Art in High Places

Comments welcome, email...not so much.

2011-02-04T10:33:00.000-08:00

Hello all,
I have recently changed service providers and therefore the email address listed in several posts on this blog is no longer active. If you wish to contact me, the best way to do so would be to leave a comment to this post.
Thanks!

Reaching from Switzerland

2010-05-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

Here are some images of a "Reaching" mobile made in many colors. The images were sent to me by a client from Switzerland to show the piece installed in its new home. If you have similar images, please feel free to email them to me at:
artinhighplaces@charter.net

Aloha

2010-05-04T08:55:00.000-07:00

Here is a great photo I received from a satisfied customer in Hawaii. The mobile overhead is titled, "Joy," and judging by the smile in this child's eyes it seems to be living up to it's name. Today I'm sending a similar piece to a customer in Brazil, I hope they are just as happy with it!

Stabile sculptures

2010-03-29T07:05:00.000-07:00

Here are some examples of desktop "Stabiles" made of steel and EVA foam sheet. The first piece is called, "The Answer," (which also includes a wood base) and the second piece is called, "Slipping Discs." Stabiles are perfect for a desk, because they react to the slightest air currents and bring some life to the work area.

The Flow

2010-03-24T09:03:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite piece. I sold the first wood version of this mobile to a woman in the UK, and have since worked with clients to make versions of "The Flow" in several materials and colors all across the US. I also sold one to the art director for the movie "Gigantic" starring Paul Dano and Zooey Deschanel, with Ed Asner and John Goodman. It's supposed to be in the film, but I haven't seen the movie yet to know if "The Flow" made it to the silver screen or the cutting room floor.
Made of quality Birch plywood with a polyurethane finish, one side is stained slightly darker than the other to add interest as it swirls and twists. The size of this piece is 24 x 36, but it can also be scaled easily. In wood, the piece sells for $365. I also can make it of PVC plastic sheet in various colors for $295. Email me at artinhighplaces@charter.net for details.

Tangents

2010-03-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

I like the different feel of this piece. "Tangents" is all about defining a point in space. Are the linear elements pointing to the wood sphere, or glancing off the red circle? I loved geometry class in school, so maybe this is my homage to that. For some reason, this design seems to appeal to the west coast.
This is a mixed media piece, consisting of PVC sheet, EVA foam, and wood with steel connections. Size is 17 x 30 and the cost is $135.

Inspired by color

2010-03-17T08:04:00.000-07:00

If you live in a design-centric world like I do, you are used to seeing various sets of color matching books laying around fanned out like peacocks. You may even have a drawer full of extra color chips stashed for a rainy day. Recently, while cleaning out my office, I came across said drawer and wondered how I could put the scraps of color to use. The resulting mobile "When the Leaves Turn" and stabile "Tints" are what sprang to mind. These will be auctioned for charity, but may have opened a fun door for me...

Tucson

2010-02-13T13:11:00.000-08:00

Here's another smaller mobile I made, again this one is less than one foot tall. I really like the design of this piece and donated a similar larger version in black and white to an auction for the United Way. I could make a similar piece upon request for around $220 (depending on size).

Branches

2010-02-10T06:45:00.000-08:00

This is an image of one of the first real "art" mobiles I ever made. I just couldn't stop once I started. This is actually a really small piece (less than a foot tall) but it can easily be scaled up and I've made a few like it in larger sizes that weren't photographed. Because of its complexity, the cost of a larger version would be around $300. Feel free to contact me if interested in commissioning a similar piece.

Recyclone

2010-01-20T09:42:00.000-08:00

Recyclone is kind of a novelty, but isn't all art? This piece came to be after I installed a new window blind in my home. The blind is made of "faux wood" slats and was too long for the small kitchen window in which it's installed. So after removing a larger portion of the slats from the bottom of the blind, I found myself with some interesting raw materials and this mobile is the result. Recycled art anyone?

Apartment Therapy

2009-11-12T09:43:00.000-08:00

One of my Stabiles, "The Answer," is featured on the blog Apartment Therapy.
Pretty cool!

Joy

2009-10-20T07:19:00.000-07:00

Joy is one of my most popular designs. I've sold versions of this in Germany, Italy, Taiwan, and across the United States. The major appeal of this piece seems to be it's simplicity of form and the color combination. Made of stainless steel and EVA foam sheet, this piece is 24 x 33 and sells for $155. Contact me at artinhighplaces@charter.net if interested.

Orbit

2009-10-03T09:34:00.000-07:00

Here is a funky little piece that almost formed itself out of discarded parts from other designs. This piece can be made in various colors and is made of stainless steel and EVA foam. A smaller design, it's only 12 x 12 and costs $80.

Positive Curves

2009-09-30T06:58:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, the process of discovery and creation is almost as fun as the finished product. The pieces of this mobile are all cut from the same sheet, the top three pieces are the "cutouts" from making the bottom four pieces. I love the fact that I'm taking the negative spaces from between these lower parts and using them as positive spaces on the top. Hence the name, "Positive Curves" for this piece.
The size of this one is 24 x 30 and it sells for around $140 in that scale. The material is PVC plastic sheet. I've made this in several sizes and colors, blue seems to be a favorite (perhaps because it gives it a nautical feel) and red is also popular (flames?), but my favorite is still black. Someday, I'd like to try it in Birch plywood.

Home Concepts Magazine

2009-09-22T07:02:00.000-07:00

I was recently contacted by Home Concepts Magazine about my mobile The Flow. Home Concepts is a Singapore based publication focusing on homes, gardens, architecture, and the art world. Apparently, they were interested in featuring my mobile in the, "Favourite Things," section. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Circle Tree

2009-08-03T14:42:00.000-07:00

These images are of one of my more vertical pieces (meaning taller than it is wide). Normally, I like to try to stretch more horizontally with my mobiles, defying gravity. This piece, however, is more suited to a tall confined space like a stairwell.
I've shown it here in two styles to give you an idea of how my work can be customized. The size is 24 x 36 and it's made of stainless steel and EVA foam shapes to keep it very lightweight and provide lots of movement. The cost is $165. As always, feel free to email at artinhighplaces@charter.net with inquiries.

Reaching

2009-07-07T11:57:00.000-07:00

This is one of my first "production" mobiles and continues to be a best seller. I have sold versions of this mobile in Germany, Switzerland, France, and across the US in various color combinations. This piece, like many of my work, is made of stainless steel and EVA foam shapes. This makes it very lightweight and incredibly responsive to minor indoor air currents. The size of this mobile is about 24 inches wide by 32 inches high, but I've made custom sizes up to 4 feet tall.

Serpentine Motion

2009-06-29T10:53:00.000-07:00

I know I've posted this image once before, but it serves as a good example of the "serpentine" motion most of my mobiles perform. Because the separate elements of the piece are linked with one another directly (instead of hanging freely as from a string) they cause a chain reaction of movement when stirred. This effect can be mesmerizing and is carefully considered during the design of most of my work. I really like the cause and effect relationship the elements have on one another. This chain reaction of movement is known as "serpentine motion" due to the resemblance it bears to a snake's undulating body. Keep in mind this image moves quickly in comparison to the normal slow and gentle movements of my larger mobile pieces, I only show it here to better illustrate the mechanics of my work. For more information, feel free to email me at artinhighplaces@charter.net.

My Methods

2009-06-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

I'm often asked about my techniques and construction methods. In response, I'll explain that in most cases I keep my work as clean and simple as possible. Most of my work includes no glue, welding, nuts or bolts. Just simple shapes and bent wire. A good analogy to me is music, anyone can make simple sounds, but arranging the sound into something musical is an art. Have you ever really listened to "Moonlight Sonata" and heard how simple it is? Yet it's a great and enduring work of art. I strive for the same simplicity and beauty of form in many of my hanging mobiles.

If you would like to discuss a new project, feel free to contact me at artinhighplaces@charter.net.

Sprung

2009-06-20T08:04:00.000-07:00

"Sprung" is a mobile I had kind of forgotten about until a friend saw it hanging in the corner of my workspace and inquired about it. I originally made is as a scaled up version of my mobile titled, "Tucson," but after completion I wasn't sure I really liked it. I donated it to a charity auction and it brought in more than I thought it would! It never ceases to amaze me how much I can underestimate a piece until others see it. I'm sure that's a common problem for artists, and I'm no exception.

One of my first....

2009-06-05T14:52:00.000-07:00

This is one of the first mobiles I made with the intention of giving it to someone else. Up to this point, I had really just made them for myself because it was fun, then gave them as gifts after the fact. This time, I had the client in mind...my mom. It still hangs in her home today, some 5 years later.
The piece is made of aluminum wire with paper shapes. The paper is white on one side, blue on the other. If I had it to do over again, I think I would have made some of the shapes much larger. However, the, "client," seems very happy with it and won't let me change a thing. I did later make a piece with larger shapes that was similar to this called Branches, you can see it in another post. Feel free to contact me if you'd like a similar piece.

Flambeau

2009-06-04T07:10:00.001-07:00

This is a whimsical little piece I made that kind of evokes, "speed." The original was made in galvanized wire, but I later made a copy in stainless for a cleaner shiny look. It's a silly little mobile that would look good in a boy's race car bedroom. The original is only about 12 inches tall but it can easily be scaled up.

Barnstormers

2009-06-02T13:34:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, there was a sailboat mobile hanging in my bedroom. I used to lay on the top bunk and blow gently on it causing it to spin slowly as I was falling asleep. Years later, when I had children of my own, I thought back to how much I enjoyed that mobile. So, I decided to make one of my own for my kids. This is an image of that mobile, with airplanes to match the bedding my boys had at the time. I don't make many mobiles of the "stick and string" variety like this anymore, but this one opened the door to a new and exciting art form I hadn't yet explored.

Automata

2009-06-01T09:15:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, I couldn't rest until I figured out how things worked. I loved taking stuff apart and making new things with the stuff I found inside. I especially get a thrill out of making something out of nothing, creating something unique just by bending wire for example. A while ago, I started making these little wire creations with moving parts just for fun. At the time, I had never heard the term "Automata" but have since realized it's a well established art form. It might be hard to tell from the photo above, but when you crank the tail of the sculpture the wings flap. I donated this piece to a charity auction and was later commissioned (by someone who was outbid!) to make similar pieces. I'll probably make more of this type of thing in the future. Below is a photo of one of the commissioned pieces. In this piece, there are two human figures that move as if they are rowing the shaft that causes the wings to flap. There are also two sets of wings that rise and fall at different intervals, and tail fins that move from side to side. Though these are not mobiles, they are fun kinetic art!

Pen sculptures

2009-05-29T07:15:00.000-07:00

I was going through some old files and found these. These are more little pieces I did for a charity auction. The idea was to take all the junk that was lying around the office and make something out of it. I kept finding old pens that didn't write anymore and liking the styling of them, noticing that they looked more like they were made by NASA than Bic. So, I assembled all kinds of pieces and parts to make these futuristic looking aircraft/spaceship things. They turned out very well, and were a crowd pleaser. Now, I keep my eyes open for these kinds of parts and pieces all the time and squirrel them away until I have enough junk (and ambition, and time) to make another piece.
One of the images shows a collage of the piece itself, along with some silly PhotoShop work I did to give it more interest during the auction.

Harp

2009-05-28T14:28:00.000-07:00

Another small mobile (less than a foot tall) I made to try out a new concept. I really like the way this one moves. This could easily be scaled up if desired. If interested in a quote, email me at artinhighplaces@charter.net

Bouncing

2009-05-28T14:21:00.000-07:00

This mobile started out as two different mobiles, one made with balls and one made with flat circles. I didn't like either of them on their own, so I started combining them in various ways and ended up with this "bouncing" mobile. For some reason, this seems more popular on the East Coast.
Made of stainless steel and wood, the size is approximately 24 x 24 and the cost is $210.