Michael DeMeng Workshops

As you know time keeps on slipping slipping slipping into the future. Because of this you should do something with it before it leaves completely. Grab those watches because we are going to dismantle and then remantle them in strange and peculiar ways. Using processing involving assemblage and painting you will modify these little devices into something that will bend time. When finished then can be used as a amulet, medallion or as something strange for your curio cabinet. It might even be possible for it to keep on ticking after it takes a licking.

As far I as know there is no such thing as a Saint or Deity of Discarded things, which is a pity because there are many like me who wander the highways and byways looking for bits of detritus to incorporate into artwork. Seems like an activity worthy of guidance or protections. In fact I recall one instant where I was traveling Oaxaca Mexico in a large van with 10 or so students. On the side of the road we passed a large dumpsite filled with oxidized goodies…all of a sudden everyone in the van starts oohing and ahhhing. The driver looked a bit bewildered, and wondered what in the world a bunch of gringos would find so interesting about an orange-ish/red heap of metal. Little did he know, that to us, it was as if we came across the holy grail. The possibilities of creation were endless. In this class we are going to create a found object patron, saint or deity that will aid in our artistic endeavors of finding and recreating from discarded things. Using some sort of structure to build of (such as an iron, a shoe, a phone, a shadow box…just about anything) we will create a place for our effigy to watch over our undertakings. This shrine will be filled with all sorts of unusual elements as adornment but will also serve as a place to add future bits of randomness.