Steel with a Twist

35 x 3.5 x 3 in., steel, charred oak, 2023
$575

A twist of polished black steel wire dances next to a rugged steel rectangle in this asymmetrical totem. The wire, tie wire, is a humble material, used to bind rebar on construction sites before concrete is poured. Though steel, it is annealed (heat treated) to make it soft, Which allows me to twist it by hand. The rusty surface on the right is one side of a length of steel angle. L shaped in profile, the bar is flat on the front and side of this, its subtly toned faces neatly balancing the wire's bright swirls. Asymmetry is uncommon in totems. The need to balance detail in any one with the harmony of a group requires simplicity in each. This totem walks a fine line. It will harmonize well with others, but it has enough personality to stand alone as well.

Totems

Totems each combine simple metal elements, sometimes with other materials, in or over over charred wood. They range from 24" to 48" tall. Most are no wider than 6". 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. This accords with my need to invent, to create something new. Textures and forms appear again and again, but in infinite variation.

Color
I do not paint the metal in totems. I don’t need to. Steel and rusted steel alone provide a vast palette of colors: gray, blue, maroon, orange, yellow, umber. Brass and copper add warm notes of yellow, orange, and brown. Silver is white. Gold a unique butter yellow.

Materials
Most of the steel and wood I use is salvaged. The steel comes from junkyards and roadsides. It may be dented, rusted, or gouged, or have scraps of original paint. All of which communicate a strong sense of endurance and strength. Most of the wood is oak, hammered from pallets that carried industrial materials and machines. Salvage wood shows nail holes and scars here and there. These are hard-working materials that find new life in a beautiful form unlike that in their previous lives.

Burning
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. I go a little further than with the Japanese technique, burning the wood till the surface cracks. But the char is thin. The wood beneath it remains strong.