Gayle Westrate

Entropy - Rustways Gayle Westrate

Mixed media -- butane torch, cold-bluing acids & phosphate, watercolor pigments on steel plate 12" x 16" $2400

Humans, especially artists, are attracted to patterns; we seek and reward them in a universe of varying degrees of disorder or randomness called entropy. The metal plates I’m using instead of canvas or paper were mined, fabricated, discarded and are gradually devolving to iron oxide. I see patterns in this encroaching rust, and tease them out in sinuous shapes trailing off into glowing wisps.

Drawn with cold bluing applied in calligraphic strokes, hot torching, and water color pencil, on a pale galvanized 12 oz. steel plate (part of whose zinc coating I removed using vinegar and abrasion controlled by the sweep of my arm, the urging of my fingers), and mounted on the dark 7 lb. base plate of hot-rolled steel whose accidental rust patterns inspired my hand’s choices. 75 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 78.