Repurpose, Reengineer, Relocate | Dragonflies and Mud Pottery

Repurpose, Reengineer and Relocate

This tab is dedicated to the latest body of crazy work. After my One Per Day exhibits, I found myself revisiting some of the pieces I fell in love with in 2017. The object of this game is to have "critters" take found objects, often Victorian era, and re-engineer them into escape vehicles so that they may leave their current conditions. If there was ever any doubt that I was strongly influenced by Jim Henson and Walt Disney, it's certainly gone now. Each piece is made primarily of clay. If you click on the image, it will enlarge for a better view.

Arktopus

8x13x9

Arktopus is taking a vacation. He's taken an oil can and a variety of parts he found on the ocean floor to make his escape vehicle.

$200

Balthazar, But My Friends Call Me Bart

7x9x7.5

Balthazar has also taken an oil can and found objects to leave the ocean floor. He's got a major craving for ice cream, so he's headed inland.

Sold

Ciao-der

13x8.5x7.5

Ciao-der (a play on chowder) has always wanted to visit Italy. He has his map, opera glasses, personal submarine, and he just scored tickets to La Traviata.

Sold

Debbela

11x12x13

Debbela gave me quite challenge. I struggled for two weeks on how to attach the typewriter keys after the firings. My kid took four minutes to come up with a solution-brazing rods. Four. Minutes.

Sold

Elroy

11x12x13

Elroy has taken an old fire extinguisher to make a submarine. He, and his hitchhiker, are heading to the nearest plastic surgeon's office to get that blasted hook out of his mouth.

Sold

Formaggio Brothers: Ferdinand, Moe, and Slip

13x8x15

The Formaggio brothers have been bullied by their older cousins long enough. They found this old camera in the dump and have transformed it into a perfect getaway vehicle. Don't mind the fact that they filled the camera with cheese that may or may not have belonged to the mean cousins.

NFS

Gertrude and Gilda

17x18x10

This one deviates from the rules a bit. I wanted to give non-moveable things the ability to move. The challenge of making a tricycle out of clay was too tempting. Gertrude and Gilda are out for an afternoon bike ride to enjoy a little sunshine and maybe get some ice cream.

Sold

Hattie Boudreaux and the Traveling Hens

11x14x10

Hattie Boudreaux is named after Ouiser Boudreaux from Steel Magnolias-a favorite movie for my sister and me. Hattie is traveling with her best friends far away from the swamp. The bugs are getting out of hand and the humidity is too much to handle. They've transformed this skateboard in to a swamp boat, packed their bags, and are headed north-where the mosquito is NOT the state bird.

$475

Igbert

7x5 and 9x7

Igbert is ticking this off his bucket list-a ride in a hot air balloon. He found a diver's helmet and hooked it up to a balloon. Arizona, here we come.

Sold

Judy and Judy

6x9.5x9

Judy and Judy (Judy is the nickname all five college roommates had. Yes-all five.) have turned an old oil can into an airplane. They've decided the farm life is not for them.

Sold

Kenwood (If He Could) Kilpatrick III

7.5x6 and 4x5x4

Kenwood made quite the spectacle of himself at his ex's wedding. Based on the number of empty champagne bottles, he will have quite the headache all the way to Kansas. He figures that's too far for the new hubby to go looking for him.

Sold

Lettie and Louie

13x7x7

Lettie is sick of laying eggs. She stole a milk can and made a rocket out of it. Little does she know, Louie strapped himself on the back. He can't let his best friend go without him. Plus, he has snacks in his backpack.

Sold

Marcooni

10x15x5

Marcooni and Nikola have decided to become race car drivers. Marcooni found an old radio, added wheels, lights, and a steering wheel. He's ready to go!

$400 available at Bluestem Missouri Crafts in Columbia, MO

Nikola

9x15x5

Nikola accepted Marcooni's challenge and made his own car out of old auto cans.

$400 available at Bluestem Missouri Crafts in Columbia, MO

Oscar, Ophelia, and Oona

13x6 and 7x7

The O Penguins are sick of the cold weather-the snow and the ice-blecch. But, they won't live without their ice cream, so they are taking their churn and heading south. The chickens in Key West are their 3rd cousins, twice removed. They said they can crash at their house for a while.

Sold

Pickles McGee

9x11x17

When pigs fly-ha! Pickles prefers a neat and tidy pen. Her pen-mates don't agree. Rather than create a fuss, she stole the vacuum from Mr. Farmer and turned it into a plane. She's off to cleaner pastures.

$400

Quark McClintock

7x8x4

Quark didn't lose a tennis ball, he found one! He's taken all of his cherished possessions and is leaving the farm. His girlfriend left him for another goat and he can't bear to watch them canoodle any longer.

$275

Riot Cornelius Alexander Victor III

6x9x7

Riot is the world's leading sea lion pilot. To be fair, he is the ONLY sea lion pilot. He's gathered some snacks and a suitcase and is off to adventures in his helicopter out of a Victrola tube, snow shoes, and skis, all found at the bottom of the ocean.

Sold

Squiggy

17x7x10

My husband rarely gives his input on my projects, so when he suggested something with a barber's pole, I ran with it. Squiggy has gathered some snacks and is headed out of the arctic. It's too cold for his taste and he'd like to meet a nice southern bear and settle down. Maybe start a business. Have a couple of cubs.

$475

Travis, Nigel and Terrance-the Goggle Brotherhood

12x18x10

Travis and his buddies are a nod to my son. He says a sloth is his spirit animal (that's pretty accurate) yet he drives a very fast motorcycle (against my better judgement). Once the sloth was complete, he picked out the names. Travis and his buddies are headed to Sturgis. It may take them a while.

NFS

Ursula

10x9x6

Ursula is a bit of a diva. She's sick of spending her time with all of the other "hens" eating shrimp and walking around in the less than pristine water. She found an old skate and a teacup and made her escape vehicle. It's time to find a private beach with a cabana boy and all the lobster and mimosas she can handle.

Sold

Vivienne del Mar

14x7x8

Vivienne does double duty. She drives a tow truck at night and hangs out at the beach during the day. Her other hobbies include fishing and bowling. This is starting to sound like a profile for a dating site.

Sold

Winston and Bruce

10x6x14

Winston has packed his wagon, hitched up Bruce, and is heading to bluer oceans. He found this old toaster and turned it into a luxurious vacation pad. They are both hoping to find fame and fortune, just as soon as Bruce remembers that fish are friends, not food.

$450 for sale at Art Impressions Gallery in Sedalia, MO

Xenon Von Fisch Schtick

12x9x3.5

Xenon has always dreamed of being a race car driver, or maybe it was a competition fisherman. He's not sure anymore, so why not do both? He found an old roller-skate and a shoe stretcher. They make the perfect race car!

Sold

Yardley on the Yellowstone Express

12x10x4.5

While working on this project, people throw out all kinds of good ideas. The still is my brother's idea, as he is an engineer specializing in stainless steel tanks, particularly for breweries. The rat as one eye covered as an homage to a life-long friend and her ridiculous notion that she drove better with one hand over her eye.

Sold

The Zephyrelly Brothers

8x8x6

The Zephyrelly Brothers have commandeered this kaleidoscope, added wings, wheels, and a propeller to join the circus. They have an incredible flying stunt act that is sure to wow any audience. It's infinitely better now that they secured the fish before doing loop-de-loops.

NFS

Phase two of this project still uses the alphabet to show progress, but in a different way. The next 26 pieces will be A-Z by the type of vehicle, not the title of the piece. The premise remains the same. Each critter takes found objects and turns them into the escape vehicle represented by each letter.

Aerial Tramway-Cooper

16x12x15

Cooper just crashed a wedding. It did not go over well. He probably should have kept his peace. Lorraine threw her bouquet at his head. Her groom threatened bodily harm. Escape seemed like a good idea. PErhaps he can find lasting love in New York-or at least a good slice of pizza.

$375

Bathyscaphe-Roscoe and Matilda

12x17x17

Chickens make the best friends! Roscoe has turned an old clock in to a bathyscaphe, complete with an observation gondola for his bestie, Matilda. They're tooling around the ocean so he can introduce her to everyone before heading to land for some antiquing and a hot dog eating contest.

$600

Carriage-Camilla and Earl

10x6x9

Talk about an odd couple...Ordinarily, otters and clams are not compatible, but not this pair. They found a broken teapot, added some wheels, grabbed some snacks, and are off on an adventure. There's rumor of a pearl museum in Tennessee. Seriously. There's a pearl museum in Tennessee.

Sold

USS Enterprise-Monica, Phoebe, and Rachel

14x14x9

The chickens have decided a career of laying eggs is just not for them. They'd rather be anywhere else. After watching two episodes of Star Trek, they fashioned their own Enterprise out of old toys and are off to big adventures, and maybe even some coffee.

$450

Fairey Swordfish-Florence

7.5x12x10

Flo is off to fly the friendly skies. She's had enough of the dry, dusty savannah. It's wreaking havoc on her complexion. Time for a drink with an umbrella in the rainforest.

Sold

Gondola-Marvin and Maisle

15x4.5x6

The rats are sick of the tourists. They've put together their own gondola out of a shoe stretcher and a sardine can. They are heading to Spain! They heard Spain makes the #1 goat cheese in the world.

$325

Hindenburg-Ernst

9.5x7x16

Some history: Our relative, Ernst Lehmann was the original pilot of the Hindenburg and a passenger on that fateful day. In addition, Great Grandma always had a Charles Chips can in the kitchen. Dad says it always had stale ginger cookies in it just in case someone needed a cookie. Ernst, in this case, just wants out of the ocean. He's being bullied by cuttlefish. He's headed for Montana. There are no cuttlefish in Montana.

$550

Ice Cream Cart-Florida or Bust

14x9x13

Joey, Ross, and Chandler are getting out of the cold. They have a plan to make some cash so they can head to Florida. They ice cream cart is stocked and they'll make enough travel money if Joey doesn't eat all of the ice cream first.

$450 (the record spins slowly on top of the Victrola)

John Deere Tractor-Sawyer, Becky and Polly

10x7x10

The chickens and their trusted body guard are leaving the farm. They just discovered Elton John and are hoping to catch all of his remaining concerts.

$450

Kangaroo-Templeton, Woodrow, and Rizzo

7x8x9.5

The Kowalski brothers are taking their act on the road. They don't look like much, but they have a fantastic magic act. Granted, they can't convince Rizzo to get back in Goldin's box, but that's a story for another day.

NFS

Leopard Tank WWII-Oscar, Henry, and Buttercup

10x7.5x10

The rats and the tank are paying homage to the war in Ukraine. The Leopard Tanks have recently been given to Ukraine by Germany in an effort to help the war effort.

$495

Buick Marquette 1909-Rita Malone and Roddy St James

9x6x13

Rita and Roddy are tired of being on the run for alleged crimes that may or may not have involved dynamite. If you see them in the bank, find the nearest exit.

Sold

Nelson Dragonfly Plane-Thelma and Louise

7x18x15

Thelma and Louise are headed inland to follow the Bonnie and Clyde Bloody Adventure Trail.

Sold

Oldsmobile-Luke and Bo

Luke and Bo are not doing anything sketchy. They swear...Pay no attention to the corn and sugar littering the car.

Sold

Pogostick-Gretzky

Gretzky thought he'd use his old hockey stuff to make a pogostick-it did not go as planned.

$200

USS Queenfish-Skipper, Rico and Dave

The guys are sick of the cold. They found an old fire extinguisher and made it into a submarine they saw in an old war magazine. The think they are headed to Mexico but the navigation system isn't working so well. And yes, Dave is wearing a floaty. He can't swim.

$600

Rocket-Rockey

Rockey wants to go help “the Guardians” save the “Galaxy.” He made a rocket just like the one in front of K-Mart. Who's going to tell him?

$475

Speedy Burrito Food Truck

Tank and Shelldon

Tank and Shelldon (and George) are trying to raise money to vacation in Portugal. George decided he'd had enough of being bossed around by Tank and stole the truck. There's a reward offered if you see him.

NFS

Tractor

Jaq, Gus and Luke

The guys have been tasked with making the costumes for the community center's play, "Cats."

$450

Ultralight

Kevin

Kevin has had it with the local goon shark, Rip. The last straw was the bite out of his favorite surfboard. He's off to nicer beaches.

Sold

Velocipede

Ozzy

Ozzy is trying out for the local circus. He's quite adept at the old fashioned tricycle and even brought along some snacks.

$275

Wherry

Dale, Angel, Jamie and Elah

The family is off on their latest adventure-seeking warmer weather and endless snacks all while trying to stay out of trouble.

$600

X-Wing

Hog Solo is desperate to join the resistance. He's taken all of the stuff he could find in the dump and made his own plane. He's ready to take on Darthwing Duck and reclaim the pond for Bun-Hare Princess.

$550

Yellow Submarine

Pauline,Georgiana, Ringlette, and Johnie

The band is on the move! They heard about a singing contest in Boston and have made a submarine to help them cross the ocean. They are hoping for a record deal.

$600

Zamboni

Binnington heard the local ice rink was hiring a Zamboni driver. He thinks that's a good way to get his flipper in the door as he really wants to play hockey. He thinks he'd make a good goalie.

$550

Phase three of this project still uses the alphabet to show progress, but in a different way. The next 26 pieces will be A-Z by Muppet names. Yes, you read that right. The premise is slightly different. The critters will take a found object and give it a new purpose, like a soccer ball turned butter dish.