Roofing Nail Ring
Collection: Houston Airport System (HAS)
2010
Sterling silver, found nails
Location:
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
7800 Airport Blvd
Houston, TX 77061
About the Artwork:
Roofing Nail Ring (2010)
by Heidi Gerstacker
Heidi Gerstacker is a German-born and Houston-based artist known for her jewelry using various metals. This piece is a ring mostly made with sterling silver, which is an alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals; because silver is prone to tarnishing, or corrosion that darkens the surface, other metals can increase resistance, hardness, and strength. As well, silver is a precious metal and has been used as currency throughout human history. However, at the head of the ring are seven found roofing nails, probably made of steel. Roofing nails are special in that they are made to resist corrosion and with wide, flat heads to hold down shingles. Consider the juxtaposition, or when opposing things are seen together, of an average nail and a ring of sterling silver, the clash of precious versus common and the useful versus the decorative. Also, the ring is set into a small container of dirt like a ring box, as though it can be found on the ground. Why do you think the artist plays with the ideas of valuable and invaluable?
Anillo de Clavo para Techos (2010)
por Heidi Gerstacker
Roofing Nail Ring (2010)
by Heidi Gerstacker
Heidi Gerstacker is a German-born and Houston-based artist known for her jewelry using various metals. This piece is a ring mostly made with sterling silver, which is an alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals; because silver is prone to tarnishing, or corrosion that darkens the surface, other metals can increase resistance, hardness, and strength. As well, silver is a precious metal and has been used as currency throughout human history. However, at the head of the ring are seven found roofing nails, probably made of steel. Roofing nails are special in that they are made to resist corrosion and with wide, flat heads to hold down shingles. Consider the juxtaposition, or when opposing things are seen together, of an average nail and a ring of sterling silver, the clash of precious versus common and the useful versus the decorative. Also, the ring is set into a small container of dirt like a ring box, as though it can be found on the ground. Why do you think the artist plays with the ideas of valuable and invaluable?
Anillo de Clavo para Techos (2010)
por Heidi Gerstacker
Heidi Gerstacker es una artista alemana residente en Houston, conocida por sus joyas hechas con diversos metales. Esta obra es un anillo elaborado principalmente con plata de ley, una aleación de 92,5 % de plata y 7,5 % de otros metales. Dado que la plata es propensa al deslustre, o corrosión que oscurece la superficie, otros metales pueden aumentar su resistencia, dureza, y resistencia. Además, la plata es un metal precioso y se ha utilizado como moneda a lo largo de la historia. Sin embargo, en la cabeza del anillo se encontraron siete clavos para techos, probablemente de acero. Los clavos para techos son especiales porque están hechos para resistir la corrosión y tienen cabezas anchas y planas para sujetar las tejas. Considere la yuxtaposición, o cuando se ven elementos opuestos juntos, de un clavo promedio y un anillo de plata esterlina, el contraste entre lo precioso y lo común, y lo útil y lo decorativo. Además, el anillo está colocado en un pequeño recipiente de tierra, similar a una caja de anillos, como si se pudiera encontrar en el suelo. ¿Por qué cree que el artista juega con las ideas de lo valioso y lo invaluable?