SooZeQues Arroyo Junkers and Other Resurrections: Rebirth, Rust & Transformation

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

www.SooZeQueDesigns.Shutterfly.com

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"

5 comments:

Jerry Carlin said...: Soozi, what beautiful colors you have found! I am a bit jealous, we grind them up so fast here! To answer your question, the copper is laquered but the gates will rust and then be coated with Phylon, the clear coat I told you about.; 1/9/11, 3:41 AM
Jen MM said...: Just found you on CED2011 (the blog name attracted me). Cool rusty textures. Lovely colors in the watercolors. Nice to find you here.; 1/10/11, 12:15 PM
Julie Jordan Scott said...: These are gorgeous. I love rust, rust, rust and old, old, old and cast aside. (Some of the art in the art show I write about in my CED check in is "rescued" from the thrift store.

YAY!

Read my CED2011 check in here.; 1/10/11, 1:33 PM
soraya nulliah said...: Dear Soo-ze...I love all of your rusty goodness! We are finally moving to a home this Sat (YAY!!) and I am going to be on the lookout for all things used...charming and functional and whimsical...inspired by you:) xxx; 1/10/11, 3:23 PM
magpie said...: love the rust
and the rest of your blog.

came here via creative every day.

ahh the seductive west...
i haven't been in a few years
and miss the four corners states...; 1/11/11, 3:04 PM