Mandala CXXXII, The IT Mandala

(Above: Me with Mandala CXXXII, the IT Mandala. Click on any image to enlarge.)

Before Steve and I took off for almost a full week in New York City, I had finished, framed, and photographed this large Found Object Mandala.  I thought about sharing it here on my blog and to social media but it didn't seem quite right at the time.  Why? Well, this piece will be part of an upcoming show sponsored by Minos Technology, an IT infrastructure disposal company that focuses on helping companies generate cash flow from old IT equipment.  I was contacted by Ellen Taylor, a local interior designer, to participate in this unique opportunity.

(Above: Artists scavenging in the overflowing boxes of IT waste at one of Minos Technology's Columbia locations.)

At the time of writing this blog post, I'm still not sure if the upcoming exhibit is open to the public or not.  I have no idea whether it is a one-evening event or not.  I don't know how or to who it will be advertised, and I'm not sure who all the artists are ... but the opportunity was too sweet to pass by.  I did want to wait until I'd turned in my creation before sharing it.  I wanted a little feedback.  Thankfully, Ellen Taylor was much impressed.

Why "sweet"?  Well, the opportunity came with a stipend for the donation of the artwork, but most importantly, it came with the chance to scavenge for the actual IT materials. I've never seen so many computer keyboards, cables, hard drives, caddies, modems, and old fax machines in all my life.  Just being in one of Minos Technology's warehouses was amazing. It was great fun to almost jump into a 48" x 48" x 48" double corrugated box to retrieve fax phone receivers.  Yet, it was also a sobering experience to realize just how much IT waste there is in just this one corner of the world.  I really want to be part of the creative community that brings awareness to this problem. Making my piece felt like I was contributing to this needed awareness.

(Above: Mandala CXXXII, the IT Mandala. Found IT waste and some plastic bottle lids hand-stitched to a piece of second-hand, synthetic fabric. Custom framed: 39 1/2" x 39 1/2".)

For the most part, the old fax machines enticed me.  Why? Well, I remember (as if it were yesterday!) getting a fax machine.  At Mouse House, my custom picture framing business, this was a great thing to have.  It was the coolest, most modern convenience ever (or so it seemed at the time).  In an instant, I could share a joke with my sister in Slippery Rock ... because her travel agency had a fax machine too.  From the moment we got this device, we could order framing supplies without fear that the person on the other end of the telephone might not hear the item numbers correctly.  No more mistakes when ordering a metal frame!  All we needed was a dedicated telephone line ... like our first computer!  Dial up!  How great! How cutting edge!  How ingenious this new invention was ... at the time!

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CXXXII.)

Nowadays, who has a fax machine?  Certainly not Mouse House!  It's obsolete.  We don't even have a landline anymore.  Who does?  Sure ... I know a lot of people who still have a landline, but the fact of the matter is that most of the once-upon-a-time modern fax machines are now in a landfill or headed there.  It seemed like that within a blink of an eye, the fax machine went the way of the dinosaurs.  This opportunity, however, was my chance to really LOOK at a fax machine ... as in dissecting them!

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CXXXII.)

The center of this mandala was made from part of the base to a computer modem and the internal workings of a smoke detector (I think!).  It is surrounded by fax machine receivers.  The four corner pieces were taken from the insides of four fax machines, including the section under the numerical key pads. I stitched down the actual keys from two of the machines.  The cables were all for a landline line connection.  Other parts were caddies and CPU connectors (names I learned from the staff at Minos Technology!)  I also took apart and added letters and symbols from two Dell computer keyboards.  The only non-e-waste items used were eight blue and orange-red lids with yellow buttons and the embroidery floss.  Even the fabric used for the background was purchased second hand. I got the synthetic material at an auction. Six dollars for almost a full bolt.  Under it is two layers of recycled, black industrial felt. 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CXXXII.)  

I'm very happy that this piece turned out so well.  Hopefully, I'll learn more about the upcoming show featuring all the artwork made from e-waste.  With luck, this piece will find a permanent home ... maybe even in a corporate office, a place that once had a fax phone!