Phil Lange, artist

One of the things I liked as a child was “touching” Art, when it was O.K. I also really enjoyed my “Lincoln Logs” & “Erector Set”. HANDS ON & HAVING FUN was the only way to go for me so that is the main thought behind much of my art.

I have re-visited many household items, and improved upon them. The coat hook for example: many coat hooks are sharp in appearance, some are quite elaborate-- but you can tell that they are coat hooks. Mine have the appearance of a sculpture, such as an Ant made of 3 stones held together with steel rod. The improvement is not only that the item is “hidden”- but also eliminates that “Hook Look”
from a pointed hook, mine is a round smooth stone.

Another example would be my “APH” or Alterable Pot Hanger. This is an improvement on the status quo of the hanging potted plant.
My design allows the use of an 8” clay pot and its tray (other sizes can be made). The pot then hangs from several steel or steel & stone
“links” allowing you to alter it’s appearance- given the 16 piece set , there are more than 30 ways to alter this pot hanger. It is also designed to hold at least 150 lbs.

My Kinetic Sculptures are usually for the garden, outside where there is some wind. My “Wind Fish” are designed to mimic the swimming motion of a fish. Made of steel, oxidized with an acrylic finish and a stone for an eye- they are cante-levered and balanced, and the tail fin facilitates the swimming motion. Installed in a multiple fish "school", they all swim in the same direction-- into the wind. This particular type of sculpture has a very pleasant effect, it enhances your garden giving it an underwater appearance.

Almost anybody can make a Gate. Gate’s are pretty simplistic, (some of the expensive ones resemble bars in a jail). I feel gate’s should depict aquatic scene’s, have a theme, be kinetic…be fun.

Nowadays, many items are made just to serve a function, too much plastic is used and they do not have an artistic flair. When America first started inventing & producing products, they were made with flair, strong and purposeful. I desire to bring back those days.

-- Phil Lange
phil@philsmetalworks.com