“Commitment“
12”h x 6w x 4.5 deep
Welded metal with 130 yr old Austrian glass embellishments and glass centerpiece made for the project.
Notes from the presentation: Ideas behind the sculpture work –
Artist Michelle Vara crosses inspiration, research, and experiences in all her artistic creations.
Michelle experienced Aboriginal art along her travels, which is based on stories and knowledge that is passed down through the generations as a way to communicate meaning and ideas about important cultural and spiritual beliefs.
The material description is as follows:
The base is the splined end of a 1930 Model A Ford drive shaft to represent the drive, of connection to create a forward motion, and the history of change in doing something new (ie: Henry Ford).
The sprockets which sit atop are another connecting point each tooth smoothly rides along another in dependence of the other to propel productivity and complete a designed task, outcome.
Bling: the glass embellishments are some of the first Austria Kristall made and traveled with a family to the United States during war times. This makes the embellishments loaded with history and positive energy. The embellishments have been handed down 2 times before Michelle’s recent acquisition.
Circles carry the heavy burden of massive implications (science, spiritual, etc.) over hundreds of years. These circles are made from- not your regular rebar, in the 1970 this round stock was handmade in a Michigan steel plant with hash marks. For this piece, the hash marks represent the things we go through to get to our destination. The steel was manipulated into the circles and prompts the representation of connection back to the company’s core ideas ie: “The company’s commitment to quality” “Similar: dedication, devotion, allegiance, loyalty, faithfulness, fidelity, bond, adherence, attentiveness.”
The glass centerpiece was acquired while the artist was in the South of Italy from an artist glass blower and small business. Michelle believes it has all the correct commentary energy and colors of connected forces setting this sculpture to the perfect finish.