Nothing So Fine

30 x 4 x 4 in., heat-treated steel, brass, charred oak, 2023,
$525

This totem features three basic forms of industrial metals: rod, tube, and channel. The framing slab of channel has been heat treated to a lustrous gray. The tube is textured and polished. The rod is solid brass, satin textured, with ends polished to gem-like brilliance. Together they are a model of poise, pointing to perfection that is never actually attainable.

The totem is one of a series that incorporate simple metal elements floated over charred wood. They range from 24" to 48" tall. Most are 6" wide or less. They stand out several inches from the wall. Each has its own charm and interest, but they look best in groups of 5 or more. Each totem is unique. I make each design only once. This accords with my need to invent, to create something new. Some textures and forms appear again and again, but in infinite variation.

Most of the steel and wood I use is salvaged. The steel comes from junkyards and dumpsters. It may be dented, rusted, or gouged, which gives it a strong sense of endurance and strength. Most of the wood is oak, hammered from pallets that carried industrial materials and machines. Most shows scars here and there. These are hard-working materials that find new life in a beautiful form unlike their previous lives. I do not paint the steel. All colors and textures are properties of the metal itself.

The charred surface of the wood recalls a Japanese technique for preserving wood siding without paint or other sealant. It's call sho sugi ban. The wood is burned till the surface cracks. But the char is thin. The wood beneath it remains strong.

Include this totem with four or six others for a spectacular wall display.

View in person at Gallery Veronique in Montgomery, Ohio.