Renowned Art Deco artist Gerda Wegner beautifully renders the common motif of women gazing out from a window, between domestic and exterior space, with her characteristic sensuality and sinuous line. Rays of light lend this watercolor a similarity to Wegener’s more geometric, cubist-influenced works.
At the Teatro América, a meticulously preserved movie theater on the ground floor of a Streamline Moderne apartment complex, the second-floor ladies cloakroom retains its original fixtures and furnishings
Card for Magic the Gathering: “Streets of New Capenna” Basic Land - Plains I was so excited to create several cards for the new Art Deco setting Magic the Gathering.
I’ve been overdosing on documentaries about CERN, the Large Hadron Collider, quantum physics/mechanics and proof of the Higgs Boson. As a science illiterate it fascinates me. That massive tube full of magnets, cameras, detectors and liquid nitrogen is an incredible instrument. Simply awe inspiring. These docos play in the background in my studio and I would occasionally look up to see the massive size and complexity of the machine.
This started with simple flat brass rings with eight holes and some rescued snake chain I cut into eight lengths. This design wasn’t thought out - I just had to wing it. I vaguely wanted a “cage” to hold a glass vial with a Tritium vial in it. Etsy doesn’t like Tritium (their sandpit - their rules) so I sell those pieces off Etsy. It basically glows without the need for a charge - it glows constantly for 10 to 15 years. But I’ve been working with UV resin and recently purchased some tiny LEDS. So I set an orange LED into a gold tone cord cap with UV resin. Then I put a glass tube into the cap and slowly poured resin into the tube stirring it frantically to produce air bubbles. Normally I’m fighting against air bubbles in resin so trying to form and quickly cure them was surprisingly difficult. I didn’t even know if the LED and electronics was going to work after pouring resin on them. The light refracts and diffuses on the bubbles. I was thrilled when it all worked.
Once I had brass beads on the end of each chain length I threaded a range of beads, pinions, tubing and 5 brass rings to stabilize the tube. I still had no idea if the vial would fit through the middle and how I was going to attach it to the structure. This is where the magic often happens - it fit like it was designed with precision. To fasten it within the tube all I had to do was slide another cap on the top of the glass vial and seal it with a screw.
As you can see - when unlit there is a small silver tube, slightly hidden by the brass tassel. To turn the light on - insert that tube into the battery pack - a tiny silver tone tube with a central hole (3/8 x ¼ inch). Once inserted it turns the LED on. Batteries can be replaced easily by unscrewing the cap.
During the day - it’s an unusual mecha deco design - at night with the light - the wow factor.
It sort of looks like a little mechanical cephalopod with those 8 tassel “legs”. I’ve designed this to be worn low on the body - Gatsby length with a long chain. It’s hitched high on the display bust just to show scale and fit it into the photo. If you want it to be higher - I’m happy to alter the chain length.
Another steampunk goddess made with a range of watch parts, brass bits and pieces, electrical probes and two part resin. She can look very intimidating from one angle yet strangely zen from another. She’s in my Etsy shop.
“Mithrana” by Albert Stewart, New York World’s Fair Source:NY Public Library
The archive doesn’t provide info on what building this sculpture appeared on, but I looked it up and Albert Stewart was the man behind several well-known architectural sculpture, including friezes at Buffalo City Hall
“Asbestos: The Magic Mineral,” New York World’s Fair Source:NY Public Library
The fair was all about promoting new and wonderful discoveries, like…. asbestos. This is TOO much. I don’t know what building this was on. Another view of the asbestos suit:
I have a 10-DVD set of documentary footage of the fair and when I got to the Aquacade, it blew my mind. Even more amazing in color. Basically this was a huge performance venue which included a WATER stage as well as a large dance/skating stage. They performed what were essentially LIVE versions of Busby Berkely dance routines and Esther Williams movies. So, big synchronized swimming affair set to music, people skating in formation on stage, etc. There were elaborate costumes and of course lots of bathing beauties, like:
Mural by Andrew Durenceau, Metals Building, New York World’s Fair Source:NY Public Library
A few of the monumental murals at the Metals Building. There are various references to Greco-Roman gods, plus of course industry. The photo with the two people posed in front is “Strength and Power.”
Gay New Orleans Village, New York World’s Fair Source:NY Public Library
The fair included numerous “villages” – clusters of themed buildings, attractions, food halls, etc. – and one of them was a “Gay New Orleans” village. Basically a party area. The huge hall pictured offered “Swing Mardi Gras,” with Swing dancing every night, free (with your fair ticket).
A better view of the building, in the winter between 1939 and 1940:
