Secrets, cast glass keys

Gaston Bachelard quote on Keys

Glass gifts on Christmas day

We spent Christmas day at parents house in the Central Coast. 'We' being Dougie, Matt (Dougie's nephew), myself and Mum and Dad. Apart from getting a commission finished I also wanted to give gifts that were hand made.

The woodland tankard is finally finished! Along with some international beers I gave Dad the 'Woodland tankard' that I have been working on here and there for a year or so. I love the look with beer inside.

'Woodland tankard' full of beer. (cast glass)

For my Mum, a cast crystal relief of blossoms. It has found a spot where the light catches it, in her very meditative bathroom.

and finally, a late present for them both for their 40th Wedding Anniversary. I had cast the keys in Ruby crystal (40=Ruby) but the glass had other ideas. Luckily I ended up with a gorgeous orange, a colour my mother loves. The interlocked keys are quite tricky, more for getting them out of the mould material and polishing really. Patience!

Keys for Kieu

5 keys for Kieu. I love this colour way. I hope her friends like them!

Thank you Ruth

Ruth Oliphant is leaving her position at the Glassworks. I will miss her presence there, but life sounds excciting for her with new projects, travels and residencies in the near future. Ruth collects keys so...

Metal and glass keys to unlock opportunities ahead

Farewell gift

Farwell gift, hanging loop in corporate colours.

Wedding congratulations

Congratulations to newlyweds Jen & Bong, wishing you many happy years together.

Christmas decorations

My Dad sent me this picture of one of my decorative keys hanging along side some slighty more christmassy decorations. My mum has made a special cedar and LED light that sits on the table to show off these ornaments.

4 more 'master' keys

My success rate on this batch was pretty low, about 50%. I need to make a better mould if I'm going to do many more of this shape.

Secrets ready to go

Despite some unforseen difficulties 'Secrets' are ready to go to the store...soon to be available for purchase at Gather! the Canberra Glassworks retail shop. Woot!

more keys, this time as ornaments

20 or so keys, ready to switch on the kiln

The forbidden chamber

 Showing in Art and About @ Pop up Gallery 140 George Street, The Rocks.

Spike Deane. The forbidden chamber, (2013). Cast glass, steel, mirror. 60 x 60 x 5cm.

pity about the ceiling, but it was all like that.

  

Human beings are story tellers.

My work draws on narratives found in folk and fairy tales to explore themes of individual transformation and metamorphosis. These tales evoke archetypes, myths, legends and fundamental truths from our lived experiences as social beings in an ever changing world. Each generation re-imagines the core stories of folk traditions and it is this process of reinvention and renewal that underpins my work. With this piece I examine tales like those of Bluebeard and Fitcher's bird where a terrible secret lies behind a forbidden door.

In folklore and fairy tales the key can denote liberation, knowledge, the unravelling of mysteries or a difficult task to accomplish. In these stories I see the key assisting us on a path of revelation, unlocking secrets that reveal truths that enable personal growth and transformation.

'The forbidden chamber' install

Here you can see my key pouches and packing.

Mirror slip

key pouches, much easier I think than wrapping each one in bubble wrap.

newly peeled acrylic

"Comments in glass"

the Keys will be here as of Thursday

Packing up the keys

Thanks to Ruth Oliphant I picked up my rolled metal bar on Monday (and a suggestion of a title -thanks Ruth!), so today I trialled all the pieces and packed the work for travelling. I sewed a slip for the acrylic mirror and roll up padded pouch pockets for the keys.

key to the bloody chamber

I  was asked for a photo of the Key's work today for a flyer...unfortunately I was at the glassworks and not getting home till this evening, where I found another reminder for it ASAP. So I launched into photographer mode, trying to find my portable camera (the SLR being out of action), camera is almost out of batteries. Grab a mirror and some keys (the ring is being rolled this week) and try to take 'a' decent shot. Mirrors..whose idea was that eh?

faffing about, mirrors show everything!

 After 45mins of faffing about I tried a black background...much better. The Keys do look good on the mirror, it's just very hard to capture on film (digitally).

Key project progress

Perspex mirror...check (from Plastic creations)
Steel round bar 8mm...check (from Metal mart)
Steel being bent to 265mm circles...check (at Hadofen, 12 Endurance Ave, Queanbeyan NSW 2620)

It's all coming together, though Dougie is getting to know Fyshwick far better than he wants to :)

key placement

The short of it is....I need to make more keys...and you never know what it will look like until you get all the bits together.

keys on an embroidery hoop

I forget how CURIOUS cats are

Another set out of the kiln

Keys out of the refractory material

25 key moulds in Kiln 18-19

Key moulds all set up in kiln 18 and 19, coming out on Tuesday