Thomas Black
Welding, assemblage, lamps, and sometimes jewelry are my current passions.
Metal Art
Sculptures and small creatures crafted from reclaimed silverware and thrifted metal finds—turning discarded pieces into new living forms.
Heart and Soul
This piece speaks volumes. It's obviously robotic form is created from inane objects like an old propane tank, a heart shaped wall sconce, some old discarded silverware, a few window parts and a doorknob tongue. Brought completely to life by a couple marbles and a heart pendant. Our heart and soul may not be the most visible things, but they define us.
Anglerfish!
A deepsea terror created from an auto ac tank, some discarded silverware, allen wrenches, and lamp parts. A pitchfork tale that catches the sunlight and a glass orb that catches all the prey.Â
Jazz, Man
Jazz, Man is inspired by the city of New Orleans (our favorite place and the origin of our artistic journey), but especially by the artwork on Jackson Square. A couple of lug nuts, a few bolts and screws, and a sheet metal sidewalk corner. You can almost hear that horn trill!
Merrily
Merrily is a fairly simple piece that treads into deeper waters if you're willing. From the "waves" you can almost hear lapping the sides to the threads of the screw/oar resembling ripples on the water to the solitary passenger and what may be the reason for this voyage... heavy, right!? OR it could just be because it's an axe head. Â
Watchful Crow
This piece was created for and accepted by the Mansfield Art Center in Ohio for their annual Crow Fest. The crow is an old pair of crimping pliers and some silverware. She rests in the branches of a wall sconce candle holder I thrifted and had used some of it's leaves for another piece. She shimmers in her perch and when the light is just right you can catch glimmers of green and blue like real crow feathers!
Hootin' Hanger
This functional piece features an owl made from a saw blade, a metal sun, some wrenches, and various other scrap perched on top an inverted banana hook. She'll happily hold your keys or a hanging candle or ornament.Â
Toolie
Toolie, the box hound wobbles around on her springy legs, keeping an eye out (literally one of her eyes has trouble staying in, lol) for trouble! Luckily her snout CAN detect you before her eyes anyway. If her floppy ears start twitching, it's curtains for you! If you're trying to get a handle on where you sit with her, just watch her tail. She's a very good girl!
Two Birds One Dish
These pretty little silverware birds spy from their branches with their beautiful beady little eyes. They can watch over your keys, or your favorite candy, or your rock collection!Â
The Grind/The Circle
This piece could be portraying a single day in the life of a working person, where you drag yourself up from sleep, plow through the day and fall back to slumber. Or it could be a metaphor for an entire life and reincarnation. Or a simple reference to nature itself. Art is yours to interpret. I love this piece and I hope you do too!
GALLERY
Not every piece has a story, but every single silly piece was another step toward this dream, this hope, this adventure. Here are some of them.
Lamps
Light is such an often overlooked and underappreciated form of functionality and beauty. I love to make lamps because every time someone turns it on, there's a little light, but also a little love. They know they have a unique piece that caught their eye at just the right time and every click of the switch can take them back to that moment or memory.
Frenchmen St. PoleÂ
As soon as I found this tea light lamp at the goodwill I new I wanted it to be a NOLA light pole. The base is a bell, affirming this piece is musical without making a sound.
Wine Not Shine?
Not everything needs a description, but doesn't this lamp shade just fit this wine bottle perfectly?
Plankton!
The most intelligent single-celled mastermind in the GALAXY is also a perfect battery powered, motion activated night light with colored lights on the inside! Made from an old propane tank and a desk bell.
White Mushroom
This lamp combines the base of a desk lamp, the inner parts of another lamp, the shade of a ceiling light fixture and a common vase. What's created is a beautiful antique-y mushroom lamp. The switch is on the cord for this one.
Solar Mushrooms
Take a ceiling fan light shade, add some color, glue on a solar light and invert onto a vase- et voila! These are all unique and beautiful and can really brighten up and spark conversation in your favorite outdoor space.
Muses Krewe Lamps
Another NOLA inspired and sourced pair of lamps. These glass shoes were purchased from a member of the Muses Krewe (iykyk). They are filled with Mardi Gras beads and all the other parts were acquired at local thrift shops.
Lit Octopus
This is the first lamp I ever made from all metal! Eight legs from a plant stand, two spoons, and some washers make this beauty shine! One of a kind, fun, and interactive because the spoons can spin!
3way Mushroom
Light the top (a beautiful corrugated light shade), light the bottom (a gorgeous red wavy glass vase), or light both! It's a unique and lovely piece no matter how you look at it!
NOLA Twin Bottles
This piece is all NOLA! When I found these twin bottles at the thrift shop I knew what I wanted to make but had no idea how. Within a couple weeks all the other parts found me and I was somehow able to create this truly incredible lamp!
