manlycornhusk's blog post - Industrial Arts

It always amazes me that management makes such efforts to streamline production that ends up resulting in more complications and less work getting done..lmao. My theory that the higher you move up the corporate ladder, the less grey matter needed once again proves itself correct!

Anyways....Since I sometimes have more time on my hands due to this inept management concept, I am "xxxxxx" to find busy work for my idle hands. This is the part where you roll your eyes and start feeling sympathy for my workplace admirals...lol.

So, a new twist to "Industrial Arts". I pull out my markers, paint pens, air gun..whatever misc. items that might be put to good use and I look for a likely victim. Machinist part carts where high on the list for the longest time. I've painted whole christmas scenes, autumn leaves, colored lights, body parts, tomato's(don't ask), you name it onto the sides of these grey plactic carts. Why...well, I was bored..and feeling creative. The byproduct of this mania......unmistakable carts that can be spotted a mile away. Cart theives were foiled....no hiding airbrushed flames under white glaring lights.

Now, I've been using gauging to match parts within microns of each other before being assembled in it's final form. No, not what you're thinking..no diesel engines with designer fuel injectors inside them..for shame, people.... Alternatively, the black, plastic flats that trays of parts are stacked onto are fair game. Out come the art supplies and 8 hours later....another Industrial Arts Masterpiece...well...at least something kinda cool. Today...a biker sitting on a country road next to a sign that shows S curves, next 50 miles. The title, "Sometimes dreams do come true". I wish I could show you some of these things but cameras are strictly verbotten in our plant.

Maybe the cool thing about my art is thinking someone might get a smile out of it. Seeing something in the middle of industrial overkill that doesn't seem to belong there. Eventually, it's worn away, faded and forgotten...but for just a moment....it's like a lone pole light in the middle of the country evening. Your eyes are drawn to it, relieved to have the darkness broken up by something that sends comforting waves of illumination.

Am I vain about my talents...oh, hell no. I enjoy what I do, have angst over my failures and sit back and exhale in triumph when the last paint is dry and pens are put away for another day. I had a supervisor, at one time, that forbid me from ordering any more paint pens from the supply crib. I found a way around this by uncovering a employee black market in pens and gleefully restocked my supply much to his horror. Even he, in the end, acknowledged his futility in stopping me and gave into the Industrial Arts Movement...lmao.

Well...don't know why I told you all that but...there it is.

Peace and Love with as many colors as you can find....