Art in Japan - and me on the Tokyo evening news

Jodi and I went to Japan and did some art while we were there.

Mine is the one on the right, it is supposed to be Tammatan.  Tammatan is the 'chan' for Tammamura city in the Gunma Prefecture of Japan.

Here is a picture of me, Tammatan and my wife Jodi in Tammamura Japan.  I'm giving "E" for E-burg.

I'm always goofing off - this one got me on the evening news in Tokyo!

Seriously, no kidding!

We know a lot of families in Tamamura, Gunma Prefecture.

 

 

14k Rings - Aquamarine and Montana Sapphire

Here are a few recent ring projects, I was delayed by playing with Legos for a while.....

Aquamarine and gold

 

Montana Sapphire and gold

Montana Sapphires and gold

I was trying for a sort of Byzantine or Roman look.  I think I got close.

Construction Pictures to follow.

This is a slug of gold sawn in half so that I can make the double rings for the Aquamarine.  That way I get two of the same dimensions.

Figuring out which stones to play with.

This is the ring with the green stone.  I am about to solder in the setting.  I made the setting with a forming set.

The stone was in a pendant marked "gold" in Arabic.  I melted the necklace to make the ring and will recycle the setting as well.  I will just cut off the bail, remove the stone and solder the setting in the gap above.

Lego Dragon - Putt-putt course.

The Gallery One asked me to create on of the holes for a Putt-Putt golf course to be held in the building.

The Ball rolls down this big red tongue

It triggers a sensor and the eyes light up and the wings flap.

There is  a recording of my voice saying, "Now That's a Spicy Meat-Ball!"

Add caption

I asked if it could be a big dragon where the ball rolls down the tongue into the mouth, he eats it and then it comes out of his butt.  They said yes, so I was in!

Hole #2    -  awesome.

Brand New Mindstorms robotics kit

That's Me in the Belly of the Monster

Actually, this is me.

Construction videos:

HERE

Concept Drawings

There is a video of the insides and how they work here.


 http://www.gallery-one.org/

Lego Lamp - The Path of theZodiac

This is a project that I put together in the fall of 2016 for the annual Gallery One Member's Show.

It is a floor lamp constructed of thousands of Legos, and telling a story....

There is a large blue tree and a certain path from the bottom to the top wrapping around it.

The path passes many figures as you travel it.

They are part of the story....

the "medium" is colored plastic from Denmark.  Ha!  I crack me up.

Gallery One stuff

 The Gallery One is a local nonprofit Visual Arts Center that has been in Ellensburg for 50 years.

I'm a resident artist (although I think of myself as a craftsman) and I have been the Treasurer for about 8 years now.

"E" for Eburg

 This is a picture of some of the Umqua Bank staff as they presented us with a large donation.  Is was a large amount of money and a large check.  It wouldn't fit in the night deposit slot.

Me and Yuri, a family friend, pretending to be sugar skulls.

Me and Caldawg out front.

The third floor looks like this.

Jeweler's Bench and tools.

Part of my studio

Toolie the Toolbox

You lookin' at me?

Alexandrite - 14k

This is one I made for my wife.....

This stone can display different colors in different lighting situations due the internal structure of the crystals that make up the gem

Construction pictures:

A large slug of 14k Gold

Cut into three pieces.

lots of cutting...

Yellow Sapphire - 14k

Yellow on Yellow

 Yellow Sapphire set in 14k Gold

Yes, sapphires come in many colors.   Also, nearly colorless.

Construction pictures:

First, a hammered texture ring shank. 

The little dot is where I plan to drill.

Drill Drill Drill.  This is not a drill.