The welder has one main object: to penetrate the heart of the weld…and then to finish with a smooth surface. He doesn’t trouble about oxidation, the nature of the metal produced, or internal strains. He has welded to the heart; the weld is good looking, and that is sufficient to save his honour. — From A Practical Manual of Autogenous Welding, by R. Granjon and P. Rosemberg, translated by D. Richardson (London, 1920)

 

To unify a collection of diverse elements into a meaningful whole has always been the main dream behind collage, echoing the collages that we call dreams.

The Welder Re-welded (2012). Digital collage created & copyright © by Eric Edelman. All rights reserved.

All cultures have dreamed of unifying, of indissolubly bringing together, diverse and often incompatible materials: metals, gems, and woods. Dissatisfaction with the outcome of these attempts led, in part, to the formation of alchemy and its quest to create out of diverse materials the most perfectly unified matter: gold. During the time of alchemy, knights also sought gold, paralleling their search for transcendent spiritual truth.

Like the alchemist and the knight, the welder seeks to assemble and make whole: in the realm of metals he joins together that which had been scattered and even hostile to being combined. He aims to penetrate to the heart of the weld; to finish well; and to join as one metal, in an inseparable whole, that which was once separate. Those who care for him aid him in this by strengthening his knowledge, resolve, and confidence, penetrating his heart, and welding in their love.

(All artwork, descriptions, & other text (except for quotations) created & copyright © by Eric Edelman. All rights reserved.)

 

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{ 21 comments }

{ 21 comments… add one }

• alissa apel August 1, 2012 at 9:24 am edit

  My husband is a welder. http://redcrucible.blogspot.com/ Sculpture is his thing. Fun image.

  http://theapels.blogspot.com/2012/07/ww-awkward-family-photo-linky.html

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman August 1, 2012 at 11:09 am edit

    Welding is so cool! I learned how to weld many years ago but didn’t keep up with it (& I should have). Thanks for your comment and for the link to his site, Alissa; have a great WW!

    Reply
  • Eric Edelman August 1, 2012 at 7:23 pm edit

    Thanks again for the link to your husband’s website. You didn’t mention that he’s also a jeweler in addition to being a welder: his jewelry and sculpture are great!

    Reply
• zongrik August 1, 2012 at 9:25 am edit

  i like the artwork

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  • Eric Edelman August 1, 2012 at 11:10 am edit

    Thanks very much!

    Reply
• Wayne August 1, 2012 at 11:39 am edit

  A very nice piece.

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  • Eric Edelman August 1, 2012 at 1:20 pm edit

    Thanks, Wayne!

    Reply
• Tomas Karkalas August 1, 2012 at 2:49 pm edit

  Thank you for so convincing definition of the welding process. Such phrase as “welding in their love” forces to think, invites to ponder deeper. Either I continue in that tradition, or stumble on my preferences and loose thus everything?

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman August 1, 2012 at 6:52 pm edit

    Thanks very much for your thoughtful comment, Tomas. Yes, life is often that way: think and act, or be carried along by circumstances to something that one has not chosen.

    Reply
• stevebethere August 1, 2012 at 2:57 pm edit

  Brilliant as always Eric

  Thanks for linking up

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman August 1, 2012 at 6:46 pm edit

    Thanks so much for your visit and your kind comment, Steve!

    Reply
• Carol @ Always Thyme to Cook August 1, 2012 at 3:17 pm edit

  Love your work. Always so colorful and extremely imaginative.
  Have a great week!

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman August 1, 2012 at 6:44 pm edit

    Thanks very much, Carol!

    Reply
• Judy Haughton-James August 1, 2012 at 4:25 pm edit

  Very beautiful as always! Thanks for hosting.

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman August 1, 2012 at 6:43 pm edit

    Thank you very much, Judy!

    Reply
• aquariann August 1, 2012 at 8:17 pm edit

  Oooh, what groovy goggles she has!

  ♥ aquariann
  Featured Photo: Canna Lily

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman August 1, 2012 at 8:54 pm edit

    That’s my favorite part of the collage, actually…

    You might be tickled to hear the following: the girl and the goggles are from separate books on different subjects, published decades apart. Yet, when I pulled each scanned image into the collage, the goggles miraculously fit perfectly on her face without any alteration or size adjustment (other than clipping and re-positioning the strap of the goggles)! Isn’t that freaky?

    Thanks for your comment, Aquariann!

    Reply
• jessica @peekababy August 2, 2012 at 1:00 am edit

  So many pursuits can be compared to welding…collage, parenting, blogging–all combining diverse elements into a whole (hopefully , lovely!

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman August 2, 2012 at 1:54 pm edit

    Yes, Jessica, exactly so! Welding is an amazing metaphor for much in our lives. Thanks very much for your comment..

    Reply
• Paula J August 2, 2012 at 7:30 am edit

  Very cool! Always love the colors

  Some weeks I have trouble linking up to your WW. Many times your blog changes to another website with no way to get back here. Not sure if it’s just me or not, but that’s why I’m later linking up sometimes. But I always come back and try again

  Paula
  lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman August 2, 2012 at 1:53 pm edit

    Thanks for your comment, Paula!

    I’m sorry you’ve been having problems linking to my blog. When you have time, I’d appreciate it if you could e-mail me a description of the problems you’ve had. It may help me solve them. Thanks, and thanks also for coming back!

    Reply