Serenity Totem

  • Lillian at dVerse wanted us to write about what’s hanging on our walls. A variety of these Serenity Totems© hang on my studio walls. They are a series of original cylindrical art pieces I create and sell.

    B1B6D216-551D-4ECF-BA4C-C1058062DE50Entitled: “Sierra Gold” – by: rob kistner, 2017

     

    Serenity Totem

    ~

    couture fabric remnants
    all the way from Paris

    supple leather cuttings
    scraps secured in Denver

    links of golden chain
    my wife’s broken necklace

    small wood and metal findings
    recycled from the Goodwill

    the 7 found-pieces assembled
    to create a striking talisman

    a tasteful visual accent
    affixed to this Totem’s front

    hand painted oaken dowels
    make up the wall mount plate

    all these special treasures
    gathered lovingly

    cut and measured carefully
    then assembled with precision

    on rigid spiraled cylinders
    that once archived my drawings

    now crafted into an artwork
    hand-signed one-of-a-kind

    to be a beautiful addition
    to a most unique collection

    to be on display and sold
    at a coming juried art show

    ~ ~ ~

    rob kistner © 2019

    IMG_7132J

    Pictured is the assembly station in my Serenity Totems Studio

    This art piece pictured at the top here is called a Serenity Totem. I conceived this original artistic concept, and have been designing, creating, and selling these for years. They are made from all reclaimed upcycled materials, and found objects, mounted on coated, spiral bound, fiber board cylinders. On some I may also incorporate elements of trim discards of handmade Japanese Chiyogami Washi fiberstock. The cylinders intended purpose is archival storage of my furniture design blueprints and my digital artworks. Each Serenity Totem is a hand-signed, one-of-a-kind creation. I make them in four diameter sizes: 2″, 2.5″, 3″, and 4″. I have them hanging all around my studio where I also write. I create and sell these under the name Serenity Totems Studio.
     

  • Click here to see what’s hangin’ at dVerse:
    Come hang with me!

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  • I created the two Serenity Totems pictured below entirely from recycled discarded/discontinued materials found in remnant bins, cuttings barrels, thrift stores, flea markets, and garage sales. * 36″ tall.

    IMG_9275
    by: rob kistner, 2007 ~SOLD~

    IMG_9276
    by: rob kistner, 2009 ~SOLD~

  • 21 thoughts on “Serenity Totem”

      1. Thank you Kathy. I have thousands of remnants, discarded items, broken jewelry (some more of my wife’s), leather cutting scraps, found objects, strange and wonderful odds and ends – all ready to be upcycled into a piece of art.

      1. I created and trademarked the term Frank, so unless you encountered me at a juried art show somewhere around the, or shop my Etsy store, you wouldn’t know the term.

    1. Lovely. It’s interesting Rob — I would never call your Serentiy Totems “trash art” although they do use recycled materials as you’ve indicated. It just goes to show you, beautiful art can be created from many materials….not just from a brush dipped in paint and applied to an easel. My post is about trash art — much more serendipity and whimsical than what you do. These are beautiful!

      1. Thank you Lillian, but it is very important to the spirit of my pieces that I use recycled materials. I strive to make them beautiful. I loved the art piece you posted… 🙂

      1. Thank you Dwight. I enjoy upscaling discarded found objects. Eack item speaks to a different creative direction. When you bring the rught ones together the begin speaking one laguage which carries you to a complete artwork. I love my art and my writing. When I get blocked on ine I turn to the other. Keeps the creative juices flowing… 😉

    2. I love your Serenity Totems, Rob! Beautifully made and full of meaning. And they are all made from discarded objects? I like the phrase ‘hand-signed one-of-a-kind’. Your workshop sounds like a magical place.

      1. Thank you Kim! I appreciate your kind words… 🙂 Upcycling the discarded is such a pleasure and a priviledga, it uplifts my spirit. To turn the unwanted into something desired is very rewarding. I create my art and do my writing in this studio. It’s my creative oasis.

    3. I like the upcycling concept… we need to do more like that, the world is filling up otherwise… so happy to see the art you’ve been making.

      1. Thank you Bjorn! It is very uplifting creating my Serenity Totems using discarded materials. Keeps them out of landfills, or the carcinogenic fumes out of the atmosphere created by incinerating it. Plus, it creates a bit of joy in the world – for me from creating the art, and for my patrons in enjoying this one-of-a-kind artwork on their wall or shelf. It’s a win/win/win situation. 🙂

    4. These are really beautiful. What a lovely idea serenity totem is. The craftsmanship alone would make them desirable, but you have a true artist’s eye for composition. Lots of finesse. So glad you shared them. Thank you.

      1. Thank you Christine, such wonderful words, I am most appreciative. I love reclaiming materials. Such fabulous stuff gets discarded. The recycled materials themselves drive my designs. I approach them the same way I approach my contemporary furniture designs. Based on the materials I’ve decided to use, I seek out a visual balance in the “pieces palette” of colors, textures, patterns – then do a few rough sketches. When I like one, I finish the design in 3D on my computer, tweaking as I go. When the 3D perspective rendering is correct, I create a dimensioned materials cut sheet and assembly schematic. Then do precise cutting and meticulous assembly. Voila! …a Serenity Totem. 🙂

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