What We See in the Sky

Keith E. Lo Bue, What We See in the Sky, 1997, bone-handled fork, pocket watch case, mason jar holder, nails, glass marble, opals, engraving, paper, text, etched and oxidized copper, bead, leather, brass and soil, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1999.65
Copied Keith E. Lo Bue, What We See in the Sky, 1997, bone-handled fork, pocket watch case, mason jar holder, nails, glass marble, opals, engraving, paper, text, etched and oxidized copper, bead, leather, brass and soil, 17 x 3 1⁄4 x 1 1⁄2 in. (43.2 x 8.3 x 3.8 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1999.65

Artwork Details

Title
What We See in the Sky
Artist
Date
1997
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
17 x 3 1⁄4 x 1 1⁄2 in. (43.2 x 8.3 x 3.8 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the artist
Mediums
Mediums Description
bone-handled fork, pocket watch case, mason jar holder, nails, glass marble, opals, engraving, paper, text, etched and oxidized copper, bead, leather, brass and soil
Classifications
Keywords
  • Figure — fragment — face
Object Number
1999.65
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1999.65

Artwork Description

What We See in the Sky is one of Keith Lo Bue's many neckpieces constructed of found objects. He often experiments with translucency, and here a clear marble distorts the face of a man behind it, whose eyes are illuminated with eerie, blue opal chips. Lo Bue's unusual combination of worn objects, including a bone-handled fork and pocket watch case, create a haunting, dreamlike feel. The otherworldly title is purposely cryptic and adds to the mystery of the necklace (Toni Greenbaum, "Romancing the Bone," Metalsmith, Spring 1999).