welded metals
Arc welding and Gas welding are two methods of joining pieces of metals. My preference is gas welding. When I have a gas-flaming torch in-hand, I feel a sense of freedom that allows me to be spontaneous and express my creativity via experimentation and impromptu decisions.
Even though, I successfully finished Storm Tossed (below) I found arc welding’s preliminary steps too restrictive; all measurements for the sculpture’s diagrams and patterns needed to be exact, before I could make the first weld.
Arc Welding
Steel
Arc welding uses an electric arc to heat and join two pieces of metal.
Storm Tossed | Arc-welded Steel
1994-1995 | 36″x36″x36″ | Theme: Nature
Baltimore Life Lobby, Owings Mills, MD
Gas Welding
Brass & Steel
Gas welding uses oxygen for the flame, plus
filler rods and flux to join pieces of sheet metal.
Growth & Development | Gas-welded Brass
1983-1985 | Unfinished piece grew to 7 ft. tall.
Theme: The Human Body
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Sculpture Titles
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Man in My Life | 1983 – 1984 | Theme: The Human Body
How “Growth” morphed into Man in My Life
It took 15 months and 100+ pounds of brass to see that I had reached an artistic dead-end. Reluctantly, I put the artwork aside. Standing 7-feet tall, Growth & Development, turned out to be an interesting learning experiment…one that was exciting to create but challenging to complete. In 1989, I recycled the brass to start anew. Man in My Life is a testament to the adage…Less is usually better.
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Silent Horror | A Holocaust Memorial
Three Tools of Destruction create a haunting image, to represent the torment and hopelessness of the time.
The jagged edges and dark seams echo life during the Holocaust.
The brightly-shined areas of metal illustrate the hope of the Jewish people to rise again in triumph.
Materials: Brass | Barbed Wire | Charred Wood
Brass pieces of metal are welded together, to personify the unity of one people…the whole is the sum of its parts.
Barbed wire encircles the face and spirals above to symbolize the captured Jewish communities, in an effort to break their spirit…leaving little hope for escape.
Charred Wood represents the fire of the ovens…in the German/Nazi concentration camps from 1933-1945.
2003 | Donated to the Beth Tfiloh Congregation in Pikesville, MD
by Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Attman and Mr. & Mrs. Jack Pechter.
Right Side
Eye: covered by a ball of twisted-barbed wire…to block out the unbelievable horror.
Nostril: curls under, submissively
Cheek: recedes.
The Mouth
opens to scream…but there is no sound.
The mouth’s black cavity...adds to the silence and feeling of hopelessness.
Left Side
Eye: encircled by barbed wire…but left open to SEE ALL, and never forget.
Nostril: flares wide in defiance.
Cheek: juts forward.
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1984 | Best Foot Forward | gas-welded brass | 18″x12″x8″19″ | Theme: Horse birds
1991 | I Saw But Could Not Speak | gas-welded brass
34″x25″x12″ | Theme: Holocaust | Recycled from Growth
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Steel Sculpture
1972 | Seated Nude | gas-welded steel | 8″x 7″x12″ | Theme: Nudes
1985 | Awakening | gas-welded steel | 17″x18″x12″ | Theme: Horse birds
Collection of Maryland Artists, Towson University MD
1994-1995 | Storm Tossed | arc-welded steel | 36″x36″x36″ | Theme: Nature | Baltimore Life Lobby, Owings Mills, MD