Author Archives: destructivetesting

About destructivetesting

I'm a self-taught artist who prefers to use found objects in ways that were never intended. I'm not interested in making 10 or 100 of the same object. This, of course, takes more time to make each piece. I also prefer a more minimalist look, where each part of a piece can be appreciated. I consider my clocks to be small sculptures with moving parts. And, my lamps to be small sculptures with light. My mirrors are reflective sculptures. DESTRUCTIVE TESTING means to push something to it's limits to understand it's structural performance or material behavior under different stresses. I interpret this in my artwork as using materials in different ways or combinations than they were designed to be used. I also just like the slightly ominous sound of the term...

Two More Small Found Object Sculpture/Lamps / Michael Smith / Milwaukee, WI

Posted on April 3, 2013

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/128326745     https://www.etsy.com/listing/128327389

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Posted on April 3, 2013

Originally posted on Cardboard Paintings:
The past few days I have been working on the construction of my individual canvases.  There are three points I have been trying to improve with the canvases: efficiency, craft and storage. For efficiency, I…

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Making It / Found Metal Artifact Accent Lamp Number 113 / Michael Smith / Milwaukee, WI

Posted on April 3, 2013

Another cool piece of rusty metal. Mounted on a beautiful piece of hardwood, with a vintage style light bulb. https://www.etsy.com/listing/128320602/found-metal-artifact-accent-lamp  

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Making It / Found Metal Artifact Lamp Number 99 / Michael Smith / Milwaukee, WI

Posted on March 26, 2013

I love these pieces of metal that have had a useful life in their original purpose, and now have a new life where their aesthetic beauty can be appreciated. These smaller sculpture/lamps aren’t any less expensive to make in terms … Continue reading →

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Making It / Found Metal Artifact Lamp Number 49 / Michael Smith / Milwaukee, WI

Posted on March 25, 2013

Yet another piece of an exhaust system. I’ve mounted this on a block of Honey Locust hardwood. https://www.etsy.com/listing/127484582/found-metal-artifact-lamp-number-49    

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Making It / Found Metal Artifact Lamp Number 117 / Michael Smith / Milwaukee, WI

Posted on March 25, 2013

This is a small sculpture that has an oriental feel to me. I’ve mounted it on a beautiful piece of Zebrawood. https://www.etsy.com/listing/127477835/found-metal-artifact-lamp-number-117  

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Making It / Found Metal Artifact Sculpture Lamp Number 217 / Michael Smith / Milwaukee, WI

Posted on March 24, 2013

This part is another piece of an exhaust system. I’ve mounted this on a block of an African hardwood. https://www.etsy.com/listing/127435783/found-metal-artifact    

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Making It / Found Metal Artifact Accent Lamp Number 101 / Michael Smith / Milwaukee, WI

Posted on March 21, 2013

I love using ‘found’ objects. This is some part of an exhaust system. Anybody can have something sleek and boring on their desk or shelf, but only adventurous individuals would choose something like this. If you aren’t that adventurous person, … Continue reading →

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Nebula Explorer Sculpture / Michael Smith / Milwaukee, WI

Posted on March 20, 2013

This is another in my space theme series. I imagine it being flung into space like a giant frisbee. I’ve mounted it on a beautiful Zebrawood hardwood base. https://www.etsy.com/listing/126996392/nebula-explorer-sculpture    

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Found Metal Artifact Accent Lamp Number 67 / Michael Smith / Milwaukee, WI

Posted on March 20, 2013

I love using ‘found’ objects. I’m not sure what these are, but they are rusty and cool looking. Anybody can have something sleek and boring on their desk or shelf, but only adventurous individuals would choose something like this. If … Continue reading →

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