MY little ponies

[Timothy Jay Nelson]

As an artist, I try to always maintain the element of fun that drew me to metalwork and Steampunk metalwork specifically. In that spirit I began work on a series of Pop Art sculptures centering around an iconic image from my childhood. As a child of the 80’s and the cousin, sibling and friend of many girls; I have many memories of being forced to play ponies with my various family members. Not exactly the favorite game for me when I was younger but a vivid memory nonetheless. I have been observing for quite some time, a large resurgence towards nostalgic icons from childhood and I felt that they make a perfect platform to make sculptures that reflect on our society and into ourselves.

 

When I began to identify as a Steampunk artist I began searching for ways to identify myself and my style within that genre. It was at that point that I began to envision different ways that Steampunk can be incorporated into every aspect of life. Even the toys that we grew up with can be stylized to fit into the genre.

 

My first undertaking was truly an act of renewal and mercy. This poor little pony had spent 15 years in the back window ledge of a car and was very badly damaged. Her hair was falling out, her skin was faded and cracked and there was a very bleak diagnosis for her future.

So I took it as a personal mission to revitalize and “heal” her from her wounds. Not only that; I used it as an opportunity to write a short drama about how she received her wounds and how the world of “Ponyland” was changed forever in the process. I have attached the bio to this discussion should your curiosity lead you to investigate.

 We see now more than ever the immediate impact of war wounds on soldiers and their families. Where once, individuals may have suffered in silence; now there is enough media and internet coverage that the negative impact of wars on the personal level is brought to mainstream.

This first offering is a direct reflection of that.

 

My second foray into this world was to tackle a very socially relevant topic. The concept was that a pony was born to two different “races” of pony.

 One parent was a Pony, one was a Pegasus. So in her life she felt conflicted (as many do) about which “role” she fit into. She always felt that she could not be comfortable in her own body, so she applied for “Pony re-assignment surgery.”

 I have always felt a great deal of compassion for individuals that don’t feel comfortable with themselves. I have been blessed in many ways and I wish only for the same peace and comfort for all people regardless of who they are or where they come from.

So I made a pony to encourage everyone to embrace themselves for who they are and not to be tied down by social constraints or “societal norms”.  

 Now she can soar amongst the clouds with her kin, and safely return the ground to re-unite with the rest of her family. She effectively bridges the gap between the two worlds.

I continue working on the series, there will be 5 in total. So stay tuned as I will be posting pictures and comments about them in the future.

 

Thanks for reading!

[The Justified Sinner]

Excellent fun! Thanks for sharing that. Looking forward to seeing the rest.