~calamity strange~

.puppet master.

good friday brings you: puppet master.

five days of blogging in a row!  are you bored yet?  here’s another explanation of the parts that make up the  ‘boxes’  which are officially known as “found object assemblage” pieces currently on display at chimera arts in santa cruz. from the heretics and heathens show april 1 - may 28, 2011

all of them made entirely from things i already owned and have selected for each box through a process of sifting through, laying out, changing my mind, and rearranging over-and-over-again.

• the jankiest and least stable of the boxes which required careful reinforcing so it would solid enough to display and sell- was another by-product of that purchase of a bunch of vintage bottles in corralitos.  if you ever see an ad on craigslist for “barn sale”… and you are a rummager, who likes to find hidden treasures, definitely go.  
• the relief portrait of jesus is one of those “oh, i have to have that!” moments at the santa cruz flea market from a couple years back. no idea what i was ever going to do with it, but it worked out perfectly here.
• the skull is a huge sacrifice for me, as it has lived in my studio next to my easel for years. it’s been my ‘figure study’ model for all the skeleton paintings.  i cannot remember for the life of me where i got it or when.  i already miss it.
• the skull is perched on top of two railroad stakes. i occasionally find them when out hiking near train tracks.
• the “only” in front- is a vintage rubber stamp. i have a whole box full of them… useless for stamping, perfect for art installation. i believe i bought them at mr. goodies downtown, either that or they were a gift from my mom.
• in the back (barely visible) is a small wooden boat. i’m afraid i can’t remember where i got that either!  honestly, i am the person who sees something lying on the ground and goes “keep!” that boat may have been under the stairs in the last house i lived in… not entirely sure.
• the marionette is an old christmas ornament, i bought years ago because it reminded me of rock lerum, who is a professional clown, circus arts performer, and teacher at orchard school in aptos.  i taught art next door to rock’s classroom at orchard for a half decade.  he is a fabulous man and amazing teacher. i think i meant to give it to rock, but i guess i hung it in my office and never got around to giving gifts that year- or maybe decided i liked it so much i wanted to keep it… i do love me some puppets.
• last but not least- the green spiked item (if you are not familiar) is called a “flower frog” they come in all shapes and sizes and are made for arranging flowers, and my grandmother had a bunch of them, and so now they are in my collection of all things vintage- that i mostly had handed down to me, but have created an enthusiasm for and an affinity for acquiring.  i actually do use the frogs in vases occasionally (they make flowers stand up at attention!)  but this seemed just right in this incarnation.

©kelley richardson 2o11