Migrating Gall Stones - An Abstract Piece

I attended a charity art auction a few weeks back. I was disappointed by the lack of abstract/weird art, which is the stuff that appeals to me. There was one abstract piece there and this led to a discussion of how best to display it since there really isn't a set orientation for abstract art. As it was a painting I suggested mounting it on a turn table that would then be attached to a wall so you could turn it whenever you wanted to see it in a different way. I thought this was a stroke a genius nearly equal to Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection...but no one else seemed nearly as impressed.

As I lay half awake the next morning I thought this rotational concept would be cool to incorporate into a three dimensional piece. I thought the subject would "Have to be migrating wildebeests or something else that moved" and this thought reminded me of a relative's recent medical condition caused by migrating gall stones. And then the various components and how they could be represented came to me in rapid succession. The gall stones could be river rocks. The tissue grasping them and pulling them about the body would be yarn. A wooden base and upper portion painted red could represent the body cavity. And I could use one of those neat spinning bearing things I salvaged from a copy machine 10 years ago to make the wood pieces move. I sprang out of bed and starting working right away. The result you see pictured in this step. I'm not sure if it qualifies as a sculpture or a collage. I think 3-D collages are called "assemblages" in art terminology but I'm not sure. So here is how I made the abstract art piece I call "Migrating Gall Stones".

Step 1 Tools and Materials

Here's what I used to make "Migrating Gall Stones":

Materials:

• Two pieces of scrap wood
• River rock
• Yarn
• Spray paint (primer, red and clear)
• E-6000 (or your favorite adhesive)
• Four rubber feet
• Small metal rod (be sure this fits snugly in the bearing thing)
• Rotating bearing thing

Tools:

• Jig saw
• Circular saw
• Hack saw
• Router
• Hand drill
• Drillpress
• Drill bits
• Drill bit sizer
• Drill bit stop
• Scissors
• Clamps
• Bench vise
• Sander
• Sandpaper
• Marker
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Painter's tape

Comments

[falcotheimpaler]

I know you're gonna get comments like "omfg wut is dis crap" and "th15 is n0+ 4rt!!!11!!11" but honestly, this is a beautiful piece. if i had ANY (and i mean any) room left in my house I'd consider buying it. From one abstract art appreciator to another.

[RadBear]

Thanks. Glad you like it. Be sure to come back and vote for it. So far all comments have been really positive...but not as flattering as yours. If you clear a spot and are interested in buying it drop me a line.

[RonMacin]

wow And I liked it

[kelseymh]

I thought "assemblage" was the collection of fossils at given location. And you're not nearly old enough to be considered a fossil...