"ARROYO"

A dry channel through which water flows intermittently and irregularly. Kind of like this blog.

My art is an infectious need for me, sometimes a burden but most often a blessing.

This blog is about me and my obsessions, my loves, my need to create and my need of JUNK. I'm addicted to thrift stores, estate sales, flea markets and all roads leading off the beaten track to discover that perfect piece of junk. I recycle old license plates, old shovels, wheelbarrows, saw blades and anything else that's funky using my hand held plasma cutter. I love working with steel, sculpting, photography, watercolor painting, stained glass, and turning everyday utilitarian objects into art. Junked cars ~ I will always veer off the path to search out the beautiful wrecked Arroyo JunKers throughout Arizona, New Mexico and anywhere else the road may lead. When I'm not searching for those JunKers
I ~ RESURRECT ~ STEEL

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Three Sisters & a WASP Tribute

Marguerite (Ty) Hughes Killen
Born ~ May 16,  1924
Died ~ Jan. 17, 2011

WASP:  Women Air Force Service Pilot

Ty, as I called her was my very best friends Mother.  She was a character and a hero in her time.  She was one of the first WASP's to fly in World War II. She attended civilian pilot training and received her commercial and flight instructor ratings on her 18th birthday and at 20 she graduated as a WASP.  As a teenager she spent most of her time at Fly Field in Yuma, AZ servicing planes and learning all about them.  She was flying planes when she was 15.  She later was a flight instructor and a teacher.

All records of the WASP were classified and sealed for 35 years, so their contributions to the war effort were little known and inaccessible to historians. In 1975, under the leadership of Col. Bruce Arnold, son of General Hap Arnold, the WASPs fought the "Battle of Congress" in Washington, D.C., to belatedly obtain recognition as veterans of World War II.

On July 1, 2009 President Barack Obama and the United States Congress awarded the WASP the Congressional Gold Medal.


Ty and Shauna (my BFF) before the award ceremony

As a small tribute I created Three Flying Hearts one for each daughter with three roses that were Ty's favorite flower and also representing her three daughters.


Flyer's Prayer

When this life I'm in is done, And at the gates I stand,
My hope is that I answer all  his questions on command.

I doubt He'll ask me of my fame, Or all the things I knew,
Instead He'll ask of rainbows sent On rainy days I flew.

The hours logged, the status reached The ratings will not matter,
He'll ask me if I saw the rays
And did you see the twinkling eyes,
Of student pilots keen?

The way your heart jumped in your chest,  That special solo day -
Did you take time to thank the ones
Who fell along the way?

Remember how the runway lights Looked one night long ago
When you were lost and found your way, And how - you still don't know?

How fast, how far, how much, how high? He'll ask me not these things
But did I take the time to watch The moonbeams wash my wings?

And did you see the patchwork fields And mountains I did mold,
The mirrored lakes and velvet hills,
Of these did I behold?

The wind He flung along my wings, On final almost stalled,
And did I know it was His name,
That I so fearfully called?

And when the goals are reached at last, 
When all the flying's done,
I'll answer Him with no regret -
Indeed, I had some fun.

So when these things are asked of me, And I can reach no higher,
My prayer this day - His hand extends
To welcome home a Flyer.





by Patrick J. Phillips




Thursday, January 13, 2011

Drop a Love Bomb & Others

I had a lovely comment today on my Art and wanted to share with you what I discovered on her blog http://creativelysensitive.blogspot.com.  This is why Blogging is so wonderful ~ strangers stop in and out of your blog, say wonderful things, spread their love and make us aware of a bigger picture then the one we see just outside our windows.  I know this new "socialization" changes lives everyday.  It has changed mine forsure.  It makes people who may not be able to get out and about bring the world to their little piece of heaven.  It teaches us, it makes us believe and it saves us.

I'm so thankful to all of you that share yourself with me.  I learn so much from all of you!

If you do nothing else today go here! 


Thank you "Creatively Sensitive" for sharing these posting on your site.  

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Repurposed ~ Resurrected ~ Shovel Art

One of the crazy Recycled Art Resurrections I do are Repurpose Old Shovels into delicate, whimsical sculptures and the older the shovel the better.  In fact, I won't use new shovels their ugly!  They have no character plus they don't smell like cow manure when I fire up my plasma cutter! OK I know that sound weird because SHOVELS as delicate, whimsical art doesn't really match.  I made this for friend of mine who I've known for many years who always helps me with my garage sales & loves dumpster diving with me whenever she's in town and she's just a really good friend.  It's one of my favorites.. one because it's a scoop shovel and they make the best wide palate for cutting out designs on and two because of the butterflies. The bottom has an old curtain finial since the handle was broken.   I hope she likes it.



Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Modern Monster!! then my salvation :)

I'm about to finish the fireplace cover I mention a few posts ago.... can i just say now NEVER, EVER AGAIN will I agree to do something I HATE!!!

He caught me in a weak moment, although I tried to get out of it by placing the responsibility on the customer to email me  with what he wanted and a drawing, (I was hoping he's lose my bus card) then I quoted what I thought would be a price to high to accept and HE BOUGHT IT! In the end of how long it's taken and all this issues of this project I think he got the better end of the bargain.  OK I vented enough .... on to things I'm passionate about. 

During the process of this MODERN MONSTER ~ I had to clear my brain and paint another IRIS.  It made me feel so much better.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Rebirth, Rust & Transformation

Ojo Caliente was one of my many stops thru the Tewa Indian Territory of New Mexico were I lavished in many old Arroyo Junkers that filled the front and backyards of old adobe homes, like flowers fill an English garden with their many colors of blue, green, yellow and orange.  The only other major attraction is the Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs, which is actually one of the oldest and most sacred springs and health resorts in North American. 


This relic of an oil rigger has certainly been out of commission for a seriously long time, who knows perhaps it was a mineral springs rigger.  There is an endless supply of Junkers in this part of the country ~ which makes me wonder why?  Perhaps nothing really dies, it's just resurrected & reborn through a lens or a rusty piece of art.  I hope to make a book of Rustic Resurrections someday of all the beauty seen in these old pieces of history (one more thing on the list of Things to Do).   I'd also love to reproduce these beautiful patina's in my metal work.

 Old Oil Rigger
Ojo Caliente, New Mexico


 1942 
Ojo Caliente, New Mexico


 Cuyamunge, New Mexico
Tewa Indian Territory


 Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico
"Place of the Strong People"

Takin' the back road from Greer to Morenci was gorgeous. This was waiting at the end.

Takin' the back road from Greer to Morenci was gorgeous.  This was waiting at the end.
Alpine Cliff Jumper

Don't you just love bugs! My first car.... but RED.

Don't you just love bugs!  My first car.... but RED.
Lamy, NM

This was a great old Studebaker Truck in Lamy, NM . It has seen better days. I love Lamy,

This was a great old Studebaker Truck in Lamy, NM .  It has seen better days.  I love Lamy,
Studebaker in Lamy, NM