Blue Jeans and Buttons

Torn and faded blue jeans have been given a new lease on life by Judith Tinkl. To me these are no longer just slices of ripped denim, destined for the used clothing recycling bin, but have been turned in to lovely landscapes and architectural drawings, even maps.

Judith Tinkl's quilts and textile creations are not meant to keep you warm at night, although they could. They are meant to be displayed on the wall, and I think they are beautiful.

This one is called Oma, Opa, Obi and was stitched in 2011.

Post scheduled while I'm away this week.

Peculiar? Possibly

Not only is the outside of Viktor Tinkl's property fascinating... inside his "showroom" is just as quirky and different and rather morbid too. Lots of words can be used to describe his art.... peculiar, eccentric, unconventional, strange, bizarre.... they all fit.

Turn the wheel on the left on this device and the playing card skeletons come to life. Wish I had made a video of this.

Judith Tinkl is an accomplished quilt maker and textile artist and many of her works are on display along with her husband's weird and wonderful creations. Look closely at these pieces... what are they made of?

 A new use for surplus office supplies?

More photos to come. Post scheduled while I'm away this week.

Recyling Done Here

It's a wonderland of concrete, cement, recycling, metal, glass, whatever! Each outbuilding or shed is decorated with found objects, recycled objects, pieces of the artist's mind. A feast for the eyes.

The artist even keeps his own private army to guard all his creations. Each face is different. They march through the fields carrying their wooden rifles ready all day, all night, whatever the weather throws at them, but never getting anywhere.

More pictures to come! Post scheduled while I'm away this week.

Concrete Art

Just a few miles to the north of here is a little one room school house that provided education for lots of country students many years ago.
The school house eventually became redundant and artist Viktor Tinkl purchased it in 1965. And then the concrete moved in.
These photos were taken in better weather, all would be covered in snow right now.

 

I visit this place every time there's an Open House, it's fascinating to see what new creations have appeared in the grounds, or on the walls and roof of the old school house.
More pictures to come.

Fantasyland

Continuing from the previous two posts, Tinkl's property is a feast for the eyes and the imagination. There's no place like it. Wherever you look, there's more to see.
Rainwater is channelled from his roof to circular concrete tanks. This one looks like it's been taken over by baby Triffids.... or what I imagine baby Triffids to look like.

And these naughty cats... get a room! I love the expressions on their faces.

 

This elegant bird's wings are made of glass dessert plates.

The creations of a fertile mind. If there's a wall or a shed or a roof available, it gets decorated. Click on the images to enlarge the naughty bits er... um... the details.

 Nothing goes to waste.... perhaps this is a portrait of the artist in the bath.

Send for the Army!

Continuing from my previous post, in another corner of his back yard, Viktor Tinkl has created his personal military force.

They march over the hill in two rows, wearing their steel helmets and their wooden rifles by their sides, determined looks on their faces, battle ready. Or are they in a purely defensive role? Each one is different. They have concrete faces and corrugated steel bodies.

But Tinkl's army never gets further than the crest of the hill. I'm sure they'd love to march down the slope, through the gate and on down the country road, an unstoppable invasion.

But there they stay, protecting their creator until the harsh Canadian winter weather will eventually reduce them to their basic components of wood, steel and concrete.

Concrete Evidence

The Aliens have landed.

They've been here for a while.

 

It's Artist's Studio Tour time in Ontario. And the first stop on my Uxbridge area tour every year has to be Viktor Tinkl's converted school house. It's not your everyday artist's studio. The tour brochure says "In 1965 Tinkl moved in and the concrete came out. Now the property is a fantasy of aqua-ducts and riots of figures."  

It certainly is!

It was an overcast dull morning when I visited, and many of my photos could be better, but you can see more pictures of his work taken on a sunnier day here.

 

Just wandering through his property takes me to another world. A world he has created for his own amusement. An extraordinary world of fantasy and imagination and horror and dedication and creativity and just plain weirdness.

 The artist in his garden, contemplating his next concrete creation. There are paths through the foliage and seats everywhere. Unique indeed. More pictures soon.