Grey
photos: Tavs Jorgensen /
Dead
photo: David Clarke
d i f f e r e n t f r o m th e o r d in a r y
r e la t io n s h ip b e t w e e n p e o p le
a n d t h in g s . I n t h e 1 8 th c e n t u r y ,
p e o p le o f t e n h a d t h e ir p o r tr a it s
t a k e n w i t h t h e ir t o o ls . A n d to o ls
w e r e p a s s e d d o w n t h r o u g h
t h e g e n e r a t io n s .
You wanted to make the 16
participating artists - and,
presumably, the exhibition
audience —
more aware of
the role of tools in art making.
How did artists respond? Did
they see this as an opportunity
to experiment?
S o m e a r t is t s u s e d a s in g le h a n d -
t o o l t h e y h a v e u s e d f o r y e a r s
b u t n e v e r r e a lly c o n s id e r e d .
O t h e r s u s e d t h is p r o j e c t t o e x p e r -
im e n t w i t h a n e n t i r e ly n e w t o o l.
A m e r ic a n w o o d t u r n e r M a r k
L i n d q u is t la id a s id e h is la th e
a n d c h is e l t o u s e g lu e . H e g lu e d
t o g e t h e r t h o u s a n d s o f s m a ll
w o o d e n d o w e l s t o m a k e h is
Dowel Bowl.
S t ill o t h e r a r tis ts a t t e m p t e d
t o r e m a k e t h e ir t y p ic a l w o r k
w i t h o n e t o o l. B r it is h w o o d -
w o r k e r D a v i d G a t e s t y p i c a lly
e m p lo y s a la r g e k it o f p la n e s ,
c h is e ls , a n d s a w s t o m a k e h is
s t a n d in g s c u lp t u r e s . B u t f o r
t h is p r o je c t , h e fa b r ic a t e d a
s in g le t o o l - a s a w w i t h a d if f e r -
e n t c u t t in g e d g e o n a ll f o u r
s id e s - to m a k e a v e r s io n o f h is
s t a n d a r d w o r k . A n d t h e f in -
is h e d p ie c e c o m e s a m a z in g ly
c lo s e t o t h e r e a l th in g .
Who used the oddest tool?
T h e p r i z e p r o b a b ly g o e s t o
t h e B r it is h s ilv e r s m it h D a v i d
C l a r k e . H is t o o l: a g a s o v e n ,
c ir c a 1 9 6 9 . F o r
Dead on Arrival
II,
C l a r k e u s e d le a d t o c o r r o d e
a p ie c e o f fo u n d s ilv e r - a s p o o n
fr o m t h e 1 9 th c e n t u r y . H e c o v -
e r e d t h e s ilv e r in le a d a n d h e a t -
e d i t in t h e o v e n . T h e le a d a c te d
a s a c o r r o d in g a g e n t a n d lit e r a lly
a te h o le s in t h e s p o o n .
Were any outcomes very
surprising?
G la s s a r t is t B e t h L i p m a n p r o b -
a b l y w i n s t h e a w a r d f o r m o s t
s u r p r is in g w o r k . L i p m a n h a s
s p e n t h e r c a r e e r r e c r e a t in g
1 7 t h - c e n t u r y s t ill l if e p a in t in g s
in t h r e e - d im e n s io n a l g la s s
s c u lp t u r e s . B u t f o r t h is p r o je c t ,
s h e w e n t in a c o m p le t e ly d i f f e r -
e n t d ir e c t io n .
Gift Bowl
is a b u l-
b o u s m a s s o f g lu e a n d fo u n d
o b je c t s ; L i p m a n ’ s t o o l w a s g lu e .
T h e p ie c e is a s w o n d r o u s as
L i p m a n ’ s o t h e r w o r k s , b u t it
s p e a k s a t o t a l ly d i f f e r e n t a e s -
t h e t ic la n g u a g e .
gas oven
David Clarke
D e a d on A r r iv a l
Д 2011
sterling silver, lead,
velvet case
1.2 x 6.2 x.4 in.
feb/mari
2
american craft
129
