Creativity and the creative process has been a regular theme of my blogs. It differs from person to person, but creativity is a physical, mental, and emotional need that expresses itself consistently in artists and craftspeople of all stripes. And that need must be filled, as it lurks under the surface in our brains. Of the many discoveries on our quick road trip to visit some of Fred's family in California was how profound the artistic desire abides in our brother-in-law, Steve. Years ago, I remember a photography teacher asking a small group of students in Santa Fe "What projects are you working on?" And if we didn't have one, he would say, "you must have a project. You always need to be working on a project." Well, projects are major elements in Steve's life, whether small or large. I feel honored to have been able to photograph some of his work of a lifetime, along with his newest work. An expert welder and fabricator, his work would be considered industrial art if it were made for large scale distribution. But Steve's work is basically one of a kind, more in keeping with pieces of art.
And where do I begin? Probably with the first big project (and there were no doubt many others) of which we aware - the bathroom. Steve has always been a fan of mechanical things, including gauges, and he knows how everything works. The gauges show both water pressure and temperature. He has an incredible schematic in his head!
Rizzoli powder room 2024
The next project that we followed thanks to photographs sent by his wife, Debbie, was the lighthouse. She was always a fan of lighthouses, and Steve decided to build one for her. Not only do you need vision and some semblance of a plan in one's head to build something like this, the artist must be intimately familiar with possible sources of material and what kind of equipment it takes to place things. Frequently, if Steve lacked the tool to make an element, he would fabricate it. And in-person research was required so I suspect more than one trip to Point Reyes was made in that regard. The base is a concrete culvert put on end, which must have been quite the task in itself. A circular staircase allows you to enter the lighthouse and also sit on a metal deck.
Rizzoli lighthouse 1 2024
Rizzoli lighthouse 2 2024
What some don't realize is that every piece of glass, every screw and rivet were put in by hand. It is truly a handmade piece of art. Below is the large fresnel lens surrounded by pieces of glass fitted into brass.
Rizzoli lighthouse 4 2024
Rizzoli lighthouse 3 2024
Another addition to the house was a replica of the Titanic bow Steve built, complete with searchlight.
Rizzoli Titanic bow and searchlight 2024
The latest project is something Steve had dreamed of getting his hands on for some time - a Stoof. A Grumman S-2F, the Stoof flew in the U. S. Navy Fleet for years, and as the Navy was phasing them out, a number of the aircraft were acquired by Cal Fire. This one was used as a tanker to drop water and retardant on forest fires. This Stoof (in Navy slang "S two F became Stoof) had seen better days and was in pieces in an aviation boneyard, waiting for Steve to find them. Which he did! All the pieces are in place now, and every day, it awaits Steve's skills.
Rizzoli Stoof 2 2024
They were powered by nine cylinder, radial-piston engines. My husband, Fred, was a Navy aircraft mechanic in the late 1960's and early 1970's and actually worked on these planes. He was able explain some of the innards of the lovely beast.
There is plenty of electrical and hydraulic pasta here behind the engine firewall.
Rizzoli Stoof 2 2024
Below is a photograph of our car, to show scale, in front of the Stoof.
Rizzoli Stoof behind Bolt for scale 2024
After seeing everything that Steve has fabricated, cut, painted, and built over the years, I will never look at anything human made in quite the same way.
Thanks to Steve and Debbie for giving us the grand tour and allowing me to take photographs, and to Fred for filling me in on the elements of the plane.
My appreciation goes to Victoria, Minna, Marilyn G., Jean & Same, Catherine, Pauli, Steve, TTT, Marilyn R., Lawrence, and Ingrid for commenting on the 13 October blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©