Patina, My Love

Superficial beauty

Gorgeous, isn’t it? After breakfast downtown with Paul’s visiting sister, we came across a garage sale very near to home. Not seeing anything interesting at first and about to drive away, I caught sight of this great example of tortured metal patina. I had to take a closer look and ask how much the thing cost, even though I knew it would be at the Rancho by day’s end…

Industrial charmer

At LA flea markets, an old industrial cart with functioning wheels would be several hundred dollars; in a retail setting, several hundred more. I had to know how much the owner of such a cart, at a garage sale in our neighborhood, would charge. And, how far would I go, price-wise, to own this object of desire? When queried, the owner allowed almost sheepishly, that she knew a metal salvage company that would give her $70 for it. Needless to say, I said I’d give her $70 dollars for it … and just like that it was mine! After a quick trip to the ATM, I paid for the cart. Now, how to get it home: this thing’s really heavy, all-steel, with a 5-foot by 3-foot top. Plus, it’s close to 100-degrees out … I told the owner I’d return later to pick it up — when it would be cooler, since I’d have to roll it home several blocks. When the time came, I walked down to the sale. Sizing up the cart, and the situation, I decided the route home should skirt the cemetery since the dead don’t mind noise. I began rolling the cart down the street and just as I suspected it was like thunder on wheels — what a racket! Most people would be too embarrassed to take on such a mission, but not me. When I find a thing I have to have, embarrassment is not a deterrent. Besides, after walking down one of Riverside’s main streets at rush hour last Spring, while pushing an antique metal seeder containing a concrete garden figurine I’d scored at a great price, I got over being embarrassed. As an artist I feel I get a pass … Anyway, the cart’s home now and it’s perfect. Now, I wonder how I’ll use it …