ArtBuzz

Sunfire Modern Steel Firebowl

click thumbnail to view larger image. Firebowl design © 2009, John T. Unger

If you're looking for a retro firepit design that would look equally at home outside an Airstream or an architectural masterpiece by Alvar Aalto, the Sunfire Modern Steel Firebowl is a fabulous choice.

Equal parts Space Age, sunburst, and primal element of fire, the Sunfire Modern Steel Firebowl evokes sundials as strongly as satellites. The Sunfire was inspired in part by the 1947 Ball Clock created for Herman Miller when George Nelson, Noguchi and Bucky Fuller spent a festive evening drinking and doodling clock designs together. The Sunfire is an homage to clean, modern design: funky but functional, retro yet classical.

But the Sunfire owes just as much to bebop jazz, the soundtrack of the Modern age. Each Sunfire is a one-of-a-kind, unique work of art created by hand without resorting to a set pattern. The improvised, rhythmized pattern of the spokes is different on every firebowl—just as the dynamic interplay and overlap of virtuoso jazz soloists insures that every time a song is played, it is recognizable and yet an entirely new creation. The Sunfire is visual music, the sun solidified, fire in a Sputnik bowl.

The spokes of the Sunfire are of different lengths and thickness, just as the disks at the end vary in size. Some disks have holes pierced in them. I arrange them improvisationally to create rhythm and melody in striking array. And yes, they all sound a little bit different when you hit them like a marimba.

The spokes range from 4.5" to 11" long, so the Sunfire is much larger than it sounds: I measure the firepit by the diameter of the bowl, rather than the dimensions of the spokes, so a 30 inch Sunfire is actually more like 55 inches on average when measuring across the spokes. This makes it the largest standard firebowl design I offer.

The Sunfire Modern Steel Firebowl has a pleasing rust patina as the standard finish. If you prefer black, you can paint the firebowl with a high-temperature grill or automotive spray paint. The heavy 1/4 inch thick steel plate can be left outdoors year round, requiring no maintenance to last generations. A hole is cut in the center of the bowl to allow water to drain and adaptation to gas burners.

Sunfire Modern Steel Firebowl
The Sunfire has been discontinued as a stock design but may be available by commission. Email or call to inquire.
	The Sunfire Modern Steel Firebowl is suitable for gas, wood or charcoal fires. Gas burner installation instructions are here.
	Upgrade to natural gas or propane burning firepit: The Great Bowl O' Fire ships ready-to-fit for clean-burning propane or natural gas burners. A simple manual light burner is best for most installations. Manual light: Order a 22" or 24" stainless burner from FireCrystals. For remote-ignition gas burners, call Steven at FireCrystals, 805.237.9188.
	*Shipping: Price includes shipping for US orders and Canada, excluding Alaska and Hawaii (please call or email for rates to AK and HI). For International Orders please see FAQ here.

Fiery Fleur-de-Lis Modern Steel Firebowl

BUY NOW	37" Diameter Fiery Fleur-de-Lis: $1249 with shipping* 22" high overall, bowl is 18" deep, base is 12" in diameter
SHIPPING	*Price includes shipping for US orders and Canada, excluding Alaska and Hawaii (please call or email for rates to AK and HI). For International Orders please see FAQ here.
	The Fiery Fleur-de-Lis is suitable for gas, wood or charcoal fires. Gas burner installation instructions are here.
	Upgrade to natural gas or propane burning firepit: The Fiery Fleur-de-Lis ships ready-to-fit for clean-burning propane or natural gas burners. A simple manual light burner is best for most installations. Manual light: Order a 22" or 24" stainless burner from FireCrystals. For remote-ignition gas burners, call Steven at FireCrystals, 805.237.9188.
OTHER SIZES	Sign up for my email newsletter to be notified when other sizes are available. The Fiery Fleur-de-Lis is sometimes available in a 41 inch diameter size. Due to the scarcity of these sizes, they are offered exclusively to email newsletter subscribers on a first-come, first served basis. learn why.

 

The Fiery Fleur-de-Lis Modern Firebowl is a tour de force in fire and steel that adds a regal flair to any setting. Whether you are hosting an intimate gathering of your inner circle, plotting an award winning landscape design or seeking an intriguing focal point for a trendy new French Bistro, bring a touch of royal elegance to your outdoor setting with the Fiery Fleur-de-Lis. Leaping from the coals you can clearly see the fiery steed of a chevalier manifesting the ancient symbolism of faith, wisdom and chivalry associated with this design.

The Fiery Fleur-de-Lis was first created as a custom firebowl for a client in British Columbia. Two of the bowls flank the pool overlooking Lake Kelowna shown below, (click images to enlarge).

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The history of the fleur-de-lis design goes back centuries but its message and ambiance are as timeless as the steel from which these firebowls are born. Think warmth of design. Think style and elegance. Long said to be a symbol of divine favor, the stylized flower design of the Fleur-de-Lis is found in nearly all cultures throughout history and is associated with a rich constellation of meanings. My favorite is the archaic variant fleur-de-luce or "Flower of light" which so precisely describes this firebowl. Gaze upon the flames flowering like a night blooming lily from this stylized design and savor the daytime silhouettes, shadows cast like a sundial upon the soil.

While it may not be possible for everyone to recreate the enormous French paterre, formal gardens like those seen at the brilliantly opulent Palace of Versailles, the price of the Fiery Fleur-de-Lis brings it well within the reach of modern formal gardens. No matter how humble the size of your estate the Fiery Fleur-de-Lis can add majesty and class that expands the feel of your garden to the far horizons. Create your own version of these well-known odes to green, with affordability and individual expression.

Your Fiery Fleur-de-Lis Firebowl, with its rich and spirited history will lend the strength of the ages and an air of sophistication to your own private retreat. Each one is crafted from hand-finished 100% recycled steel and sized to reign prominently over your kingdom. In an effort to showcase the natural beauty of the steel itself, the bowl is finished in a natural rust patina, which lends its beauty and protection for years to come. The firebowl can be left outdoors year-round, requiring no maintenance and guaranteed to last for generations. The Fiery Fleur-de-Lis is an example of my commitment to crafting work which endures the flux of fashion as readily as it outlasts the elements. I try to create objects that will never go out of style by drawing from primal metaphor and classical elements of design that speak to what it means to be human and alive.

A dramatic modern take on a classical design, the Fiery Fleur-de-Lis will gracefully preside over your garden, patio or pool area.

Click images to enlarge

 

 

 

Fire Pit Story: Raven gives the gift of fire to mankind

Raven's Gift of Fire: Storytelling Firebowl
click thumbnail to view larger image. Design © 2005-2009, John T Unger

People love to tell stories around a fire… so it made sense to me to create some narrative fire pits that tell stories themselves. And what better story to begin with than the story of how mankind was given fire?

Of course there are many, many versions of this story. For this project, I chose a Lenape People legend in which Raven brings the gift of fire.

In the first section, you see people huddled together for warmth, cold and unhappy under a freezing sky. If you look closely, Raven is observing this from the top of a tree just below the moon. He decides to take action.

Raven flies up to the sun and grabs fire in his beak, then flies down to give the people the gift of fire. It was the smoke and hot coal that he carried which turned his feathers black. Upon receiving Ravens gift, the people build a roaring blaze and dance around in celebration. Civilization ensues.

Dimensions: 30" diameter x 23" high overall. Bowl is 23" deep.

This is a one time custom firepit design that will never be exactly repeated and has been sold. If you'd like to commission a similar piece, call or email to discuss pricing, stories or lead time.

Organ: ScrapYard Abstract No. 3

Organ: Scrapyard Abstract No. 3, 2005. Recycled steel. 76" H x 37" W x 31" D Available
Purchase Organ for $1950 ($1550 plus $400 S+H).
I like the totemic feel of this piece. The title, Organ, is a bit of a play on words… on the one hand, the sculpture does remind me a bit of internal organs; turning tubes hanging in space as if the rest of the body had just disappeared. On the other hand, I can imagine a good breeze sounding the pipes that make up this piece as it crosses the openings. And the way that the ends of the pipe are crushed sort of resembles the bottom end of an organ pipe (I should know, I've got most of a church organ that I plan to turn into a musical fence some day). The base shown in the detail photos was replaced this summer with the heavier, triangular base shown above to increase stability. The patina is natural and will change over time if the sculpture is placed outdoors.
click thumbnail to view larger image.

Bouche: ScrapYard Abstract No. 4

Bouche: Scrapyard Abstract No. 4, 2005. Recycled steel. 25" H x 15" W x 11" D
Purchase Bouche for $1200 ($1100 plus $100 S+H).
I love the contrast between this sculpture's sensuous curves and the large surface "scars" of the pre-existing welds… This is the sort of sculpture that you should really touch. Run your hands over these lips. Reach in and grab. Yeah. Bouche displays best on a table or pedestal.
click thumbnail to view larger image.

Odysseus: Scrapyard Abstract No. 6

Odysseus: Scrapyard Abstract No. 6, 2005. Recycled steel. 32" H x 15" W x 11" D
Purchase Odysseus for $1300 ($1200 plus $100 S+H).
This one has a great sensuality to it. I love the curved planes and suggestive contours. Odysseus lashed himself to the mast of his ship to avoid being seduced by the cries of the sirens into grounding on the shoals of a reef. This sculpture suggests all the elements of that myth to me… from some angles it resembles a ship leaning into a strong wind, from others, the bust of a head with large lips and a strong, heroic nose. And then, it's got a strong vaginal quality also, in the folds of the steel. Of course, you may see something totally different than I do. Either way, it's got a wonderfully strong formal presence. Odysseus displays best on a table or pedestal.
click thumbnail to view larger image.

Little Miss Exuberance, Steel and Stone Sculpture

Little Miss Exuberance, 2003 Steel, Granite, Copper. 74" H x 27" W x 12" D
Purchase Little Miss Exuberance for $1,600 ($1,200 plus $400 Fed Ex Freight).
Of all the sculptures I've done in stone and steel, this is my favorite. I love that thrust hip and the overall saucy pose of this piece! In fact, I totally can't imagine how anyone could fail to fall in love with this sculpture! The torso is a piece of scrap granite left over from a custom counter top, the head is copper and the rest is recycled steel.

Inquisitive Creature (Little Colossus) Modern Steel Sculpture

Inquisitive Creature (Little Colossus), 2005 Steel. 44" H x 50" W x 33.5" D
Purchase Inquisitive Creature for $1,600 ($1,200 plus $400 Fed Ex Freight).
Inquisitive Creature started out as a base  for Galaxy No. 3 but soon made it clear that it wanted to be it's own sculpture. There are some photos on the studio blog from before it was painted that show some of the cool tricks it can do with light and shadow. This is one of the pieces that has really taught me a lot about utilizing the space around a sculpture to extend the experience. Think of it kind of like audience participation… you have a show going on, invite the viewer to add their voice and come up with something deeper and richer as a result. The same kind of thing can be done by designing artwork that uses light, shadow, sound or other elements of the environment to reveal different things at different times. I also love the way it strikes the attitude of a spunky bulldog throwing it's chest out. My cat Mojo takes exactly that pose when she's deeply annoyed with me… while it was at the studio, I often jumped when I caught it in the corner of my eye because I thought it was a living creature that had snuck up on me! You might also like these adorable photos of children playing with the sculpture at the 2005 Alden Art Fair.
Inquisitive Creature Steel 44" H x 50" W x 33.5" D	Inquisitive Creature Steel 44" H x 50" W x 33.5" D	Inquisitive Creature Steel 44" H x 50" W x 33.5" D
click thumbnail to view larger image.

Atlas World Famous A New Sculpture

Atlas: World Famous, Cut Steel Sculpture
	Atlas: World Famous 75" high x 48" wide x 12" deep $2,800.00 plus shipping costs
medium	100% Recycled Steel from antique cars and factory scrap.
availability	Unique piece, act quick!
price	$2,800.00
S&H	Item ships FedEx Freight. Shipping is NOT included in price! Please call 231.584.2710 or email me for a shipping quote.

Atlas: World Famous is my first large-scale sculpture made using the newly operational plasma cutter to create metal "collage." I'm really digging it… I have plans to do a whole series of similar work based on carnival banners, circus posters, and other pop-culture type images. This is a lot of fun for me because it's a way to go back to my roots in the folk art/pop culture vernacular where I started my art career. I love colorful sculpture and bold graphics, and I really wanted to make some big work for the yard that would be more visible as people go whizzing by on the highway at 60 mph.

The sculpture is 75" high x 48" wide x 12" deep, which means that Atlas himself is pretty much life-size. I'll try to get some pics of me next to it for scale when I have someone handy to shoot the photos. As you can see in the images below, the sculpture is two sided, with the image reversed on one side. Click on the images to enlarge.

 

       

 

Below is the image this sculpture is based on. It's one of my all-time faves… I did an Atlas mosaic in glass and bottle caps a couple years ago, using the same image. The original is from the Mexican Loteria deck, a traditional game similar to Bingo. Teresa Villegas did a very cool updated version of the game which has now been published in in a handsome book. I highly recommend checking out her site devoted to the project, which provides a good deal of background on the game and images. You can also learn more by visiting this website from Boston University on the History of the Mexican Loteria Card Game.

 

Shiny Happy Puppy: A Modern Take On An Ancient Mosaic

 

 

When I first saw an image of this "beware of dog" mosaic from Ancient Rome, I immediately fell in love with it. What appeals to me most is the disconnect between the warning aspect of the mosaic and the playful, happy appearance of the dog. So, last week, while Mya was working on her brown trout mosaic, I decided to recreate a version of the Cave Canem mosaic. I would have liked to use marble, but I think glass actually works better in this case, making the piece bolder and brighter.

The Roman mosaic I based it on is here. Although I worked directly from a printout of the image, there are a few things I changed. The most important change was to improve the andamento, the way rows of tesserae flow to emphasize the overall form. In the original mosaic, there were a couple areas where the tile was just filled in with no regard to the actual musculature of a dog. If you compare the flow of tile where the dog's right shoulder and rear leg meet the body, I think you'll agree that they look a little better than the original mosaic.

I had originally intended to inscribe the piece with the Latin for beware of dog, cave canem. But as I was working on the piece, I became more and more uncomfortable with that idea… for one thing, the dog isn't scary looking, which is what I like about him. He's playful. More importantly, I kind of feel like the world is far too full of warnings and dire threats these days and I just don't want to contribute to the culture of fear even on a minor level.

This is where it came in really handy to have a visiting Latin scholar. Mya is a classics geek of the first order, which is funny, really, since I on the other hand pretty much consider the dawn of time to be circa 1900. Anyway, she grabbed her Latin dictionary and we tried for a while to come up with something that would be more on the order of "good dog" or "happy puppy." Of course, going through a Latin dictionary, it becomes quickly apparent that almost all the words relate to politics, war and death. I'd forgotten what a totally militaristic world view they had, and have to admit to some surprise on finding that culture reflected so strongly in the vocabulary they had to work with. This is the kind of thing that makes being an artist so much fun really— you start out with a simple idea like recreating an ancient door mat, and by the time you're half-way through you're doing amateur cultural analysis based on how the words available to a culture influence what and how they can think. heh. (story continued below…)

 

Lupus Ludi, 2005
medium	Vitreous glass tile, Hardibacker substrate, steel frame
size	32.5" x 35.75" x .75" (frame dimensions) mosaic is 32" x 32"
availability	SOLD! Email me to inquire about commissioning a similar mosaic table or wall panel.
price	$1,800.00, Free Shipping via  FedEx Ground
	Purchase item for $1800

 

So we were a bit confounded at first. We came up with a couple possible captions, but I was making it more difficult by insisting that the new phrase should be as sweet, short, alliterative and assonant as the original. The best we could do with the dictionary was candidus catellus, which, with a stretch of the imagination can be translated as "shiny, happy puppy." Candidus is the root of our word candidate of course, and is normally translated to mean "white" (go figure). However, it can also mean shiny or happy. I figured it would be too confusing though on the whole, and besides, the letters would not have fit as well, nor did it have the proper assonance. So we put it hold for a bit and went back to cutting tile. Then Mya said something about a piece we'd heard on NPR where they were interviewing people about their relationship to the US government. One guy had said something to the effect that he really didn't care one way or the other about the war, the economy or stem cells, but he really wished that they would let him shoot the endangered wolves that were eating his cattle. And suddenly, bang, I had it. Lupus Ludi: playful wolf. Really, what I mean is "happy dog" or "playful dog," but I figure it's close enough. And it has all the linguistic aspects I wanted: short, sweet, easy to guess, alliteration and assonance.

I guess this is what happens when you lock a former poet and a classics geek in a room with a bunch of tile.