Untamed at Gallery Route One
2019
Throughout history, artists have used unusual materials—Play-Doh, dryer lint, chewing gum— to produce original works of beauty.
So when a 72” tube of rubberized plastic foam washed up onto Kehoe Beach, it was not surprising that instead of a piece of trash, I saw a rare collector’s item of great value. Finding something we’ve never found before, something mysterious, makes a trip to the beach especially rewarding. Back home at the computer, untold hours were spent searching Google for the answers to: Where did it come from? What is it?
Given the rich uneven texture of the exterior and the soft imperfect round of the center, when cut into 1” slices, each section of the tube makes for a distinctive yet comfortable bracelet. When wearing such a curious piece of jewelry admirers will take note, wanting to know the story about this unique bangle.
And there are many stories to be told about its journey across the sea, its arrival on the beach, its transformation in the studio and finally, the wearing of the timeless mystery of this piece of plastic that washed up on the beach.
So when a 72” tube of rubberized plastic foam washed up onto Kehoe Beach, it was not surprising that instead of a piece of trash, I saw a rare collector’s item of great value. Finding something we’ve never found before, something mysterious, makes a trip to the beach especially rewarding. Back home at the computer, untold hours were spent searching Google for the answers to: Where did it come from? What is it?
Given the rich uneven texture of the exterior and the soft imperfect round of the center, when cut into 1” slices, each section of the tube makes for a distinctive yet comfortable bracelet. When wearing such a curious piece of jewelry admirers will take note, wanting to know the story about this unique bangle.
And there are many stories to be told about its journey across the sea, its arrival on the beach, its transformation in the studio and finally, the wearing of the timeless mystery of this piece of plastic that washed up on the beach.
At Gallery Route One's Untamed, an exhibition of fine art jewelry, for just $20. they were a popular pay-and-go item.
Skull Bracelet
2017
Milk Pull-tab Bracelet
2009
Milk used to come in clear glass bottles delivered early morning on our doorstep. Years later, at the store we bought milk in a boxy wax carton with a fold open spout. Now, in the name of sanitation and convenience, milk cartons have been “improved” with plastic safety milk pull-tabs. Now, thousands of these ubiquitous tabs are making their way to the landfill. It will take thousand of years for them to go away.
To draw attention to this blight, I created a bracelet by looping one loop inside the other and on around until the final one loops into the first one. People always take note of my unique jewelry, which gives me the opportunity to talk about plastic and to encourage action about everything, even about milk cartons.
During a recent trip to Tanzania, I visited a Masai village where the inquisitive fingers of an elder Masai woman touched my bright white bracelet trying to figure out what could be the source and the material of my unusual adornment. I asked our guide to explain that I had made the bracelet out of milk pull-tabs; that they were something that would otherwise be thrown away; that I am an artist who uses recycled plastic in my creations. I was babbling so fast that probably neither she nor my translator understood a word of what I was saying.
When she expressed interested in my bracelet I was thrilled. She is also an expert crafts person who makes elaborate bracelets and neck collars. With mutual respect as artisans, we made an exchange. I now wear one of her fine beaded bracelets and she now wears my milk-tab bracelet.
I imagine that when I am telling this story about my amazing experience with the elder Masai woman — she is telling someone about the crazy white woman who came into the village telling stories about recycling plastic? and milk cartons? I have to laugh, they subsist milk and blood from cows, probably have never ever seen a milk carton — so I was indeed crazy-talkin’.
In a gesture of appreciation of art and adornment, the Masai woman and I connected. ART held the moment — through beauty we were able to speak when language just wouldn’t do.
Nevertheless ART held the moment- thorough beauty we can speak when language won’t do.