I found a book of photographs of song birds for $1 at a church rummage sale a few months ago. It has provided me with all kinds of inspiration. I cut the images of hatchlings and of eggs that are shown behind the window in nest of thread X from there. And most recently I’ve been interested in images of birds in flight and birds alighting, like this one.
Which inspired this line drawing
as well as some other drawings.
And then there was the great trip to the Wellesley town dump last week where, among other things, I rescued a totally amazing electric timer. It must be at least fifty years old. The box is covered in rust and needed a lot of scrubbing. I knew immediately that it was a special object, though, and it got me thinking about birds and timepieces, and maybe compasses.
I sat down last week to begin to work with it and thought that the first thing I’d need to do was to cut the power cord. And then I thought maybe I ought to plug the thing in, just to see what happened. I think I expected it might explode, but no, it just started ticking away, keeping perfect time. Oh wow!
So here is "Egg Timer" – a mixed media sculpture (fabric, wire, paperclay and vintage timer).
And should you want to, you can plug it in and listen to it tick, tick, tick.
I realized this week that I miss making dolls and non-avian creatures. I know the last time I said I was taking a break from birds I went ahead and made 11 more bird pieces, but I might mean it this time, at least for few minutes.
This sculpture is stunning!! I really enjoy all of your work and am always waiting in anticipation for a new piece!!
Love it!! Love the bird on the right perching – perfect!!
love.
I am just amazed.
Holy cow… That’s wonderful, every bit of it.
Oh! That is most awesome! Abby, you’re amazing.
When I think of how little I got done while my kid napped….
😉
I know I keep saying this, but this one is my absolute favourite so far……
That timer is truly special! I love the restrained simplicity of the birds, even though they have amazing details to them, the details don’t clutter or overwhelm them.
Gorgeous, Just Gorgeous…..
Leah xx
I love this!
this is so great. the timer and the egg, just so great.
I am really amazed at what you are picking up at the dump! The timer is very cool and so are the birds.
The timer reminds me of one used in a photo lab – for developing pictures…lovely piece.
Wowzer! This one is my favorite. Hands down. I am amazed with the motion you managed to instill in the bird that is landing. Thank you for sharing the process with us! So fabulous.
these have worked so well, really capturing some movement.
lovely!
xx
oh yea that does remind me of the timers in the dark room of the photo lab. i really like this sculpture…time does seem to have a big presence when it comes to the cycle of life. lots of waiting involved, as well as the inevitablity of it all.
yes, my father had a timer like this for his darkroom which my sister and i then inherited. it was always a magical piece for me. it’s beautiful with the birds.
that timer is a fantastic find, love what you have done with it too
wow oh wow abby!
these mixed media pieces you have been doing are just amazing. Golly I go away for a few weeks and you come up with all this. truly inspiring.
I love the bird that is alighting from the side of the timer. looks like he really is about to take off.
Abby, I’ve head this post saved in my Bloglines account since I first read it. I was so blown away by the beauty of this piece that I didn’t have the words to tell you how much I love it. I thought I could sit on it for a while and return with a proper comment in a few days. But I’m still just awestruck and can’t do anything other than babble on about how supremely awesome this piece is. You’re absolutely brilliant.
i’m stunned! what gorgeous work!!