Pewter Transmutation by Raphael Volkmer

Transmutation implies transformation of state. Artist Raphael Volkmer presents the crossover from an artistic performance to an aesthetic production with “Pewter Transmutation.” Starting with a pot of molten pewter, Volkmer pours the silvery liquid into a tube of backing paper to form the three legs of his stool-in-making, and then joins the mirrored pools on the surface of the seat with a tri-star. The dance is intriguing, each movement choreographed and practiced with the precision of a master alchemist. Out of the mold emerges a custom piece of beautifully handcrafted oak and charismatic, twisted legs of pewter that bear the imperfections and dimples of the low-cost casting method. The stool is not just the end result of a transmutation, but represents an alteration of the concept of production. Public manufacturing, aided by the reusable tools and low melting point of pewter, becomes the essence of the piece and puts forth the possibility of art made unique through the simple process of its creation.