Objicles 0006 - 0007

Objicle 0007

oiled and buffed wood (cedar), steel
H 6" x L 15" x W 6"

I started this Objicle with a center-oriented shape in mind. I wanted to make its one end pointy and the other - round and flat, with a metal face to emphasize the stopping of motion in this direction. I then added a smaller, rounded cone that "grows" in the opposite direction from the main body. The steel shelf seals the end and is supposed to stop any wooden movement in this direction, but despite its effort the smaller and more fluid part grew on the other side, overcoming the barrier and establishing a more positive balance overall.

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Objicle 0006
oiled and buffed wood
H 5" x L 7" x W 6"

Why is it that I like boat shapes so much?... There is some kind of magic in them. In this one I wanted to think of the straightforwardness of a boat/iron shape. So I created a crossbar which is asymmetrical as well. It made the whole shape lean to one side. The form is not going straight any more but is anchored down and maybe going in a circular motion. I stamped my initials on the bottom of the crossbar.

Objicles

Objicle 0001
painted wood
H 3 1/2" x L 7 1/4" x W 6 3/4"

Above is one of my first Objicles.
I glued the wooden parts together and then painted them with several layers of primer and brown paint. I lightly sanded the corners just to accentuate the shape of this Objicle. Then I hand-buffed the surface to achieve a very nice sheen. I experimented with different ways of placing it to best show its character and this is the most interesting one. But one can experiment and change views according to one's mood.
I wanted it to look like an object that one can find in an old farmhouse - painted a utilitarian brown. The somewhat distressed surface helps the viewer to connect to thoughts about something useful, or what was supposedly useful in the past. I think I achieved that look.

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Objicle 0002
painted wood
H 5 1/4" x L 12 1/2" x W 5 1/4"

This one has the same general feeling as the one above (0001) but it's more on the aesthetic side than on the utilitarian. I am very pleased with its dynamic shape - it creates an interesting contrast with its farm-object-like appearance. This Objicle has a self-balancing quality: it will return to its upright position (unless placed directly upside down).

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Objicle 0003
painted wood
H 5 1/4" x L 8 1/4" x W 1 3/4"

I like the minimalistic design of Objicle 0003. It has a dynamism which is broken into three stages:
1. the round part has the dynamic quality of a wheel
2. the rectangular part that grows out of the wheel stops the potential rotation of the wheel
3. the small rectangular leg lifts the whole shape up setting it back in motion
All wooden parts were glued together and then painted black. After the paint dried I accentuated some parts of the Objicle with sandpaper and hand-buffed the surface to a slight sheen.

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Objicle 0004
wood
H 4 1/2" x L 13" x W 4 1/2"

This Objicle was inspired by the story of Noah's Ark. The main body of this Objicle suggests a crudely made boat. The two top rectangular members symbolize the duality of the mission - male/female. I wanted the whole thing to be seen as one piece - chunky, inseparable - but distinctively made of separate members. The position - lying on its side - represents the finished journey of the ark.
Like in all of my Objicles I wanted to create a piece that the viewer would like to take in their hands, feel its smooth surface and the marks from the tools, feel its weight and its warmth. So far none of the Objicles have a traditional base - they stand and lie right on the surface - being accessible the their surroundings.
On the technical side I shaped the main body with the hand saw, rasp and the hand lathe, then I glued the pieces together, filled the gaps with plastic wood, and then oiled and buffed the whole thing.

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Objicle 0005
painted wood
H 20 1/2" x L 7" x W 3 1/2"

Here is another Objicle that was inspired by the shape of a boat - in this case its skeletal structure. I wanted it to look like a sign or hieroglyph. It's a boat and at the same time a sail. It has a heavy, stable bottom that accentuates the ribbed structure of the top, which is not too fragile but rather strong. This Objicle could be put down horizontally, and it will look very different, with a completely different meaning - not proud but defeated yet with hidden power.
This piece stands a little apart from the rest so far, I guess due to its upright posture and its height that suggests more of a sculpture than a utilitarian object. So be it.