Dale Dunning Metal Faces

Design ideas can be found in a multitude of places but sites such as ThisIsColossal.com bring out more ideas than should be legal. Consistently the site sheds light upon new creative ideas that just keep the ol' cranium in flux with, damn, how did they figure that one out.

One of the more recent posts that really struck us was the metal sculpture work of Dale Dunning. His typography mixed with steel and welded forms oozed right into our grease soaked heart.

Link to Dale Dunning on This is Colossal

Dale Dunning type face metal sculpture

Dale Dunning type face metal sculpture

Dale Dunning type face metal sculpture

Dale Dunning type face metal sculpture

"Just last week Colossal featured the work of Hong Seong Jang who used the long aluminum sticks of moveable type to create miniature cities. Now we have the figurative sculptures of artist Dale Dunning who welds together metal type and steel hardware to create intricate masks and heads. Of his work Dunning says:

The head that has been featured in my work for the last 13 years is a generic, simplified form not specific to gender, devoid of detail, resembling an egg. The head is universally recognized, easy to identify with. We live in our heads, see, feel, and experience the world in our head. It serves as the foundation upon which I can develop various paths to explore.

Though I’m struck by the the final shape of his figures, I find myself almost more intrigued by the processes Dunning must utilize to create them. I’m told that the last piece above, Constellation 1/1, is made from 900 welded bolts and washers and I can’t even imagine how one would embark on such a time-consuming process. You can see much more of his work here. All images courtesy Oeno Gallery. (via my amp goes to 11)"

Dale Dunning metal sculpture made from bolts

Dale Dunning metal sculpture made from bolts

Dale Dunning metal sculpture made from bolts

Metal Church With Jesse James - Parts 3 and 4

We were guessing with Jesse James bike build off on Discovery Channel that he would be working on a new show for the channel and our theories were proven correct. Discovery is a great channel overall, but we have always wondered why they kept the American Chopper show on for so long, as the show is more about high paid advertising and family drama rather than about motorcycles or custom builds. We completely rationalize with the idea that the corporate advertising pays for the channel and gives them the ability to produce more shows, but to what detriment? The family squabbles made a mockery of the Teutels and it became just another soap opera, same as ESPN. Not that their builds were something we enjoy or would ever ride, but imagine yourself as a teenager and thinking on a career path. By being able to see a machinist, builder, fabricator, mechanic etc. as a viable career choice, they are missing a huge opportunity to truly grow their market share. Mike Rowe's Dirty Jobs portrays all sorts of tough jobs that are being done and are providing an honest living that aren't cubicle driven.

America has forgotten how we got started and what made us great. Many have forgotten what it is like to fix the random item that breaks at the home or how to do an oil change. College is not always the solution or striving for the proverbial white collar job. Trade careers are continuing to diminish as we are losing our industrial might which is sad. Hopefully with Jesse James new show, Discovery will once again focus on craftsmanship instead of drama. The same as most should focus on his amazing skill set compared to his personal life.

Granted many folks are voyeurs and live vicariously through others, so we ask this. Instead of watching life go by, become an entrenched part of it. If ya don't know how to dial in four carburetors, learn. If ya can't bend sheet metal or weld, go to your local community college and take some classes. Life is too damn short so go out and make something happen that you can call your own.

Leave a legacy and something to be remembered by, take the high road and make it work.

Jesse James TIG Welding - Photo from Cyril Huze Blog

Cyril Huze posted an interview with Jesse about the build off coming up next week with the Teutels and you can read it below or link back over to the original article.

Link to original article and photos on CyrilHuzeBlog.com

Jesse James, Paul Junior and Senior duel in the ultimate TV build-off on the Discovery Channel and you are about to decide who is the best builder. In advance of the 2-day TV event (Episode “Chopper Finale” December 5 at 9 pm when the 3 customs will be revealed, Episode “Chopper Live” December 6 at 9 pm to vote and see the winner), Jesse James took some time to answer my questions…ramping-up the smack talk against the Teutuls… A couple of revelations, too.

Cyril. Although I can’t show pictures of your bike before Monday’s and Tuesday’s episodes, can you explain to my readers your approach for this build-off, what type of bike did you build. Jesse. I just wanted to build a bike purely for myself. I wanted a style and materials that “I” want. At the end of the day I’m keeping this fucker, so I might as well do something that I will dig.

Cyril. How much help did you get? Jesse. Ha! The only real help I had was unloading the truck of raw material coming in the door of the shop. Really I had Bacon with me the whole time helping run parts and this and that. Which I could not have done without him. Jeff Decker and Cole Foster also stopped by for a couple days to help out. It was so great doing this with my friends.

Jesse James getting proper measurements for ride comfort - Photo from Cyril Huze Blog

Cyril. Do you think that the bikes you build today are very different from the ones you were known for years ago? Which way? Jesse. I think this is a big step out of my comfort zone. It’s leaner and meaner and uses a lot of materials and skills that I have been afraid to work with in the past. Mostly because I wasn’t that good at working with them. I think I needed to push myself on this build. Just to prove that I can do what I do from my new shop at home. 17 years of having the power and resources of West Coast Choppers in my back pocket. Now that is all gone. Time for me to prove that I was really the driving force behind all of it. I have to admit I was a bit nervous hanging it all out there on my own.

Cyril. Do you have a personal and/or professional gripe with those 2? Jesse. I doubt if I would piss on either one if they were on fire :- )

Cyril. Would you hire any of them in your Austin shop? To do what? Jesse. Absolutely Not. I have 19 y.o. kids at my Austin Speed Shop that would work circles around any one of them…

Cyril. Your definition of a great custom motorcycle? Jesse. Frame, Motor, Trans, Small tank, Brakes and lots of Love. Minus a reference point.

Wooden mold for a custom tank by Jesse James - Photo from Cyril Huze Blog

Cyril. Do you think it’s possible that one of them, or both, surprise you with a bike your really like?

Jesse. I really wish and hope one of them would build something Bad Ass. Something I would tip my hat too. Sadly I think we all know it will just be more of the same. They really want to beat me so they will be emptying the parts room. Welding as many wings, and scoops, and fins as possible.

Cyril. It seems that it will be a popularity contest more than anything else. Can a bad boy get more votes than 2 “family men”?  

Jesse. Yeah, Jr. started trying to mooch votes and couple weeks ago. Pretty Lame. I have an idea! How about we show people the bikes first, then ask them to vote.

Cyril. There are ultimately 2 possibilities for you. Tell me why you will win? Why you could lose? 

Jesse. I think there are actually 3. I think this is my chance to remind people what I really do. I think there is a large amount of people that think I’m famous just because I married a Hollywood actress. I really hope to show people that since Monster Garage ended that I have done nothing but devote myself to my skills. I really think that I am 100 times better now. I hope people see this and I inspires them to follow there passion like I have.

Cyril. Does the result really matter to you? 

 Jesse. I’d love to win, but if I don’t it will not change my feelings about my bike, not even 1%. It’s a Bad Motherfucker, and I love it!

Cyril. With the result of this competition, is your return on the Discovery Channel with your own show on the line?  

Jesse. We start filming an All New Series in January for the Discovery Channel.

Cyril. What kind of TV show you prefer to have? Building? Teaching? Entertaining? 

Jesse. Bigger Better Monster Garage, Time to Put Discovery on the map again and cut a new Groove in Television.

Metal Church With Jesse James Parts 1 and 2 - Sheet Metal Fabrication

Did yall happen to catch these shows posted on youtube a few years back by Jesse James called Metal-Church? Was able to find them after a bit of digging and they are definitely gems when it comes to understanding basic sheet metal fabrication and attempting to build your own gas tanks in particular. We have a load of sheet metal work coming up on the 1951 Chevy 3600 with not as many tools as we would like to have. In our mindset this means, a lot of research to see how those in the know do it with a variety of techniques or molds that could be made from wood to help pound out some basic shapes. 

For more info on basic metal fabrication dig into the multitude of youtube videos available. Or do the next best thing go seek out someone that knows their shit and learn a few new things. We are dealing with a lot of rust so we have been getting some solid advice from John over at K & J Antiques as he rebuilds vintage gas pumps and knows his way around sheet metal and painting. We will have some progress photos of the Chevy Shop Truck later this week.

Sculptures From Welded Chain

Form and shape are all around but it is up to us to interpret what we see, to become something new. Call it the creative process or maybe just working through ideas. Whatever the case may be, the curious mind will continue to find new ways to interpret concepts. 

A contemporary sculptor from Korea, by the name of Yeong-Deok Seo has found a way to give subtle hints of humanity to what might be considered just masses of chain. Within the lines of the these sculptures exudes a quiet and subtle presence. Due to the notion of what we assume chains provide, the depictions are endowed with pure strength. Mixing those elements together to create sculpture that contains the human forms allows this work to go to another level of appreciation. 

Another element that we enjoy is the fact that these two forms of chain have vastly different functions. To be able to assemble those two styles of a purely functional tool, begs backyard wrenchers everywhere to stop and stare at how a chain can be used in a new way. 

Art can come in many facets and be made from anything, it just takes a creative and analytical mind, to see an everyday object in a new way. Indian Larry consistently spoke on how building a chopper was the ultimate art form as it portrayed design, sculpture, painting and most of all, usability. We couldn't agree more, just have a look at his famous "Chain of Mystery" bike at the bottom.

Indian Larry's - Chain of Mystery