stacey lee webber: god bless america sculptures made from pennies

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‘.

the handsaws resemble that of weapons

the craftsmen series:  hacksaw, 2012penniesapproximately L 18″ x H5″ x W1.5″

the hollowed-pennies are shaped by webber to form three-dimensional forms

the craftsmen series:  keyhole saw, 2012penniesapproximately L18″ x H5″ x W1.5″

detail of the metalwork

god 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.

the pennies are arranged in a repetitious manner, referencing the tedious factory work of philly family life

the coins are sculpted to look like draping fabric

full view of the american flag

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