Bleubeard and I are here today with another entry for our recycle, reuse, repurpose theme we are hosting this month at Art Journal Journey. We also got a bit philosophical.
It may not be a traditional face, but it's still a face. Therefore, tonight I'll also be joining Nicole and her Friday Face Off. I've included a few detail shots.
I created the face from a "No cash value" coin I first pressed into hot glue, thus creating a mold. When cool, I filled the mold with polymer clay and baked the clay after removing it from the mold. I added the "hair" using shredded money I purchased from the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington DC one year when I was there. 
The torso was created with a U.S dollar sign. The arms were created from play money I had been gifted. The dollar sign was originally supposed to be used in a sign, but I picked it up in a large bag of similar letters and numbers at a garage sale one year for less than a dollar USD ($0.50 to be exact).
The legs were a "V" from that same bag of letters. I turned it upside down and added shoes from monopoly money that had been thrown away.
The page came from a sociology text book that had been discontinued and was free to students at my undergrad university. I chose that page because even today, some biracial children are still discriminated against, especially the black/white mixed race in some parts of the U.S. south and Asian-Americans who mix races in every community.
I was hoping to show the paradox between the assumed wealth associated with the money (real or phony) and the biracial child who may have had (or been of) no cash value, but was still a Child of Value.The book page was recycled, the signs were repurposed, and the monopoly and real money were used for reasons other than their intended purpose.
Bleubeard and I greatly appreciate you stopping by today. We hope to see you at both Art Journal Journey and Friday Face Off.
I love your philosophical creation. And yes, each and every child/each and every person does have value. A value which is not altered by the colour.
ReplyDeleteVery, very well done and sadly also very, very true.
ReplyDeleteI think we´ve come a long way, yet money and race will remain a problem forever... sad as it is.
A wonderful page Elizabeth! It's very sad that there's still so much discrimination. I hope we are now teaching our children better ways.
ReplyDeleteWell thought out piece, Elizabeth, it's sad that there is still so much discrimination in the world. I remember a song from long ago:
ReplyDelete… What we need is a great big melting pot
Big enough enough enough to take
The world and all its got And keep it stirring for a hundred years or more
And turn out coffee coloured people by the score.
Have a great day, Valerie
https://bastelmania-craftattack.blogspot.com/2023/04/tuesday-post-recycled-envelope.html
Love this, a great post as always x
ReplyDeleteThoughtful page
ReplyDeletePerfect.
ReplyDeleteA very thoughtful commentary
ReplyDeleteThat's a really interesting page. I like how you created the coin and how you took it's saying, has no value and paired it with the page that you did. It's interesting art by itself, but the fact that it says something is also cool. Hope you're having a good week. hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful piece! A thoughtful reflection.
ReplyDeleteThoughts wakening message with artistic view,
ReplyDeleteIf you celebrate Easter, I wish it full of joy, if not
Have a wonderful weekend xx
This is absolutely amazing, Elizabeth. Great idea and a fab collage.
ReplyDelete...things should have more have one life! Enjoy the reborn of spring.
ReplyDeleteThat is an interesting page. I love your creative use of elements.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely a face. When I write any kind of face this is the perfect example. You are always so very clever. BTW anything I create with air dry clay can be made with polymer. Even and especially the brush holder I made this week. If the polymer is unopened, it will last forever. If you have open packages, it will dry out. I hope you give it a try. I know whatever you create will be excellent. Thank you for joining FFO and have a nice day.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful page for your AJJ theme but also that it highlights the very real problems around the world concerning discrimination. Hugs, Chrisx
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous creation, Elizabeth, and I love the thoughts behind it as well. We are all mixed - I think it should be required that everyone have their DNA doneand register on ancestry.com so that they will realize how interrelated we are. I did mine a few years ago and it was amazing. And the list of people who share some part of my DNA is GIANT and grows every day - I feel related to the world. LOVE your page! Hugz
ReplyDeleteThis is genius, Elizabeth. The composition alone is wonderful, but when I read about the parts and the intent of the whole I was so impressed. Much thought went into each part. Love it, love it, love it ... and a big hug to Bleubeard :)
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ From the Sol
cool, what a great and fun idea. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm late getting around, Elizabeth. Happy Sunday morning. I really loved this mural ~ so many layers of meaning. When I worked as a geologist in the Oil Patch, I learned that old bills (US money) were used in drilling mud sometimes. I have a niece who is biracial, Chinese and white. Fortunately, she lives in Canada. Have a great week!
ReplyDelete