telephic red : october ‘19
Telephic Red is a blend of iron oxides derived from alchemically transmuted gun metal, 4140 SAE chromoly steel from a Remington rifle and a Smith & Wesson revolver. The weapons were dissolved in sulfuric acid to produce iron sulfate, green vitriol, that was then calcined into iron oxide. This was then blended with red ochre obtained from a collection of strange red boulders in south eastern North Carolina. The deep history of these rocks has been lost to time, and the boulders have since been destroyed in an agricultural development operation, with only fragments remaining.
The name is derived from the Greek character Telephus, whose wound was healed with the rust of the spear that inflicted it.
contributor : thomas little
Thomas Little is an amateur ink historian who explores mystic and scientific concepts through the lens of ink and our relationship to mark making. He gathers threads from alchemical imagery, chemical phenomena, and mystic observations to incorporate them into a holistic synthesis theory of art-science-magic. The natural world informs his work with ink, not only the materials used, but the relationships expressed between plant, animal, and elements.
See his work on instagram at @a.rural.pen
Photo courtesy of Thomas Little
Photo from the Lead to Life website www.leadtolife.org
22% donation recipient : Lead to Life
Lead to Life transforms weapons into shovels for tree planting ceremonies at sites that have been impacted by violence or carry spiritual significance across Atlanta (occupied lands of the Cherokee and Creek people) and Oakland (occupied lands of the Ohlone people.) Inspired by Mexican artist Pedro Reyes and an ancient lineage of Swords to Plowshares creators, they choose to locate their alchemy and cultural healing work in the US (occupied Turtle Island). Their disarmament process collects both weapons donated from the public and weapons housed in police departments that have been rendered dormant and disposable post-investigation. In partnership with local artists and metal-smiths, the weapons are transformed into shovels and tools.The shovels are then used in ceremonial plantings of culturally significant sacred tree species. These ceremonies offer a physically regenerative space for communities to memorialize loved ones, and lands, lost to violence.
Lead To Life is led by black and queer artists, including bronte velez, Jazmín Calderón Torres, Stormy Saint-Val, and Liz Kennedy. The collective uses participatory ceremony, prayer, dream work and other processes to ‘decompose’ white supremacy and the nightmares of colonization. To donate directly to Lead to Life, please go to www.leadtolife.org.