TRANSFORMING THE THRONE

As every homeowner knows, houses have to be maintained.  Sometimes maintenance can wait, sometimes it can’t.

A minor job yes, but many moons ago it just so happened that I had to change a toilet seat.  I had never done it before so I undertook some research on the net and found a woman's "how to" site. The article mentioned that it was very important to oil attaching screws before removing the old seat to avoid damaging the toilet. 

I followed directions to a "T" and did a fine replacement job.  I was so darn proud of myself, I felt as though I had graduated from Home Improvement University.  I charged out of the bathroom and yelled to my son who was deeply engrossed in a television program, "I did it!  I did it!"  He looked at me as though I had lost a screw, which of course I hadn’t because they had been thoroughly oiled.

I started to reflect on the damaged white plastic seat I held in my hands and was suddenly struck by its similarity to that of an oval frame.  I mumbled out loud, “Hey, this would make a really great frame!” and once again my son gave me that mom, you just might have a screw loose look.

Flushed

To celebrate my accomplishment, I decided to paint a self portrait and to use the seat as an oval frame.  I cut a piece of canvas into the appropriate shape and proceeded to paint my satisfied face.  I adhered it to the toilet seat from behind and added a blue #1 ribbon, also painted on canvas, which I glued to the front of the seat.

The process was incredibly satisfying so I decided to work with another seat.  I envisioned creating a series of toilet seat inspired works but eventually only made three, one of which has since been destroyed because as usual, my mind became preoccupied with other ideas.  

For my second work, I invested in a brand new oak toilet seat (a real heavy bugger). My idea was to create my version of King Tut and to delve into three dimensional territory.

I painted designs on the seat in gold and royal blue, created a self-hardening clay face and cobra, which I painted and attached to the seat. I also applied old jewellery bits and other discarded knickknacks to pull it all together.  The end result was a rather unusual homage to King Tut.
 

The Throne