Antiques – Dayna J Collins

Scrounged Beauty

Years of Collecting

After years of being junking partners, my friend Stephanie Brockway and I are doing a show together at RiverSea Gallery in Astoria. Both of us have shown our work at RiverSea for years, and Stephanie had a solo show there a couple of years ago. I show paintings, she shows a combination of paintings and outsider folk art. Scrounged Beauty is found object art, highlighting the best of our collections of found objects, and as some would say, junk.

Months of Auditioning

I spent months pulling things out of drawers, bins, bowls, and trays, choosing which pieces to try out on various pieces of reclaimed wood and prepared boards.

Weeks of Connecting, Titling, Signing, and Photographing

A Day of Hanging

Okay, Colin actually did the hanging, while Steph and I gallivanted around Astoria.

A Sampling of My Pieces (out of 42 I have in the show!)

“Delightful Daydreams,” by Dayna J. Collins

“Giddyup, Little One Trick Pony,” by Dayna J. Collins

“Obscured Thoughts,” by Dayna J. Collins

“A Whisper of Conspiracy,” by Dayna J. Collins

“Drawn Into Memory,” by Dayna J. Collins

“Daily Interactions,” by Dayna J. Collins

“The Tiniest Things Mean Something,” by Dayna J. Collins

“Most Expedient Route,” by Dayna J. Collins

“Painstaking Exactitude,” by Dayna J. Collins

“Traveling Side Show,” by Dayna J. Collins

“Seeing Through Shadows,” by Dayna J. Collins

“Little Time to Talk,” by Dayna J. Collins

“Untroubled By Disturbing Dreams,” by Dayna J. Collins

“Staring Into the Distance,” by Dayna J. Collins

THE SHOW

Frozen in Time

I’ve always wondered what it would be like to enter a house that had been frozen in time and be able to sort through all of the detritus of a former life. Well, over the weekend I had an opportunity to sort through a garage that had been buried by time – about 50 years worth.

Howard’s father finally asked for some help in cleaning out his garage/shop. Last weekend, armed with gloves and boxes, we tackled the piles. Tom, who is 92, watched from the sidelines while Howard, Alex (his niece’s son), and myself began to drag stuff out.

The dragging continued all day.

Until we finally reached the back of the shop.

We ended up with a pile of scrap metal.

After five trailer loads of stuff to the dump (and more yet to go), we loaded the trailer with all of the hazardous materials and old paint (and several jugs of unidentified liquids).

What all did we find? Well, things had been buried for 50 years, things Howard remembered from his childhood, and some things Howard didn’t remember ever seeing. It was a walk back in time.

I’ve saved the best for last. While we cleaned and sorted, I was filling boxes with things that I could use in my art and in my Curious Elements. In a box of rags, I even found an old quilt.

When I got home, I began to sort through all of the treasures. My sister asked during the process was I feeling overwhelmed or verklempt*. Verklempt, definitely verklempt. (*choked with emotion)

PS Since we were using Tom’s truck and trailer, when he needed to run an errand, he hopped in his old Model A and tootled off to the store.

Here’s the work crew: Alex, Howard, and Tom

Did I mention that Tom has a garage in North Plains where he works on his old cars? That’s next to get cleaned out.

Junkin’ and Jivin’

I haven’t posted about a junking expedition in a long time and since I discovered three wonderful vintage shops and I’m feeling generous, I’m going to share these little gems, all located east of Portland.

The Wade Creek House

This is actually a compound of buildings featuring antiques, collectibles, and vintage treasures. It is located at 664 NW Wade Street in Estacada. The owner, Dyan, knows my good friend Bobbie! Small world. Dyan just opened her store in June, so it is brand new and filled to the brim with good things.

Foxtrot Vintage

This is another relatively new shop and is located in downtown Gresham. Cute street, cute shop. The proprietor is Todd, who went to the same grade school as Howard (Harvey Scott, in case you are curious).

Vintage Station

Our final discovery was also in Gresham. This shop is run by Sonja, who used to be a vendor at Stars and currently has a booth at Monticello, two of my favorite antique malls in Portland.

Final Thoughts

It is definitely worth a drive east out of Portland. Beautiful scenery, nice shops. And yes, I did make a few purchases (including the pink chair in the first photo).