Six 16 - Mixed Media Assemblage of Vintage Technology & Found Objects

SIX 16 - An Ode to Forgotten Technology and the Passage of Time

A symphony of nostalgia, Six 16 is a testament to the beauty of obsolete technology—objects that once defined innovation but now serve as relics of a bygone era. This commanding 2' x 3' mixed media assemblage is layered with rich history, intricate textures, and meticulously placed found objects, each with its own untold story.

The color palette veers from my usual tendencies, embracing an aged mustard hue blended with deep browns and charcoals—tones reminiscent of faded photographs and timeworn machinery. The wood panel foundation is built upon with encaustic layers, collaged ephemera, and resin-soaked paper, creating an almost fossilized effect where past and present collide.

At the center of the composition, an upcycled movie reel dominates the left side, its circular form framing an intricate pocket watch centerpiece. Inside the pocket watch case, twelve painstakingly layered pours of resin suspend delicate watch gears, creating an illusion of movement frozen in time. This slow and deliberate process—one resin layer per day—ensures the mesmerizing depth that allows the tiny mechanisms to seemingly float within their glass enclosure.

The lower portion of the piece features a vintage clarinet segment, its original keys still functional, resting above a layer of printed paper collage sealed under encaustic. Adjacent to it, an old transistor radio dial sits embedded in the wax, a silent remnant of an analog world overtaken by digital sound.

Moving upward, the upper right quadrant holds the namesake of the piece: an antique camera faceplate from a Brownie Six-16 box camera. The twin circular openings above the lens house miniature European cityscape photographs, sourced from old stereographs, offering ghostly glimpses into places captured long ago. A layered background of vintage clothing patterns, printed papers, and resin-sealed elements enhances the sense of history embedded in the work.

Throughout, the dimensionality is undeniable—this isn’t just an artwork, but an artifact, a tactile experience that invites closer inspection. From the industrial relics to the delicate interplay of resin and encaustic, Six 16 is a meditation on how time erodes, preserves, and repurposes the objects we leave behind.

SIZE: 20" x 30" x 3" (51cm x 76cm x 7.5cm)

Special Care for Encaustic Artwork... Encaustic artwork is created with a combination of beeswax (note for those who are allergic) and damar resin. This art form has existed for centuries, but because of the natural properties of the wax it does require to be displayed out of direct sunlight in a temperature controlled environment.