in progress : lawndale day of the dead entry

had no idea what i was going to do, but i had a number of items lying around and they all just seemed to “fit”. it was like divine inspiration. considering i’m still not done, i better knock on wood and hope that continues through tomorrow, because this sucker is due thursday.

i want to keep it white, with just a few colored details. the brass lock on the front is from an old briefcase i salvaged. there is a piece missing that i won’t add until i’ve near finished with this. it sits right in front of the brass piece and is silver. i’m not sure how those two pieces will play against each other, as i debated coloring over the lock in the first place. but i felt it was easier to leave it blank and color it later if i had to than regret coloring it in the first place.

the skeletal hands were a lucky find at the art supply store a couple of weeks ago. and the brass bugs i’ve had forever. the faceplate on the front, the elongated piece, is a cover from a clock i dismantled, the backing of that piece is what i’m currently using for the Shotgun Messenger piece. i really didn’t think i would be doing anything that large again. lucky me. that wierd little piece sitting in the bottom center is actually part of a drum. i’m not sure what you call it, but i loved the lines on the piece when i bought it at the junk place. it doesnt seem to really fit with this assemblage since it is sort of reminiscent of art deco rather than the somewhat victorian feel i’m going for, but adds visual interest and weight. plus, it is just the right thing i need to support that silver thingy, with the help of a screw. that was a bit touchy, as the insert to that silver thing was rather wide. talk about resourceful, i had an anchor that i clipped down to size to fill the space!

the regulation size for an entry should not exceed 12″ x 14″ x 6″[deep]. the wooden frame is 13 x 11. with the added mantle piece, i’m over by half an inch. it’s possible that this piece could be denied entry. if that’s the case, it’s going to dallas, where i have been recently invited to submit a piece for their day of the dead exhibit. and this will be the first year in the past 3 that i will not have submitted an entry at lawndale, if that is the case.

a part of me wishes i would have started earlier on this, but i doubt i would have been so inspired to come up with this. i like it very very much.