How To Make a Debris Dragonfly: Artistic Recycling in New Orleans by Trish Ransom
This Saturday we went to the Arts Market of New Orleans organized by the Arts Council of New Orleans. The Palmer Park was spotted with white tents featuring New Orleans inspired photos, paintings, fridge magnets, creepy mirrors, etc.
The tent we liked the most was Trish Ransom’s tent, which we could call the Art of Metallic Recycling. She was selling her strange recycled creatures and jewelry made of bottle caps, rusty coins, metal hinges or what have you. She calls it debris art (just like her site is called debrisart.com). While we were chatting along on her recycled art, she proudly showed her recent catch on the way to the Art market: an old crooked metal bucket handle! Who knows what it is going to transform itself into next time?! On display Trish had some beautiful fishes, a not too brave armadillo, a smiling turtle, and a series of nice dragonflies, one of which you can see here.
The best thing about the Dragonfly is that it is not only nice, and cheerful, but can be made of very few things that you may wish to recycle in a 10-20 minute session. Also, it is a great kid’s project, and Trish said that kids liked painting the wood, and it was also a great way to introduce them into the world of hammers and pliers.
The ingredients are as follows:
1 wood screw (suggested size is 3 inches)
1 palm size bit of mosquito screen (possibly black)
2 black beads
2 pins that go through the beads and can be hammered into the background plank
1 piece of plank or wooden surface to fix the dragonfly
some paint to add background color to the plank or desk
1 bracket to fix the dragonfly
1 pen to sign the wood plank
Once you have chosen your background debris plank, which could be any wooden flat object, even a window frame, or an old chopping board (or even a piece of textile if you decide to go for something softer than wood), paint it in the color you like. Cut the black screen into wing shapes (preferably two similar wings). When the paint has gotten dry, place the wood screw flat on the plank/ board. Then put the wings almost at the screw head. Now fix the wood screw and the wings in position with the bracket. You have the body of the dragonfly!
Now let’s go for the head, which is basically the two big eyes: place the two black beads at the head of the screw and fix them with the two pins. Ready?
Don’t forget to sign the plank/ board to make it look more like an art piece.
Hints: as you can see, Trish used light green spots randomly scattered on the yellowish ochre background (maybe to capture the vivid motion of dragonflies). Also, the dragonfly is slightly slanted as if it was in flying mode.
Although Trish has not heard of either Make or Craft magazines, or the Maker in Austin, or etsy.com, she quickly jotted down the info, so I hope to see her great works at the Austin Maker Faire, and you too guys! One more thing: in all probability, one of the most on the spot highly-read magazines in the Barnes and Nobles in New Orleans was the Craftzine - at least based on the dog ears it had!
No wonder, New Orleans is full of artistic endeavours. And coming back on tracks.