A lot of the art created in the mid-century modern era was inspired by space — starbursts and shiny metal and plastic. DIY expert Antonio Bellusci based his projects on the solar system, the Sputnik satellite and weightlessness.

Clock

 
Materials and tools:

• Clock
• 12 wooden dowels
• 12 round sponge balls
• Paint
• Small saw or scissors
• Drill and drill bits
• Glue gun and glue sticks

Instructions:

1. Drill holes around clock sides — 12 holes in total, one for every five-minute mark. The diameter of the holes should fit wooden dowels. Use a smaller drill bit to create a pilot hole and work up to larger drill bit.
2. Cut wooden dowels to desired lengths, sawing one end of the dowel on an angle. Consider dowels cut in two lengths — six of each length.
3. Pre-paint balls, dowels and clock before assembling.
4. Place a bit of glue on the angled dowel end and force into sponge ball. Repeat for all dowels and balls.
5. Poke dowels into holes, alternating long and short.
6. Glue dowels in place to clock / back side of clock
7. Touch up balls, dowels and clock with paint, if required

Approximate cost: $20

Metal Wall Hanging

 
Materials and tools:

• Metal grid – ie. cement reinforcement steel grid
• Metal cutting snips
• Roll of aluminum flashing
• Scissors
• Paper clips
• Glue gun and glue sticks
• Hammer (optional)

Instructions:

1. Using metal cutting snips, cut grid to size of wall hanging. Steel grids are often sold in sheets 4 x 8 feet.
2. Cut aluminum flashing into thin strips — 1/2 x 6 x 8 inches (vary lengths).
3. Bend aluminum strips to form U-shape and bend tops on each side to create T-shape.
4. Position inside U-shape around steel grid and allow T-shape to stand up. Glue inside vertical sections and secure together with paper clip until glue cures.
5. Remove paper clip.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 with other strips to create supports for aluminum sheets to stay suspended at various heights. (U- and T-shape pieces should be made at
various heights to allow for metal sheets to float and nest within one another.)
7. Cut aluminum sheets approximately 6 x 6 inches.
8. Hammer a few aluminum sheets before gluing on T pieces.
9. Glue sheets to top sides of T pieces.

Approximate cost: $40

Space art

 
Materials and tools:

• Cedar shims
• Flat board / Masonite board / MDF boards
• Flat stock / framing pieces
• Wood glue
• Paint and paint brushes
• Hammer, nails and nail set tool (counter-sinking nail tool)
• Wood fill
• Wooden cutting tool — hand saw and mitre box

Instructions:

1. Plan overall size of art piece by laying shims on a table to decide overall size.
2. Cut flat board (backing) to hold all shim pieces and framing.
3. Glue cedar shims on board leaving space around perimeter for framing.
4. Cut framing pieces with hand saw and mitre box.
5. Glue and nail framing pieces around shims.
6. Counter-sink nails and fill with wood fill.
7. Paint “space art” on shims and paint frame.

Approximate cost: $35

Antonio Bellusci
@abellusci