All You Need Is Love....

And A Touch Of Flower Power...

Nostalgia...

Sometimes it's better to look at something from afar rather than to experience it firsthand.  For a lot of people, this is probably holds true for the 60's.  It would be the case with those who experienced and/or participated in the most negative and destructive aspects of the decade, such as drug abuse, violent riots, and a host of other illicit and unpeaceful actions and behaviors which ironically, were often conducted in the name of peace during those tumultuous times.  But hindsight is clear sight, and sorting the wheat from the chaff, we can sift and lift out those many positive and beautiful things that wouldn't be a part of our collective experience, had that decade not happened.  

Mixed Media Monday has chosen blues and greens as this week's theme, and TMTA wants to see some "flower power".  I've combined these two challenges in All You Need Is Love, even employing that straight-out-of-the-60's piece of equipment:  The spin and splash.  

An Obscure Tidbit of 60's Trivia...

For those of you who don't know, a spin and splash is a device which holds paper, has a splash screen, and rotates.  While the device holds your paper and spins, you apply paint, some of which makes it's way onto the paper.  The rest is caught by a removable and cleanable splash screen, instead of spraying onto your face and your clothes.  You probably do know about this, but did you also know that this device pioneered in the '60's?

Over the years, this device has been marketed and sold under a variety of names, but if you happened to be at the Arizona State Fair in the '60s, or at any of the many other places where the concept was previewed, you might remember encountering a carny with a microphone hawking the chance to make your own psychedelic artwork.  For a dollar you could grab all the squeeze bottles your heart desired and participate in one of history's first make-and-takes.  All you had to do was squirt the paint within the time allotted for the spin.  A piece of paper was placed on a rotating wooden plank. At the flip of a switch, gears turned and tons of American kids, teens, preteens, hippies and wanna-bees, got a shot at the granddaddy version of the same mechanism you can buy at toy stores today.  The initial devices were pricy, but in addition to the look-alikes that hippies made from scrap wood and lawnmower parts in their garages, some of these things went home from the fair with those who were willing to shell out the cash.  They were heavy.  Not only in the '60s sense of the word, but in actual weight.  The first spin and splashes were made of wood and cast iron gears and bolts, not today's plastic.  Most of them were sans splash screen, so if you had an inventive mind and you stood in just the right place, you might get a psychedelic t-shirt painted from the spillage that was flung through the air, as well as what was on your paper.

Back To The Future....

Now that you know enough to dazzle your friends with this useless piece of trivia, I'm off to rest after what has been an especially trying day.  Here's what I have planned for tonight:

Feet up, a cold drink and a good book in hand

Possibly an hour or so of mind-numbing television

Some good old fashioned cutting-out with scissors to free the brain and hone the drawing skills

A game or two of something or other with my kids, if they're up for playing, and

Sleep!  Precious, restorative sleep!

Have a great day, Everyone!

Comments

[johanna]

wonderful card, great colors!! and i esp. love your remarks... VERRRRY interesting! i remember at school we made batik t-shirts, their look was like made with spin&slash...
and you are right, nostalgia easily glorifies... (and woodstock was a totally rainy affair;))

[Sandy]

Wow this is absolutely fabulous.
The Flower power style is great.

[Limar]

I remember the spin-and-splash thingy from my childhood :) Used to love it. Your piece is great, love it!

[Diane]

It's a lovely piece, Barbara! Diane

[Terri@Pringle Hill]

I remember that art spinner AND the word, "heavy"! Great post with a ton of memories attached. Hope you had a very relaxing evening! Hugs, Terri

[jean]

a lovely piece of art and a wonderful post!

[Rhonda]

This is great! I remember the spin and splash thing, I'm sure I did it at least once at our annual fair. Thanks for the trivia. Cheers!

[Nancy Maxwell James]

love the beautiful greens and that stamped image! gorgeous piece Barbara!

[Martina]

Wow - this is very impressive.
Stunning work.

[Carol]

Love the spin and splash background and the colors you choose. Fabulous artwork.

[lorraine]

great art and like the spin and splash tale..I remember in the 1970s when visiting a summer fair doing a spin and splash on an old record player that had been set up..I treasured that pic for years..thanks for visiting my blog today

[Gail]

Wonderful ATC, and love the history of the spin art....another favorite of mine was the spirograph! Thanks so much for visiting my blog and for your kind words. Hope you had a wonderful evening and got the rest you were looking for!

[Rosie]

I love this! The coliurs and imagery are glorious! Thatsaid, I'd never heard of spin n splash till I saw some of Hermine's artwork and asked her about it!! Thanks for enlightening me! xoxo

Oh and the nails are a blessing and a curse - they're really tough, but brittle too. They snap when you least expect it!!

[Anja]

Creative and unique piece of art.Love the letters and all the doodling.
Hugs Anja

[Nancy]

This is great Barbara! What a blast from the past that Spin and Splash is!
Do you always do the TMTA challenge each week? I try to each week and always looks forward to ATC Mondays.

[Christen]

Barbara- I just love this peace, very groovy! Thanks for sharing! Christen

[Lynn Stevens]

I remember the spin and splash, but mine never came out this good!!!

[Marie]

Thanks for the nostalgia and for your beautiful blue and green picture which is so thoughtful and skilfully crafted.

[Sid]

Hi love your s&s card and also the info !

[Anne (cornucopia)]

This is fantastic!

[el papou]

bonjour,
J'aime beaucoup votre MonaLisa!
je peu la présenter sur mon blog?
(blog amateur)
http://mona-est-toujours-dans-le-show-bises.over-blog.com/
merci d'avance
:-))

hello,
I love your MonaLisa!
I just present it on my blog?
(blog amateur)
http://mona-est-toujours-dans-le-show-bises.over-blog.com/
thank you in advance
:-))