LEW'S ARTWORKS
Sponsored by: Memphis Bargain Bicycles

In the 1970's, we visited an Arts & Crafts Show set up in a shopping mall. One booth had art made of real junk. "I can do that", I said.  After we went home I started making them. The first one, made in 1978, was the The Space Car

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you can make it out, the "Man-In-The-Moon in the upper right is playing saxophone, something I did for 40 years.

 

 

 

Futuristic

Commuter Train

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Space Plane

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                   The Space Station (Yes, a bicycle crank) 

 

 

 

 

                              

 

The Northbound Train is quite a story. It runs on the "IMA 100" Line Inc. IMA100 being a management model which stands for[I]nformation[M]anager[A]ction[I]nput[O]utput/[O]bjective

As with the IMA100 model the train has its roots based on MODELS of business management as put together by Harold Hook, CEO of American General. It was taught as a seminar when I worked there (around 1980). 

The idea was to symbolize as many "models" as possible on The Train.  Here are some I remember:

Attitude Stair Steps (Attitude IS Everything) 

Field of Diamonds (A man searched the world over, came home after 20 years, found them in his own backyard.) 

Bulls-Eye Planning (Some managers shoot first then paint the target around their "bulls-eye plan".)

Slot Machine Management (Change, change, change with no insight as to actual & ultimate results of the changes.)

The Gun (Don't expect to be praised for solving a problem YOU created.)

Compensation = Contribution

EFFECTIVE: Doing Right Things (gets results). EFFICIENT: Doing Things Right (An EFFICIENT run that was blocked instead of an EFFECTIVE pass winning the ball game.)

In creating this page my intent was, hopefully, to inspire.           I'm not an artist in the usual sense of the word. Yet I made art works out of what would have been landfill. All pieces were polished or painted, none were altered from their original form.  

I've never sold any, never tried. To me, they are priceless reminders of having done something I had not thought myself capable of doing. I did give some away. You're seeing photos of photos, the quality & color obviously poor. Wanted to give you at least some idea of others I did:

The Plane for my Daughter and The Space Traveler for my Son

 

The Space Probe to Gerry Anderson, Executive Secretary. Somehow it "spoke" to her, she teared up when I gave it to her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr Bumbles, a parting gift to Sr.                           Senior Underwriter Bill Fine who lived up                                               to his name as a fine underwriter                                                 but always joked about himself as being Mr. Bumbles.

Another top-notch Sr. Underwriter, John Payne, received one of my artworks as well but I don't have a photo nor do I remember the name I gave it.

This clown cut-out hangs on my wall,a reminder about taking things too seriously. Hope it works for you.

One of my first & best customers, Rick                                                   Ellis, called my bicycles precision hand-                                                   rebuilt rideable works of art. Those who                                         followed know why. Now you do, too!

Oh, I almost forgot.                                                                                    The NORTHBOUND TRAIN is a model                                                 itself! [Be sure you are in line with the                                              direction in which the "train" you are on                                                     (like the Company you work for, or your                                                 life for that matter) is going in the direction                                                 you want to go or need to be going. If not,                                                     get off the NORTHBOUND TRAIN and                                                        get on a SOUTHBOUND TRAIN.]                                                             As a manager, is everyone on the NORTHBOUND TRAIN?

Here's one more: USS FLYING FISH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My ARTWORKS page serves a dual purpose because it ties in to the quality workmanship that goes into my bikes. The notice of this page was sent to over 200 contacts. What if it was then re-sent to all their contacts, then again? And shown to all the kids along the way?  Twenty years from now we could become known worldwide for our "Artiste de Junk" & we'd be selling our landfill while having artists employed finding new ways to make art out of disposable junk. Universities might set up a department with a degree "Bachelor of Creative Junk Art Science". And the best part is that a new generation of inventions could be inspired. 
One of  Harold Hooks' "Models"  was called DIMINISHED HORIZONS: Every choice we make diminishes future choice alternatives. A good example is someone who chooses not to go to college. I believe my artwork speaks to EXPANDED HORIZONS. 
<E-MAIL COMMENTS>