Steel Houses

Steel Houses

During Penland's spring concentration I continued to explore various enameling techniques using similar shapes in order to compare the results. I wanted to figure out how to form 3 dimensional objects which would hold up during the firing process. I enamel between the temperatures of 1500-1550 degrees. Most solders flow before reaching these temperatures making things a bit more difficult to make larger 3D objects. Over the last few years I have become very fascinated with the book arts and felt that there are many possibilities that would combine both of these mediums & solve my 3D dilemma.

This is one of three steel houses that I created while at Penland. They are part of a body of work in which I am exploring the ghosts in my life. You will recognize this silhouette of my Great grandmother Emmy G. I wanted these houses to convay the feeling of cold hard loneliness that a pinoeer would experience while living on the high northern plains of Montana.

I am thrilled with the results of this experiment and am very excited to see what comes next.