James Blanchard (not the former Governor) makes jewelry from Fordite (aka "Detroit Agate"), a substance taken from the spray booth at the Ford River Rouge plant in the 1970s. Chunks of layered automotive paint were painstakingly scraped from the conveyor, then cut and polished into gems.
Patterns emerge from the Fordite depending on the angle of the cut or depth of the polishing. Since technology has replaced the spray booth, the Fordite "mines" are dry.
You can see a lot more work from James Blanchard right here and see work from many more artists at Gallery Fifty. Note: I spent a good deal of time a Gallery 50 (located in Building 50 in the Village at Grand Traverse Commons) last weekend and was really impressed with the range of their selection.
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The Fordite corporation's web site has some detailed Fordite history. If I say or type "fordite" again, there may be legal action from the Ford Motor Co...
i worked for ford in the paint dept. at metuchen, nj from 1963 to 1974 i started knocking off chunks of paint from the skids. at that time i worked with the chunks (sanding and shaping). i made cuff links tie pins and other pins. i moved to ca. in 1974. last year i moved to a new home. at that time i found some of the chunks and the past 4 mounths i have been working with them making jewelry. i thought that i was the only one to have this interest. i was very supprised to hear that this is known as fordite
Cool George!
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