Metal Sculpture
Sunday, August 26th, 2007
Well Pete and I had wanted to take a welding class - but the class offered through NOVA (Northern Virginia Community College) was not very easy to get to in Manassas. After I took a ceramics class through “The Art League School” in Alexandria, Pete found they offered “Metal Sculpture” - which included basic welding. So we signed up. Last Monday was the last day.
The class turned out to be tons of fun. Pete made a cool planetary inspired art project. I was a bit more practical and turned my eye towards items needed for the house. It was a requirement for the class that what we made also be able to be thought of as art. So a basic heating grate for the bathroom was out. However, making a heating grate that doubled as an abstract tree stump was not.
The project offered some extra challenges of its own that I did not expect. It was a challenge to work with the project’s desire to warp as I welded on the pieces that fit into the floor (not shown in picture). Then once the pieces that fit into the floor were attached - they acted as a giant heat sync - so heating that section of the project when doing cuts or other welds was much more challenging.
At the conclusion - I was thrilled to learn that rustoleum makes a clear spray paint. No one else that I’ve mentioned this to has seemed remotely excited - but this allows the shiny metal color to come through. I like it much better than having to pick a color. After all - it needed some sort of protective coating or it would rust!
