Return to Metropolis - Base is an old foundry form with an old air horn attached. The figure was a broken garden ornament that is held in place by two screws, the ball is simulated marble, probably a lawn bowling ball. The horn and figure a spray painting with a combination of Rustoleum "Oil rubbed bronze" spray paint. It's pretty heavy however its is somewhat delicate because of how the figure is integrated. This will soon be going on sale at the Lafayette Mill Antique center in Lafayette NJ and will sell for around $475.

Just completed this assemblage yesterday. It's called "Idolic Summer".
It's mostly made of wood. The main figure is something I found at a garage sale years ago, the wings are cut off of an eagle I purchased on ebay and the fan blade someone gave me last year.  It sits in the backyard on a pedestal that is painted a champagne gold and has rebar running thru it and into the base of the assemblage for stability. The fan is functional and revolves with a stiff breeze.

DREAMS AND PROMISES
Dreams and Promises utilizes an image of a Maasai moran wearing a enkuraru head dress used in the eunuto ceremony when a warrior who has not yet killed a lion pass from senior warrior to junior elder status. The headdress also is in an almond shape that symbolizes the feminine in the universe and a rebirth. Therefore the dream element, a dream of a brighter future... the floating suggested figures also suggest a dream state, each of which has their own symbolism for me but are open to interpretation by anyone. The man in the background I see as a salesman, a dream seller, making promises he cannot always keep. There is an analogy to big business and also agents for artists. In many ways this piece is also a political analogy.

FIRE DANCE
Fire Dance is about ritual and dance and the bridge that it creates between this world and those other we do not understand. In this painting the figures were done in a combination of the styles of Inca and Aztec figures with a touch of influence of the Japanese master Hokusi. Using these styles in combination with the theme of a fire dance and the colors of a raging fire burning off the picture plane and its cast shadows gives the composition an ancient and mystical feel evoking the spirit of the dance.

TWO LEFT FEET
This is about stupidity, dullness and how, especially if it is our own, we are blind to it. (By the way, the main figure actually has two right feet, not two left feet.) The main figure hasn't a clue why he can't mount the horse, even though he is holding the limbo bar that stops him. The horse knows why and gives us that knowing look that says, “I can't believe this guy is so stupid.”

Often while hanging out, mostly at night in bed when I can't sleep I play around with the multitude of iPhone photo apps I have collected. I can get some very interesting effects by using the panoramic photo setting but moving it too fast, this allows for a "fractured" look akin to some of early photo works by David Hockney. Check it out for yourself and have fun. Also because these are taken and composed with an iPhone the resolution is not the best.  If you are going to do a lot of these I would suggest investing in Perfect Resize, it can be used as a stand alone application or  as a Photoshop Plug in.

I've long been a fan of objects made of glass, Dale Chihuly is one of my favorite artists. These photos are macro images of a magnificent piece of dichroic glass in our collection. I love the alien landscapes and bizarre creatures that emerged.

Here is the collection of Zogy's created up to 3/2/13, there will be many more to come. Most of them are made of old childrens play blocks, pieces from the inside of a piano and rescued objects, with some glass eyes thrown in for food measure. The are available for sale at Layayette Mill Antiques.

The birth of Venus by David Derr is an assemblage incorporating found objects into a whimsical robotic "steam punk" figure. Available for purchase at Lafayette Mill Antiques.