I started with a shiny film tin about 12″ in diameter to create this unusual display unit. First, I sanded the outer edges of the tin to create texture. Then I cut an opening into the top surface and inserted a matboard box divided into two sections, and added color and texture around the box with a circular piece of hand-decorated paper.

Next, using matboard covered with hand-decorated paper, I framed the opening and added a door at the bottom. The door operates with a special wire hinge, tied in place with waxed linen threads and beads. A button tie at the top keeps the door closed. I pop-rivited eight small rectangles, made with the same hand-decorated paper, to the top surface for additional texture.

To complete the project, I glued decorated paper to the back surface of the tin and around the circumference at the edge.

©2008 FISHBOWL #3 - interactive wire sculpture, 11'' h x 12.5'' w x 9.5'' d • Turning crank causes curved rocker arm to move back-and-forth, making fish 'swim' in a realistic manner

©2008 FISHBOWL #3 • rear view • crank with handle operates rocker arm by means of wire connecting rod

I posted photos of two wire fishbowls in my September 15 and October 16 posts in the ‘Something New’ category. I just completed another interactive sculpture with a wire fish and crank, but this one features an authentic glass fishbowl, mounted with guy wires to a plywood base with a combed acrylic paint surface to suggest water. Wooden blocks serve as feet.

The crank mechanisms on each sculpture are different, and each was quite a challenge to me. On this third sculpture, I wanted the crank to be in the front, which meant I had to figure out a way to transfer movement to the rear, and then to the top center of the bowl. I didn’t want the crank mechanism wires to be seen through the fishbowl, which presented a further problem to solve.

Close-up view of 3-part articulated fish - made from 18 gauge black annealed wire and 20 gauge copper wire

As you can see in the photos above, my solution is simple. The front crank creates a circular motion, and the connecting rod transfers that motion to the rear rocker arm/crank and creates a back-and-forth motion. Notice the different sizes of the U-shapes in the front crank and rear rocker arm/crank. The tricky part was to get these just right for the proper amount of movement, and this required lots of minute adjustments to the crank and rocker arm/crank.

Fishbowl mounted to painted base with guy wires and hook eyes, fish on hanger inside bowl, sketchbook with numerous fish shapes at right

Trial crank and rocker arm in place with additional crank parts at right

In addition to all that, the rocker arm itself, even though it’s made of 16 gauge galvanized steel wire, was too flimsy to make the fish ’swim’. I tried a number of different curves and right angle shapes and none worked. Finally, I constructed a new rocker arm mechanism, with the same graceful curve I started with, and ‘work hardened’ it by placing it on my pounding block and lightly hammering it. It was noticeably stiffer. I got excited. Now I had to feed the bent and hardened rocker arm through the two tiny holes in the rear guide – no easy feat – just to see if it would work.

To do this, I partially straightened various right-angle bends and very carefully worked the rocker arm/crank through the holes, re-bending the wire as I proceeded. Then, I tied the upper part of the rocker arm to the fish hanger with scrap wire and gently operated the crank. It worked!

FISHBOWL #3 is for sale – click here if interested.

Close-up of front crank and rear rocker arm mechanisms, guy wires and hook eyes

Close-up of rocker arm (far right) attached to fish hanger, guide loops, hanging seaweed

ARTISTS VILLAGE with City Hall in Center

Alternate view of ARTISTS VILLAGE

I first heard about this collaborative project from artist Margaret Dessell in March of this year when I taught workshops in Long Beach, Washington, when the project was just getting under way. Margaret is the driving force behind ‘Escape Artists’, a creative paper and mixed media art group.

I wondered about this project over the ensuing months, but never heard another word about it, until I received photographs of the magnificent finished project from participating artist Cheryl Torbet. With permission from the Escape Artists, I am pleased to present photos of ARTISTS VILLAGE for your viewing pleasure and inspiration.

Margaret Dessell- Istanbol Carpets

Juanita Murray - back view of Gallery

Cornealia Bragg, Betty Schlicting and Cheryl Torbet originated the ‘Village’ concept, after participating in my class titled ‘Telescope Book’ in January, 2008. Participants in this 3-hr class make a 3-part articulated telescope, add tiny books to the fronts of each section and create a pocket to house the telescope. I provide cardstock patterns for the class project, and once the mechanics are understood, it’s simple to make telescopes in larger (or smaller) sizes, and to add additional sections.

Betty Schlicting - Stitch 'N Time

Shelly Burnett - Shelby Building

Cornealia, Betty and Cheryl, the village ‘founders’, presented their idea to create a village to the ESCAPE ARTISTS with these parameters:

A. The telescope pattern from my class would be used as the structural basis for each building

B. Each artist starts with a 5″ square foam core block upon which to build their chosen storefront/s theme/s

C. The height of each storefront was to be no more than 8″ using the basic telescope pattern. Each artist can alter the pattern by making it smaller in height and/or wider but still keeping it within the boundaries of the 5″ square block

D. The three ‘founders’ would create the municipal buildings for the village ’square’. These buildings could be larger than 8″, but each – library, post office, fire station and city hall – had to fit on a 5″ foam core block

Cheryl Torbet - GiGi's Gems

Ruth Campbell - Scottie's Pet Shop

Here’s a list of the twelve participating artists and the buildings each created:

Cornealia Bragg – Artist Village Library (village center), Holy Cross Church on Kindred Spirits Lane, Mahoney Elementary and Bragg Middle Schools located on Cranium Court, and Pike Place Park

Shelley Burnett – Movie Theatrer and Book Store on Arts Ave, and Shelby Building on Shelby Court

Ruth Campbell – Scottie’s Pet Shop, Pretzel Bakery and Locksmith on Campbell Court

Judy Castle – Liberty Bank and Bebop Music on Asset Ave

Margaret Dessell – Istanbol Carpets, Pic Point Paper Arts, Dr. LM Puller Dental Care on DeCelle Drive, and Marnie’s Ice Cream Parlor and Kolde Bldg on Picnic Point Pt. Rd

Mary Lee – Mary’s Flowers and Ann’s Sweets on Giving Alley

Wanda McWilliams – Funny Bone Theatre, Take A Break Coffee Shop on Jadwin Street, and C# Music and Dance Studio on Music Row

Juanita Murray – Art Center and Gallery on Juanita Drive

Betty Schlicting – Post Office, Artists Village City Hall (village center), Hill St. Blues Police Station, Pike Place Park, Stitch N’ Time Sewing Center on Quilting B Lane, and Harmony Barber Shop on Harmony Way

Bonnie Taylor – Coffee Shop, Bon Bakery and Wine Shop on Taylor Place

Cheryl  Torbet – Fire Station # 41 (village center), GiGi’s Gems on Emerald Alley and Boudoir Beads on Tanzanite Lane

Geri Wilgus – Sisters Antique Shop, Bargain Boutique Thrift Shop and Lil People World Child Care on Salleys Alley

Bonnie Taylor - Coffee Shop

Wanda McWilliams - Funny Bone Theater

STATS

• Time frame was approximately 4 months; the project was completed in June 2008
• Official name, voted by the group, is ARTISTS VILLAGE
• Size of base is 21.5″ X 28″
• Tallest building is 13.5″
• Four Municipal buildings are hinged together to form the    village ’square’
• Foam core board, cardstock, paper, cardboard and adhesives are the basic materials used to create the structures
(and, as Betty Schlicting stated in an email to me, ‘Of course there are many, many embellishments added’)

Judy Castle - Bebop Music

Cornealia Bragg - Holy Cross Church

Note from Betty:

ARTISTS VILLAGE is booked for two displays:

Francis Anderson Center, Edmonds, WA, from Dec. 1 through December 14, hosted by the Edmonds Art Commission

Lynnwood Public Library, Lynnwood, WA, for the month of Feb. 2009

Our goal is to have the village displayed in various community venues for the public’s enjoyment.

When working on the village I, as the others just did whatever it took to make the houses stand, etc. After I had my three together I managed to insert a small wood rod/tongue depresser to make the buildings stand upright  on my acreage. I also folded the bottom or added an additional foot so they would stand.

As I cannot see a project from beginning to the end I just added whatever came to mind as I progressed – always make a much better item the second time around. I named the store and streets after my nickname, ‘Marne’, DeCelle street, etc. I hit the miniature stores at first but didn’t find much there or what I did find was too large for our project. I did find street lamps, foliage, bricks at the miniature railroad stores. The garbage can came from an antique store.  The other items were from the collections here at the house.

The ladies surprised themselves by this project, even though they agonized a bit at first. But as a group, we are attempting to work more ‘out of the box’ and that is difficult for some of us, including myself.

I wanted to tell you that as one of the ‘founders’ my biggest challenge was making all the blocks (13- 5″ square blocks & 4 triangle ‘filler’ blocks) fit on the base while still making it as aestetically pleasing as possible.

This was trial and error. We used the 4 triangle blocks as fillers, (police station, park, schools, and barber shop). I believe I and other artists tended to work by the seat of our pants, if one thing didn’t work we would make changes until it did work. It was a fun and challenging project and isn’t that what creativity is all about!

Mary Lee - Mary's Flowers

Geri Wilgus - Bargain Boutique Thrift Shop