I have been asked a number of times recently to share my source for the hands I am using in my Making Waves series. Back when I was working on my Handbook...
...I began an obsessive search for hands. There is a flea market every Saturday in my neighborhood which I dutifully visited weekly as part of my search. One day I spotted a small, wooden hand that was obviously very old and that was screaming my name. The booth owner said that it was not for sale. The hand had broken off a 19th century religious statue and he was keeping it in the case to remind him to make repairs. I was disappointed until he told me to return the following week as he might have a few more hands at his other booth location.
Well to say I hit the jackpot would be an understatement. Although he did not show at the flea market for the next two weeks, on the third week he reached below his table and pulled out not a few hands but a bag bursting with hands, all of which had broken off of ancient religious statues. I left that day with each and every one.
Kratos
Greek God of Strength
Available for purchase in The Altered Page on Etsy.
Sold. Thank you!
28 comments:
Seth, another great message: faith, sincerity, support, strength, justice. I love the strength of the symbolism in your art.
wonderful! what a great story about your hands. another great piece!
Great find!!!! I gotta ~hand~ it to ya :)
What awesome treasures!!! Just goes to show - you never know what you will find at the flea market! I think that is the reason I am so addicted to them.
Wow, you hit the jackpot! I'm always on the look out for hands, but I've never scored this big!
And, as always, you've done wonderful things with them.
Erin
Wow, jackpot indeed. Isn't it fantastic when you come across such a great find.
Great story to go hand in hand with your art work, which is terrific!
Seth,
What a find...what a resource to have at 'hand'
love the work you are doing with these hands.
See me waving to you right now Seth!
True Karma
I so envy your ability to shop places that actually have old and unique objects. I would never be able to give up a single one of those hands. How awesome.
can you say jealous??
Oh Seth what a great find!! I'm part of a set up team for a big art show we are doing here in VA. There is an artist that made an incredible turtle out of old jewelry parts. I asked where she got all the parts her Grannie gave her boxes of the stuff.
I love your hands and I'm also obsessed with them and wings, rarely find either :>)
Jackpot! I love love love hands, especially the kind that you are collecting. Thanks for sharing your flea market story that helped launch your obsession.
Seth, I, too, have been admiring your "hand" work since you first posted them.
Vintage wooden hands are hard to come by. You scored! What a find!
I may have told you this story, but a few years ago I was using Barbie doll and other doll hands for projects. First I would 'age' them using papers and paints. They looked okay, but these are terrific.
Oh WOW, you DID get the motherload (sp?) of hands! and a very good home they went to too!
My sister has collected hands for years (none quite as special as yours ... religious statues WOW) ... in my quest for gifts for her I also became a hand collector ... there is just something about them!
Another great piece you've created Seth!
Happy Weekend to you and happy hunting at the flea market too!
It never fails to thrill me that when one is looking for something it suddenly shows up and in your case in multiples! You're doing exciting things with the hands, it seems as if each one is speaking to you.
I've got to hand it to you Seth, your diligence and patience paid off (groaning at my own bad pun)...
I appreciate these kinds of posts because it gives us a peek into your artistic process, which I enjoy as much as the work itself.
Thoughtful and compelling...I particularly like the minature size...which comes across as much larger in the photographs
je trouve mon bonheur ici...!
salut d'une collectionneuse de mains..
Proof that like Robert the Bruce in Scotland - if at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again Seth.
wow, you really did hit the jackpot-- shows how persistence does pay off-- and to a wonderful result ie. art work.
I've heard you were good with your hands, and now I've seen the proof!
Hey. You better stop over at my Mad Tea Party. It's over at midnight, but I'm quite sure a few guests will still be hanging around afterward. Click here to go there.
hands down, that is a fabulous story Seth (sorry, couldn't stop myself). I love thinking about where these hands began, there intended use, and the spirit of prayer that they still radiate and carry with them. You let them speak volumes in the way that you use them, which is what I admire about your work - they found the perfect home.
What a great story, Seth :o)
What a score! I bet that you grinned from ear to ear the whole way home.
What an incredible find! I am a bit envious, but I can't imagine these in no better hands :-)
you hit the jackpot indeed!! what a lucky, lucky man you are! i have a large bowl of hands, but they are all porcelain doll arms. yours are just gorgeous!
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