Information About the Artist
Table of Contents:
4. Titles of Twisted Art already living with appreciative people
"The Plex Palace"
Michael Elliot McWhorter
Born a Pisces, at 12:15 a.m. Saturday, March 10, 1945 in Toledo, Ohio, USA.
I left Toledo for college at age 18 (Ohio University and San Francisco State) and continued to live elsewhere (West Coast, East Coast, and in between) for the next 15 years. I worked for an insurance company, a bank, taught school, remodeled houses, and in general, learned to be a handy human being with an open mind.
I returned to Toledo in 1977 at age 32 with the wild idea of starting a business building custom furniture using acrylic Plexiglass or Lucite.
I then spent the next 13 years designing and building dining room, living room, you-name-it room furniture and accessories. I built anything anyone wanted or needed – from dictionary stands to boat windshields.
Although my main material was always acrylic Plexiglass or Lucite, I also incorporated brass, copper, stainless steel, glass, wood, found objects, or whatever my clients wished, or the creation demanded.
Because I am a perfectionist, and was lucky in that it turned out that I had a talent and a flair for designing and building, I slowly became known as the man to see if you wanted or needed practical, precise, on-time, and gorgeous to boot, solutions for your designing and creative requirements.
Not only did I learn to produce to “tight specs,” but I also completed numerous “pie-in-the-sky” commissions. People started commenting that my work was so compellingly and delightfully original, that it was ART. Hey!!! I’m lovin’ it.
Then, after 13 years in business, I bought two almost abandoned buildings in the near to downtown area of Toledo, and proceeded to construct a super-efficient working shop with a dynamite showroom. During this period, I also became an unconfirmed bachelor.
The ambiance here screams imagination, mixed, of course, with organized caring. I even laid 6000 square feet of mixed hardwood flooring – to produce what I consider to be one of the top ten greatest floors in the Universe. Many agree.
Even though I did not quite realize it at the time, I was building my shop, showroom and studio as sculpture.
I now consider the home of Creative Plexiglass to be the 13th Wonder of the World. Do stop in. You’ll have a fascinating and fun-filled visit.
Or, if you’re a little short of time on your first visit, just fly over and check out the fifteen-foot tall acrylic sculpture on my forty-foot high building roof. He is the “Stealth Bird.” And while he gets “lit” every night, he still behaves.
Because I now finally had some elbow room, something started coming out of me that I didn’t even know was there… SCULPTURES. These creations, from my heart, head and hands, not only give you and others infinite pleasure, but continue to astound me as well.
Were it not for the metric tons of work and time I put into each piece, I might believe they come from somewhere out there or even from above.
Sooo! Skipping over a few million details for your benefit, we arrive at the present… eBay and a sculptural style I have named “Twisted Art.” Twisted Art consists of various formed and heat-twisted pieces of acrylic joined together to become a “what is it ?”, until I, or itself, names it.
Twisted Art is an on-going series of creations, with each piece being a truly remarkable original – with no duplication being possible – even by me. You, and only you, can be the thrilled, proud winner, and owner, of any given piece of Twisted Art. Because of this I hope to create an extended family of Twisted Art winners and lovers. We will be a very unique group. Even though I’m not sure exactly what this means, I’m sure we’ll all figure it out together, and perhaps meet in Paris for dinner in 2010 or sooner.
So remember, if you love one of my works that’s on auction now, be sure to be snag it and be the winner. Even though the next one will be just as awesome and eye-catching, it will be different.
From “Your Curly Tale” to “The Unknown Fish,” etc., etc., each one will be the “One and Only.”
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Although there are a few tricks involved creating Twisted Art that I will leave a mystery, there are others, common to all acrylic fabrication, that I would like to share with you.
First of all I start with 4x8 flat sheets of various thickness (1/8 thru 1 inch) , with various colors, plus, of course, clear. These sheets have a paper masking on both sides to protect them during machining. I also use tube and rod of various diameters, thickness, and colors.
From this basic stock I then saw up many different sized and shaped pieces.
These pieces are then scraped on all the edges to remove saw marks (sort of like shaving, without cream), sanded with three grades of sandpaper to remove the scraper marks, and then finally machine hand buffed with two grades of buffing rouge to arrive at brilliant edges having a lustrous polish. It is a long, laborious process, but well worth it. It produces a stunning edge glow which then releases the inner warmth of the material.
I next peel the protective paper and heat the various shapes to about 310ºF. Not super hot, but yet hot enough to burn you or the piece if you’re not paying attention.
When the piece I’m working on gets consistently hot enough through and through, and behaves like a warm piece of licorice, I start twisting, pumping, turning, wrestling, stomping, and bending the piece into the twisted shape I demand.
Then, after I have bent enough various pieces to tickle my fancy, I start connecting these pieces together with various fastening methods (usually stainless steel hardware or tie straps of the correct color) to create the Twisted Art sculpture that we all find fascinating and love. (Incidentally, I consider myself the Tie Strap King of the USA and beyond. Challengers, please step forward.)
I then spend what seems like forever taking digital photos, which I’m sending to you via cyberspace.
I also sign and title each "creature" either by hand engraving or indelible ink. They will be dated around shipping date for the winner, thus starting the sculpture's history and provenance.
As I create with a life span of infinity in mind, the sculpture will have a long relationship with you and yours.
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Q. What is the difference between Lucite, Plexiglas, Lexan, Polycast and acrylic?
A. Lucite, Polycast and Plexiglass are brand names of a type of plastic called acrylic. Lexan is also a brand name, but not an acrylic plastic.
Q. Will acrylic fade or craze in sunlight?
A. World War II stuff did somewhat, but the material has been so improved that I have not seen this happen in my 25 years of experience.
Q. Is the material expensive?
A. Not really. It hovers in cost with other materials such as glass, aluminum, stainless steel, etc.
Q. Does it scratch?
A. Sure, everything scratches, even glass. However, with minimum care, the quality of your acrylic Twisted Art sculpture will always remain.
Q. What is that minimum care, and how do I clean my new art piece?
A. Minimum care means just treat your Twisted Art with the respect that you give to all true beauty. For cleaning, I recommend a liquid plastic cleaner (having the viscosity of water) which can usually be purchased at hardware stores and always at plastic outlets.
I also sell 8 fl oz (237 ml) spray bottles for $7.95. This product cleans, shines, and protects your investment. It’s also great for TV and computer screens as it’s also an anti-static dust repellant.
To clean something, use two soft rags (cotton). I spray the rags and clean the work with a rag in each hand – so as not to leave fingerprints behind.
Q. Can I rebend a piece once it has cooled?
A. Sometimes, but I think it really depends on the mood of the piece of acrylic.
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“Miss Plain Jane, Almost!”
“Having A Ball in the Clouds”
“A Jazzy Dream”
“The Bud”
“The Whisk from Monroeville”
“I Belong”
“A Bobber Bird in a Mirror Tree”
“Loopy”
“Now and Then”
“Clearly, Mine”
“A Twisted Toothpick”
“The Plex Manor – Complete with a Worm Lure”
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Click picture to enlarge
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