inner being, when I connect with the form//object that I am working with and, when this happens it is no-longer about the object (wood) in this case, just as I also am able to step out of the picture and bring forth the image that is all-ready there, just waiting to come forth.

Come walk with me in the woods, on a sandy beach, on a mountain hike, kayaking down a river, or in a city or town and sooner or later, I am going to connect with the environment of that social setting….and we will start making jubilant junk art! I might add that these forms of expression can be over the course of an hour or so….too much longer such as the one I’m posting here, that I just finished up this month, but in the end, I will leave them where there are….and walk away. Some have asked and many more may wonder why I would spend the time and just walk away and to this I can only say; ”the whole world is an art gallery, waiting to come into many exceeding expressions….and I am only one, who walks amongst this gallery of beauty, freeing the souls that are found in the wood.” Now having said that, I also understand that it is better to give from my abundance and then I also receive from the one all, so after the works all done…..I give the piece back to it’s environment, as this is my way of saying thanks!

So in the beginning days of early July I was on a walk-about one evening looking at various burn piles full of what some call junk and other’s call ‘wood art’. Coming upon this pile in one of my back wood lots, I knew immediately that I had two entries for this Summer’s award category. Now one must understand that it’s really hard for me to call this pile of wood junk, when I know the potential that is within the pile….after all I’m the maker of the pile. And then again one can only keep so much wood around, so I’ve learned when to say enough and this wood goes to a burn pile…..

....such as these pictures show…..

....walking on around the pile I now step to the front of the pile and that’s when I see, Jubilant Junk Art. And yes I also know that some would not see as I have seen, but then again….this is my art right? So in the coming photos I will often be moving fast and letting the picture do the explaining, and at other times I will often add some comments about the photo. I will mention that this is ‘one’ project here, except for the serving tray entry which I will add in the other category of serving trays. My concept that I am introducing herein is as though I have designed ’one outside rustic wood addition’ and as such I would call this a rustic setting complete with all the furniture that one would need in an outside rustic camp. And as the work continues herein over the course of the month, one will see the stages that the design process goes through until the work is completed….

....well as they say let the work begin, and you will notice that out here I also have at this point not brush hogged yet….

....starting with the basics I start with the framing up and then proceed to get myself a bench of spalted maple that is leftovers from a chainsaw milling I did earlier in the summer….

....again I add a side table which is sugar maple at the base and a rock maple top….

....worked late out here this evening and so it’s getting dark and, yes I’m tired….

....an-other picture from the back and one may notice that by now I have all-ready brush hogged this field….

....the construction continues….

....and so I’ll move closer in. I am now framing with some spalted apple wood that I found deep within the pile….

....heres a piece of old pine I found which I thought had some great character….

....one more picture of the spalted maple//rock maple bench….

....still adding to the existing structure….again more spalted apple wood….

....I really do enjoy working with apple wood as it’s got great character….

....so I’m busy working late one afternoon here and one of my friends comes out to pass the time of day with me….

....heres one more piece of art I added to the roof space….

....and I call this one; ‘the dance of the brussel sprouts’, all complete with last years roots. Looks like they’ve picked up and are rockin’ away on a maple bark surf board….

....some more out-of-doors table art….

....and yes, I do believe I have found a keeper here in this piece of maple wood….

....stopped by yesterday evening and after finishing up, I thought I would brew up some tea on the maple table and sit and dream awhile….

....and so this has been worth the time, and I’ll continue using this piece of rustic out-of-doors camp setting into the coming months before winter once again comes my way, meanwhile we’re going home….

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

—
”....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....”

-- --frank, NH, http://frank.wordpress.com/