Biography

After working in aerospace for 30 years, I was fortunate enough to retire early and begin writing the next chapter in my life, which included moving to Reno in 2018. Creating art has been a dream for decades. I used to say I had the soul of an artist, just not the hands. Art, in some way, is part of the retirement plan (there is a distant vision of a welding visor and metal art!). Since moving to Reno, my husband and I have gotten involved with the Burning Man art scene, volunteering with a few artists and venturing to the playa in 2019 (my third time, my husband’s first). Working with artists, seeing their vision become reality began a path. On that path, making my own art for the playa. Next step, small handmade tree. Here we go; walk with me!

Building a Forest

Lorraine’s Tree: Liquidi-tree

Liquidi-tree, a whimsical creation with the message that art can be fun, simple, made from everyday items, and anyone / everyone is an artist. My tree is an exercise in up- / re-cycling and reuse. I am creating the tree, as much as possible, with used, left over, or reclaimed items. The name reflects the use of multiple upcycled elements from various drinkable liquids, including numerous bottles of wine! The concept originated from an idea of creating art from pieces of plastic too small to recycle (think plastic bottle caps – that idea is still incubating). From that beginning came the notion of making flowers out of the plastic bottles. A tree with beautiful flowers on the branches. OK. Looking around for material for the trunk, I spied left over chicken wire from a house stucco repair. Flowers, check; trunk, check. Now for bark . . . how about wine bottle foils? Check. And flattened wine foil tops for a few leaves to flutter in the breeze. Check.

So that’s it, left over chicken wire forms the shape. Wine foils stapled together are woven through the chicken wire to create the trunk. Plastic bottles are cut midway down, sliced to separate petals, and each petal bent backward to form the flower. Acrylic paint colors the flowers (the only thing so far that is new for the project). Still experimenting with ideas for the branch covering and lights. Will probably be a combination of leftover lights from various of my husband’s projects.

It’s a table-top tree, about 30 inches high and 20 inches across.