Music Recycled into Art

Erika Iris Simmons is an American artist who transforms used cassette tapes into artworks. The creative process of recycling second hand objects into art is often referred to as up-cycling, an artistic style that is becoming popular with artists around the world.

Turning Cassette Tapes into Art

Using the ribbon from a cassette tape, Simmons creates distinctive portraits of musicians and singers. The ribbon can be cut, bent, glued and even ruffled to create different parts of the face. Working on a white background allows the artist to create areas of stark contrast, highlighting the features of the subject.

Above: A cassette tape fan art portrait of Bob Dylan. The artist has used a variety of techniques to create contrast between the organic facial details and the solid, geometric area of the suit.

Above: A photograph of singer and musician, Bob Marley, is immortalized in this musical art style. The creative use of the tape ribbon near the cassette is a signature style of this artist.

Above: Debbie Harry from Blondie. The use of four cassette tapes in this artwork creates a frame for the singer's face.

Musicians Immortalized in Music and Art

Simmons chooses famous musicians with highly recognizable faces. The visual impact of the art style compliments the strength of these characters, immortalizing their personalities with the very music that they created.

Above: Jimi Hendrix, legendary guitar player and singer. The artist has ruffled the cassette tape ribbon to create the musician's afro hair style.

Above: John Lennon, of the Beatles. The placement of the portrait and the cassette tape makes it seem as though Lennon is emerging from the cassette, much like a genie would emerge from a magic lamp.

Above: Michael Jackson's face is recognizable even when it is portrayed with only a few lines and shapes.

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Steampunk Styles Punk Modern Devices and Gadgets with Victorian Vogue

As a sub-genre of science fiction and fantasy, steampunk has clattered and ground its way into current technological designs. Incorporating the steam-driven and clockwork-powered inventions of the late 19th century into current gadgets and devices, artists and designers are using steampunk styles to give modern technological tools an old-world feel.

Steampunk Flash Drives/USB Drives

Also known as thumb drives, these nifty mass storage devices are pocket-sized and portable. Though the purpose of the device is to perform a modern function; the transportation of information, there’s no reason why the design of the USB shouldn’t look like it has teleported from an alternate reality. Victorian-era design elements that are used in steampunk designs include clockwork parts and metals such as copper or bronze.

Above: 2GB Copper Steampunk Flash Drive from qacreate. Steampunk mods are fast becoming a popular form of geek art.

Above: 16GB Mechanical Memory Key from Artype, using clockwork parts from six pocket watches. When in use, the drive glows green from below, giving the parts a sense of movement. 

Above: 16GB Copper and Patina Steampunk Flash Drive from cerriousdesign. The three gears move when the drive is connected.

Steampunk Computer Mouse

A computer mouse is typically made with modern materials such as plastic and rubber. By using Victorian-era elements of woods and metals, these designers have transformed this computer device to look like a 19th century antique.

Above: Steampunk Furnace Mouse by Unklian. The buttons are made from shaped copper, and a steam furnace effect is created with an orange LED inside the casing. 

Above: The Bug, Steampunk Computer Mouse created by Jake Hildebrandt, for his steampunk computer The Telecalculograph.

Above: Steampunk mouse from Modding Russia. Intricate designs on the metal and a rope casing for the cord create a truly authentic feel for this piece.

Steampunk iPods

Above: Steampunk iPod Case by Neal Brigdens, using copper, brass and oak wood. Created using jeweler’s techniques, this sturdy case is likely to outlive the iPod it holds.

Above: Doctor Grymm’s Eye-Pod Victrola from DrGrymmLaboratories.net. Fully functining iPod cased in a steampunk, horror hybrid casing. 

Steampunk Laptops and Computers

Above: Hewlett Packard ZT1000 laptop casing by Datamancer. The laptop is turned on and off with an antique clock-winding key and boasts clawed feet and antique-styled copper keyboard and mouse.

Above: Dell 1907FP Flat Panel Monitor and keyboard steampunk mod by The Steampunk Workshop. The screen uses chime levers from a grandfather clock as screen controls.

Above: The Nagy Magical-Movable-Type-Pixello-Dynamotronic Computational Engine by Datamancer. This elaborate design uses a typewriter, clock and a carved wooden stand complete with lamps to create steampunk style.

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Steampunk Guitars Harmonize Victorian Science and Modern Music

Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction and fantasy that combines the steam-powered gadgets and inventions of the Victorian era with science fiction concepts such as time travel and space travel.

Modern electric guitars are now undergoing a renaissance in design; incorporating the style of Victorian-era gadgets and gizmos.

History of the Electric Guitar

The electric guitar was first designed and produced in the 1930s by Adolph Rickenbacker. Since then, the stringed instrument has gained popularity for the variety of effects that it can produce. It has become a staple in the music recording industry and has gained popularity as a hobby for music enthusiasts. Electric guitars generally have a solid-bodied design, unlike acoustic and classical guitars which rely on a hollow body to create a resonant sound.

An early electric guitar design, the Slingerland Songster, 1939

Creating Steampunk Guitars

Because the shape of an electric guitar’s body doesn’t affect the sound of the guitar, electric guitar bodies can be built in whatever shape the musician wishes it to be. Additions to the body for decoration also don’t affect the sound of the instrument, as long as this decor doesn’t inhibit the musician’s movements. Steampunk designs use a lot of copper, brass, machine parts, glass tubes, dials and switches. These design elements can be worked into the guitar to create a symbiotic relationship between the modern electric guitar and Victorian inventions. The result is a modern instrument with a classic late 19th century feel to it.

This guitar is called The Villainizer, by Thunder Eagle. It used to be a Rhoads Jackson V guitar. This steampunk styled guitar, complete with plasma balls, looks like has teleported from an alternate reality. The finishing touches of rust, scratches and welding all create an interesting, realistic artwork.

Another steampunk guitar, The Nautilus, by guitar transformer Thunder Eagle. This guitar is a converted Dean ML. The design was inspired by 20,000 Leagues under the Sea. The orb glows bright blue.

This steampunk guitar is called Organum Insolitus, built by Mark Dalzell.  This guitar has a television, and onboard phaser and an amplifier. The wooden pickup is a humbucker covered in mahogany veneer and brass wire.

Norwescan 32 by Molly Friedrich. This bass guitar takes the phrase heavy metal literally, with lots of copper and brass-styled parts. The blue corrosion effect gives the guiatr an authentic feel.

This steampunk guitar by Dennis Jones was created out of an old guitar found in a second hand shop. Jones' creation includes a fur-lined flux capacitor, dog tags and an antenna.

Steampunk art is based on a few basic principles, but there is no definitive style. Elements such as clockwork, steam power and magic all find their way into steampunk designs, and now it seems the style has found its way into modern music.


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Vinyl Records Find a Second Life as Art

For decades, vinyl records were a way for music recording artists to share their music with the world. When cassette tapes and then CDs and MP3 players were invented, vinyl records were shelved. Now, artists are giving vinyl records a second life as art pieces.

Clocks

With their circular shape and central hole, vinyl records can easily be converted into clocks. To add a bit of flair, shapes can be cut into the record or it can be painted with an attractive design.


Vinyl Records Recycled as Bowls

Vinyl records become pliable when heated, which means that they can molded into a variety of shapes. The most common shape is a serving bowl.

Vinyl Records become Kinetic Sculptures
South African artist William Kentridge created this kinetic sculpture, Phenakistascope, in 2000. When the handle is turned, the two vinyl records spin in opposite directions, created an optical illusion of animation.

Utilitarian Upcycled Records

Old LPs as Musical Decor
Shaped records create colorful, textured wall decorations; perfect interior decor for the music lover’s home.

Recycled Records become Wearable Music

The glossy black color of vinyl records creates an eye-catching piece of jewelry. Records can also be used as jewelry stands for earrings.


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