Altoids Tinstallation

This January, I will be participating in the the Altoids Tinstallation with BOSCO at the Art Source Gallery....I have made 2 little art-pieces: they are both available for purchase: the proceeds will benefit http://www.boiseopenstudios.com/ :)

this is the 1st: named #J3

The inside: the secret is: it included a wearable lapel pin: attached the the tin with a magnet :)

So, if you choose to take home this little piece of art, you will also have a wearable accessory (or fridge magnet, lol)

My 2nd piece is called Secret Laboratory....

This one also has a secret.... ;)

A cute little vial necklace filled with clock-parts & oil.

The exhibit is up through January at the Art Source Gallery in downtown Boise.  Stop in & check it out; all the tins are for sale; proceeds benefit the organization from whence the tin came from: BOSCO & other arts collectives.  Tins sell for just $20 (what a deal!) 

Artist reception on 1st Thursday, Jan 5th: 5-9 pm: stop in for live music, wine & appetizers :)

Amber

Another Trophey

Just thought I would show & tell...

a custom trophy for the Utah Valley Home Builders Association

made with nails, bolts, screws, nuts, I-beam, & misc steel parts...

This is the 2nd year I have shipped trophies off to Utah :)

The nails are my favorite part :)

Hope they like it!!

Amber



Kleiner Park: a few new pics

The sculptures have been up for a few months now, & last week we  spent a day at the park doing a final inspection: to look things over & see how the sculptures are behaving in the weather...

After a final re-torque on all the connecting bolts, they each got a spot-weld to hold them in place.

We were still at it as the sun was going down (as usual, lol)

It does make for cool pics, though... :)

Construction on the park is coming along: but not finished yet.

The park is scheduled to open to the public in April of next year: stay tuned for details on the grand opening :)

Amber

Show & Tell: Harley Parts

Little table-top pieces made from Harley parts:

perfect for hanging the keys on... :)

Gears, shafts, & mechanical odds & ends....

The gold toned gears are my fav part...

The top of each is a little polished stainless steel tube; reminds me of the exhaust pipes...I couldn't resist adding a bit of color with the torch :) 

I'll deliver them later this week: they were commissioned as a holiday gift--hope they are happy :)

Amber



Idaho Botanical Garden Online Auction

Just listed: one of my favorite necklaces....

Kelly green glass beads with a vintage lipstick tube, brass key, & vintage rhinestone charm.  Accented in silver with matching green Austrian crystal accents. 

Up for auction at: the Idaho Botanical Garden

Just in time for the holidays; shop the online auction for all sorts of gifts :)

The proceeds benefit the gardens, & you stay out of the mall: win/win :)  And your holiday purchases are tax deductible...

There are all sorts of items: from concert tickets, to movie passes, handmade items, & gift certificates:

and of course: this very special necklace...watch out though: I have it on good authority that Lori from Giraffe Laugh is on a mission to have this one....lol

Last year, I did all of my holiday shopping this way: it was great!: no crowded stores, lots of time to pick out the perfect gift & a great selection: I found something for everyone on my list :)

And the fact that my holiday purchases were supporting a local, non-profit, educational entity; made the holiday shopping experience (omg) enjoyable!

Check out all the great gifts here:

Happy Shopping!

Amber



Show & Tell: another copper wedding bouquet...

Another new favorite bouquet...

Copper with a heat-patina: adding subtle shades of blue, purple, & gold to the copper.  Accented with sparkling crystals in purple & gold, & pearls in gold & bronze.

This one sparkles & shines brilliantly in the sun & the shade: I am loving the purple accents :)

It's listed on my Esty shop & includes the matching boutonniere for the groom & steel stand for the bouquet...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/87287189/copper-wedding-bouquet-with-purple-gold

Amber

Show & Tell: Copper wedding bouquet

Just wanted to share... New copper wedding bouquet just listed: with aged copper, turquoise crystals, & cream/bronze pearls.   Love the look of the metal patina: will be experimenting with more...

Love the contrast of the aged metal with the sparkling crystals & glowing pearls :)

Available in my Etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/86271839/copper-wedding-bouquet-and-boutonniere

Too much fun; I can totally see this one for a western-themed wedding :)

For a look at my other custom wedding bouquets, see my Etsy shop at:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/REFINERII

Right now I have some jewelry & the wedding bouquets to offer: soon to be adding custom metal wall hangings, garden accents, & home decor items...

Amber

Lumber-Jack

Have you ever met a real-life Lumber-Jack???  Honestly: I thought they didn't exist anymore, but was proven very wrong this weekend...

My parents just bought a house in Idaho City, & their neighbor, Pete, just happens to be a Lumber-Jack: for-real!   He came over this weekend to fall a couple dead trees: I only got to see 1 come down, but it was very impressive!   Pete managed to fall it in just the right spot: the tree was close to the house & garage: and he made it fall in the one spot where there was nothing... 

It wasn't a small tree either: probably about 60-70 (or more) feet tall.... He used a big winch, & huge chainsaw, & more than a few wedges...  It was quite the process!

In the end; the tree came down in just the right spot; no damage to anything...  The tree was dead & rotten from beetles & was a threat of coming down in a storm & going through the house or garage roof.

It was very exiting to watch & fascinating to learn about forestry & gardening (on a huge scale) from a real expert!

In the end; the tree is down; providing a huge amount of firewood for the house, & leaving a perfect base to mount a custom steel sculpture: one of my next projects :)

Thanksgiving in the new house: we might be still moving in furniture, but it will be fun!  The fireplace is up & running: kitchen will be functional this week, & there is now plenty of firewood! lol :)  Even if the house is not quite complete: it will be a great way to get mom & dad moved in & start living in the new place :)

Amber

The Beginnings of a new Project....

These miscellaneous parts from a couple Harley's will soon be assembled into 2 tabletop sculptures....

my project for the weekend...

hmmmmmmm...

Check back for progress pics.

Amber

Kleiner Park Video--Wind Turbines at night....

pretty cool, eh??  Thanks so much to Dan Smede for the great video!! 

Amber

Lights! Kleiner Park Sculptures....

The lights are working, yay!  After waiting for parts, the electrical is all hooked up & the lights are on at night!

The above is a shot of the vertical axis wind turbine; it spins in the breeze & generates the power for the spotlights.

The turbines not only look amazing moving with the wind, but they produce clean, green power.

Each of the three 50' tall sculptures has 3 spotlights that are powered by the wind turbines.

I am so very happy with how this project came together; green energy mixed with public art...how cool is that!?

Photos by: Smede Marketing-thanks so much!

It's going to be interesting to monitor the output of the wind turbines over the winter; so far, we have had a very breezy autumn....providing lots of energy for the generators.   The vertical axis design of these wind turbines is well suited to urban environments: the wind can be strong & gusty or just a slight breeze in any direction, the the turbines will spin & produce energy.  And they look amazing, make no noise & are safe for birds & bats---very cool indeed!

Julius Kleiner Memorial Park is located on the corner of Eagle & Fairview & is still under construction: you can see the sculptures & wind turbines from Eagle Road or Fairview, but the park is not open yet...  Grand opening is scheduled for April of 2012: I will be sending out invites & announcements :)  In the meantime; the park is still a construction site: please don't try to go around the barricades--the security guards will not be happy, lol. 

Thanks so  much to Toby at Power Plus for all the help---you made it work!  And Blake Trailers in Star: amazing work: could not have made it happen without you!   And Susan, John, Steve, Sue, & the whole Parametrix team: so thankful to have been involved with such a talented & fun group.   Also Don, Walter, Steve, Eldon, Susan (again): I was so honored to be a part of the design team & absolutely loved every meeting & discussion: I'm a bit sad it's over, lol.

And of course: Gene & the Kleiner family--what an amazing gift you are giving to future generations: I am humbled & so honored to have been a part of such an amazing project...

Also thanks to Anderson Construction, Diamond Street Recycling, Pacific Recycling, Wild Nature Solutions & everyone I met on this project: even the construction meetings discussing schedules, water-lines, & roads were fun!

Amber

AGC Trophies

Delivered today to the Associated General Contractors of Idaho Headquarters; these are the year-end awards presented every December at the annual Gala & fundraiser event. 

This will the be the 4th year I have made custom trophies for the event: each set has been different... They are all made from salvaged steel, found objects, & whatever I have been able to find at the time.

It's fun to come up with something new each year & I think it makes the awards more special for the recipients...

Thanks to Trademark Signs for the custom plaques: they came out perfect!

This year's design are a favorite (I say that every year, lol)

For more information on the Idaho AGC, please visit:

http://www.idahoagc.org/

I hope everyone likes them!

Amber



Raising Jane Journal--Mary Jane's Blog

I was on Mary Jane's blog :)  This is what she had to say:

Zephyrus

Posted on October 10, 2011 by MaryJane

I was on a “pitch slam” panel of four magazine editors at The Creative Connection Event in St. Paul last month. During the month prior, potential “features” signed up and paid money in order to pitch who they are to us. The cross-section of women was fabulous and over time I intend to feature all of them—everyone from a woman who creates tiny victorian embroideries to a librarian who wants to write book reviews to a woman who traveled from Australia who specializes in zen doodling to a …

… welder chick.

Amber Conger, of Refinerii Industrial Revelations, is a full-time artist and sculptor of wood, stone, and other elements from Boise, Idaho with a particular affinity for gears and the industrial chic look.

Amber also has a knack for picking fabulous gleaming words! Her recently completed project, a 28′ tall weather vane, was installed in Boise, Idaho and is dubbed after that windy and rustling word-of-the-week (last week’s word to be exact), zephyr!

Oh how the zephyrs do stir my heart for this weather vane.

Her “Zephyrus” is made from a recycled stand from Idaho Power and the weather vane fashioned from salvaged steel. She also used left-over copper from another project, stainless steel, and the spinner was a gift from a friend.

The installation process needed extra hands.

What a beauty!

I was talking about the weather vane, BUT Amber is tall, statuesque and well, Amber’s compass definitely points …

… true north.

So honored to be a part of Mary Jane's world: I've been a fan of her farmgirl lifestyle for years!
Check out the website here:

Thanks so much Mary Jane & Megan; really enjoyed meeting you!!

Amber