"Royal Blue Jacket" by Gordon Chandler

Upon discovering a weathered steel drum that had been warped to resemble the sleeve of a garment, artist Gordon Chandler was inspired to embark on a series of kimono sculptures formed from found metal scraps. With an eye to the aesthetic possibilities of this humble material, Chandler invests reclaimed steel with sculptural fluidity and a wry sense of form.

Pressed flat and artfully folded, this discarded oil barrel takes on the shape of a short-sleeved jacket or open-front wrap. With just a few well-placed cuts and folds, the found metal appears as draped fabric, textured with pleated folds and a rolled hem at the sleeves. The original coating of the repurposed steel decorates the surface with bright blue color, patterned with graphic text, spray painted tags and rusted wear. A small metal plate secured to the collar finishes the sculpture in lieu of a garment label, stamped with the artist's signature and date of creation.