Well, there's rolling stones, alright, but the music is more of that industrial large-motor hum. This one was actually drawn from a compelling photo that was on the cover of the Canadian Mining Journal or the CIM journal (sometime during the 80's). I'd appreciate finding out the owner of both photograph and ball mill....
Monday, January 31, 2005
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Self Portrait
Yep, that's me in the foreground. Rock bolting. Dad took me underground at Falconbridge's Strathcona mine (Onaping, Ontario) just before he retired. It had only been a few years earlier that women were even allowed underground, but the Queen put an end to that when she visited INCO. I was surprised at how light the drill was, and as I write this, I think it's still one of the most exciting moments of my life.
Friday, January 28, 2005
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Monday, January 24, 2005
Sunday, January 23, 2005
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Friday, January 21, 2005
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Monday, January 17, 2005
Sunday, January 16, 2005
Before there were security guards
Lake Dufault Mines, when I was growing up, in the very early sixties, represent the best times of my life. Once, when we were contagious with the mumps, but not so sick to stay in bed, Dad took us to work with him. (us being my brother and Donald, who I had a crush on and who also was home from school) We ran around the mine site before the headframe was built finding fool's gold by the ton.
The assay office and core shed were fun - and that's when I first thought I'd like to be a geologist. You could see the varying amounts of copper in the samples, and then you'd put together this jugsaw puzzle to solve where things were underground. But of course, little girls were going to grow up to be mommies and nurses, so perhaps it was just as well I got good marks in school so I could catch a smart husband.
Forty some-odd years later, someone said to me that I painted like a man, and then worried I may be insulted. This gender thing might be an interesting sideline to pursue some day, but now it's fraught with political correctness. I'd rather be re-living the smells, sights and sounds of a working mine, long before there were security guards to ensure my safety.
My well being, of course, is looked after by a very smart man who chauffeurs me around old mines, steel mills and anything else that captures my eye.
The assay office and core shed were fun - and that's when I first thought I'd like to be a geologist. You could see the varying amounts of copper in the samples, and then you'd put together this jugsaw puzzle to solve where things were underground. But of course, little girls were going to grow up to be mommies and nurses, so perhaps it was just as well I got good marks in school so I could catch a smart husband.
Forty some-odd years later, someone said to me that I painted like a man, and then worried I may be insulted. This gender thing might be an interesting sideline to pursue some day, but now it's fraught with political correctness. I'd rather be re-living the smells, sights and sounds of a working mine, long before there were security guards to ensure my safety.
My well being, of course, is looked after by a very smart man who chauffeurs me around old mines, steel mills and anything else that captures my eye.
Friday, January 14, 2005
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Monday, January 10, 2005
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Saturday, January 08, 2005
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Metalsmiths: Gundestrup Cauldron
Woke up one morning and realized I was a Celt. Don't know why that escaped me - it wasn't as if we had haggis for breakfast or anything.
Shortly after art school I started looking at imagery that wasn't related to mining and found the Gundestrup Cauldron - and thought that the imagery was fascinating. My own research on the net (check out Ric's site Celtic Me) hasn't brought up a lot of information - in fact, a few of the interpretations of who's who conflict radically with each other.
Not being a metalsmith (yet) I made half a dozen of these plates from the cauldron in clay, enjoying the stories these simple, yet powerful figures told me.
What story do these people tell you?
Shortly after art school I started looking at imagery that wasn't related to mining and found the Gundestrup Cauldron - and thought that the imagery was fascinating. My own research on the net (check out Ric's site Celtic Me) hasn't brought up a lot of information - in fact, a few of the interpretations of who's who conflict radically with each other.
Not being a metalsmith (yet) I made half a dozen of these plates from the cauldron in clay, enjoying the stories these simple, yet powerful figures told me.
What story do these people tell you?
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
British Columbia: Crawler Drives
The drawing is HUGE. Was originally based on a photograph - I liked the concept of an unmanned vehicle bringing out crushed rock from an adit.
A year later, while on a tour of Britannia Mine just north of Vancouver, I happened to see this bright yellow, tiny little toy train thing that looked suspiciously like this.
Bright, cute and tiny. Well, I thought, as long as I don't tell anyone, will they ever know?
A year later, while on a tour of Britannia Mine just north of Vancouver, I happened to see this bright yellow, tiny little toy train thing that looked suspiciously like this.
Bright, cute and tiny. Well, I thought, as long as I don't tell anyone, will they ever know?
Monday, January 03, 2005
On using "Royal" when naming Buildings
One would think than any building with the name Royal in it would stand taller, higher, and prouder than it's neighbours.
Although the Royal York used to be a landmark on the Toronto skyline, today she simply lends a touch of elegance to a cold and dreary downtown.
Although the Royal York used to be a landmark on the Toronto skyline, today she simply lends a touch of elegance to a cold and dreary downtown.
Sunday, January 02, 2005
Rod and Ball Mills
I'm sure many a joke can be made here, but I'll leave that up to the dear reader.
Rod and/or ball mills are part of the crushing process once the ore has been brought to the surface. These large drums contain varying sizes of rods or balls, depending on the size of the ore being crushed and the size required.
This is done with chalk pastel on grey paper, and is still sitting in my basement.
Rod and/or ball mills are part of the crushing process once the ore has been brought to the surface. These large drums contain varying sizes of rods or balls, depending on the size of the ore being crushed and the size required.
This is done with chalk pastel on grey paper, and is still sitting in my basement.
Saturday, January 01, 2005
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