And now for something completely different. This is a small experimental piece utilizing a wide variety of different materials. The pretty opalescent material is of my own invention – a unique form of a very common material.

I discovered that if a compact disc is subjected to a torch or other flame on the label side the iridescent foil deforms in ways that make the CD look like an opal. Depending on what kind of CD is used, the look and color is different. CD-Rs are very nice when treated in this manner. DVD-Rs are absolutely spectacular when torched – they look like the best fire opals.

In this little experiment I combined some torched CD panels with some flame-modified, iridescent aluminum fragments, some hammer-flattened copper pot cleaner (the net-like stuff), some brass mesh (similarly flattened and burnished) with a little pastel articulation here and there. All this is glued onto a backing of cream-colored illustration board.