the craftsmen series:  backsaw, 2012penniesapproximately L14″ x H5″ x W1.5″all photos by joseph leroux

 

 

stacey lee webber saves up her pennies, but not in her bank. instead, the american artist uses the copper one cent pieces as the medium for her sculptural ‘god bless america’ and ‘the craftsmen series’ (of which designboom published the earlier works of the collection here).

the latest of ‘the craftsman series’ – in which webbe also uses dimes and quarters to form tools – takes a bit more of an aggressive approach, with a focus on creating only saws from hollow-fabricated pennies. in their context, the hand tools resemble that of weapons and stand as a ‘pointed description of the continued decreasing value of hand labor in the united states‘.

 

stacey lee webber, god bless americathe handsaws resemble that of weapons

 

 

stacey lee webber, god bless americathe craftsmen series:  hacksaw, 2012penniesapproximately L 18″ x H5″ x W1.5″

 

 

stacey lee webber, god bless americathe hollowed-pennies are shaped by webber to form three-dimensional forms

 

 

stacey lee webber, god bless americathe craftsmen series:  keyhole saw, 2012penniesapproximately L18″ x H5″ x W1.5″

 

 

 

stacey lee webber, god bless americadetail of the metalwork

 

 

stacey lee webber, god bless americagod bless america: american flags, 2011brass, pennies, steelL30″ x H18″ x W18″

 

the ‘god bless america’ series takes a more celebratory approach, and has been developed over the past two years since the artist’s move from the midwest to philadelphia. including, ribbons, flags and sconces, the works are an attempt to honor the families and row-homes of the blue collar workers which make-up her new hometown of philly. her continued penny-work and the arrangement of the money pieces are a reference to the repetitious factory work which surrounds family life in her city.

 

stacey lee webber, god bless americathe pennies are arranged in a repetitious manner, referencing the tedious factory work of philly family life

 

 

stacey lee webber, god bless americathe coins are sculpted to look like draping fabric

 

 

stacey lee webber, god bless americafull view of the american flag

 

stacey lee webber, god bless americagod bless america: ribbon, 2011penniesL12″ x H24″ x W10″photo by joseph leroux