Don Fogg/Jim Kelso collaboration knife

SharpByCoop

SharpByCoop

Enjoying the discussions
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 8, 2001
Messages
12,336
This is a knife that Don Fogg had on display at that ABS hammer-in I went to. The handle and guard work was performed by a Vermont artisian, Jim Kelso. I know nothing about Jim's work--either with knives or sculpture. I know a *little* about Don Fogg; his knives have been joint efforts in the past with others.

Anyway, here's one of my characteristic displays of a very unique, and, quite involved, blade. (That stone glowed like it was possessed! :))

Coop

orig.jpg
 
I saw this knife 2 years ago when Jim Kelso visited his family in Seattle and I got in touch with him. If I'm not mistaken, this knife is called the Green Man, and it was made for the Art Knife Invitational.

I've always loved his work. There's a couple other pics on Don Fogg's site:

http://www.dfoggknives.com/jim_kelso.htm
http://www.dfoggknives.com/_vti_bin/shtml.exe/copy_of_index/kelso.htm/map

Jim studied Japanese metalsmithing & jewelry techniques. He's done a lot of Jpz work on Jpz style blades by Louis Mills, such as this one:

http://www.dfoggknives.com/KelsoRarePieces.htm

He's even done the mounts on a blade by Yoshindo Yoshihara, one of Japan's premier swordsmith, for the Emperor of Japan - or so I've been told.

He's outstanding.

JD
 
great looking knife as expected from a Fogg/Kelso collaboration.

The photo is incredible. You are doing wonders in PS for sure Coop.
 
No doubt that a lot of work went into that knife, but I would be lying if I said that I liked it. It just looks weird to me. Opinions vary, and I'm sure most people love it.
 
Danbo speaks the unspoken. And, frankly, that's my totally unqualified and art-uneducated take myself. For me it is just too far to the left to appreciate it as it deserves. This knife is sculpture.

Comes a point where the artist loses me. It's at this point that that same artist comes ALIVE in other's eyes. :) I posted this in the CKD as well, and all who responded loved it and thought it broke great barriers. What do I know... :(

Coop

(Thanks for the comments on the knife and compliments on the pics. I'm having more and more fun!)
 
It's a very tricky thing thinking of the Blade as Art. Art has to have some expressive quality that separates it even from High Craft. ( Don't get me wrong- I don't place Art & Craft on a hierachical scale; to me they are parallel in value. )

That being said- the Art knife often sacrifices some aspect of function to an aesthetic or symbolic value. This is not always true- I would suggest that the traditional Japanese blades in particular have a developed sense of bringing form and function to equal heights and well deserve to be thought of as 'Art-knives,' although they do exist within a very strict framework

I also think that a lot of 'tactical,' knives are just as concerned with aesthetics and sometimes sacrifice funtion in the name of form. 'Tactical,' knives have a visual language all of their own that *suggests* military / fighting ability as much as it actually speaks to these functions. Most people don't simply want the *best* tactical knife, they want the *coolest looking* tactical knife.

I bring this up because I've held the knife that started this thread and it is quite comfortable in the hand. The blade is a razor-sharp chisel edge. Coop is right- the knife is Sculpture and thus Art... but it is also High Craft. All of the functional aspects of the knife are well considered and very little functionality is lost to the aesthetic and artistic expression. To say as much as this knife does and maintain that level of usefulness marks the height of the Bladesmith / Metalsmith's Craft.

Just my opinion...
 
Education is grand... ;) Now it's just that much clearer. Thanks Jon!!!! Well-written thoughts. Especially regarding the tactical style. I'm in total agreement, and I'm one of those who would want the coolest as long as it remained true to it's form. And why not?

Coop
 
Coop thanks for posting the pictures!!! If I weren't so lazy (and dumb?)I would write something like Jon did. I think he covers the issue well.
 
This piece is a fabulous work of art using metal as the medium. But is it really a knife just because it has a sharpened edge? I think there are two distinctly different factions at work here; 1.The knife maker who has raised the level of his work to a form of art, but still takes pride in the fact that his blade can (and in his opinion should) be used. 2. The artist who chooses the blade as a basis for his expression but never intended (in fact is repulsed by the thought of) his work be actually used to cut. I have a number of works of art that I will never use, even though that was the purpose intended by their maker. I can also appreciated high art that happens to resemble a knife but was never intended to cut anything. I think that there is room in the knife world for both. Racer Roy :)

KNOWLEDGE THAT IS NOT SHARED IS LOST.
 
I talked to Don at a class he taught, and he says that he cuts with all the blades he produces. Now, this is obviously a special case, as the top part is sculpted so delicately. But I can guarantee that it is properly heat treated, shaped, sharpened, etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top