Fine Art
BOBBI MASTRANGELO
Sculpture Relief & Mixed-Media Artist
Bobbi Mastrangelo
Photo Courtesy: Bobbi Mastrangelo
Photo Courtesy: Bobbi Mastrangelo
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Bobbi shares her journey in discovering her unique style, the incredible detail that goes into creating her manhole artworks, and the mentors who guided her along the way.
Where did the interest in manhole covers (sewer covers, grates, drains, etc.) come from? The final works are beautiful, which is not something most think of when they envision a manhole cover.
My printmaking professor at Stony Brook University, Dan Welden, advised me to have a style or a theme for my ‘artistic identity.’ My art history professor, Lawrence Alloway, after seeing my photo book of artworks, said: ‘My Dear, you have a Penchant for Circles.’ I was in a quandary to find an art theme; but the next week we studied the art of Sol LeWitt. There was a Maverick page in his book totally unrelated to his artwork. It was a page of manhole cover images, which LeWitt declared as interesting urban artifacts. Manhole covers, CIRCLES…I thought to myself, ‘Nobody is making art about manhole covers.’ Eureka! That was 1979, and at 87, I’m still ‘a cover girl!’ |
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The City Beautiful
Sculpture Relief ~ 47 x 31 x 2.5 inches © Bobbi Mastrangelo |
City of Orlando
Sculpture Relief ~ 48 x 31 x 3 inches © Bobbi Mastrangelo |
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Are you interested in your art sending a message about how humans affect the environment? You’ve expressed a special interest in water protection and conservation.
Yes, I am extremely concerned with water protection and conservation. When I was growing up, I remember people dumping waste down the local street drains. We tend to take our water supply for granted. Actually, our water cycle is affected by pesticides and waste products — whatever goes down comes up and around. One of my small prints on handmade paper questions how we handle our water supply: ‘Water?’ Describe your process. How do you replicate these manhole covers before transforming them into beautiful works of art? Do you include natural elements? My reference tools are a rubbing and a photo of the manhole cover. I sometimes save interesting bits of litter, moss or pebbles caught in the Cover to include as finishing touches. |
Water?
Print on Handmade Paper ~ 9 x 12 inches © Bobbi Mastrangelo |
A sheet of clear plastic is placed over the rubbing. I trace over all the lines of the manhole cover and its environment with a black Sharpie marker. That sheet of plastic is placed on a sheet of ½ inch thick blue Styrodur (foam panel). Then I firmly trace over the black Sharpie marks with a red ball point pen. The pen leaves indentations in the soft foam. I mark those indentations on the foam sheet with a black Sharpie. Many of those lines are the cutting lines. I constantly refer to the photo for accurate cutting and removal of the negative areas. I use a utility knife with snap off blades for cutting.
For small wording on the manhole cover, I will use commercial letters. I carve out the foam under them to match their shape.
For the back, I add layers of foam according to the [surface] I am portraying: bricks, pavers or asphalt. For bricks, I need about three inches of thickness.
For the front texture: For bricks or asphalt, I brush on Ready Mix Concrete Patch. I thin out the mix with water and brush it over the manhole cover for a light texture. I mix acrylic paint to match the colors in the photo. Copper metallic paint is often used for the manhole cover. After the paint dries, I use an ‘antique effect’ to give it a weathered appearance. I apply a wash with a little mud and a few drops of black paint. The wash seeps into the cracks adding contrast.
The final step is to glue the litter, moss or pebbles into a few crevices. Once in a while, I glue a small coin. Truthfully, all sorts of things end up in manhole cover indentations.
For the back, I add layers of foam according to the [surface] I am portraying: bricks, pavers or asphalt. For bricks, I need about three inches of thickness.
For the front texture: For bricks or asphalt, I brush on Ready Mix Concrete Patch. I thin out the mix with water and brush it over the manhole cover for a light texture. I mix acrylic paint to match the colors in the photo. Copper metallic paint is often used for the manhole cover. After the paint dries, I use an ‘antique effect’ to give it a weathered appearance. I apply a wash with a little mud and a few drops of black paint. The wash seeps into the cracks adding contrast.
The final step is to glue the litter, moss or pebbles into a few crevices. Once in a while, I glue a small coin. Truthfully, all sorts of things end up in manhole cover indentations.
When the People Care
Collagraph with Litter Bits ~ 24 x 18 inches © Bobbi Mastrangelo |
Three Sewer Hitter
Sculpture Relief ~ 34 x 30 x 4 inches © Bobbi Mastrangelo |
Do you prefer sculpture for this subject matter or other mediums?
Once I moved to Florida, I mostly created sculpture relief works because I sold my printing press. I really enjoy creating textured sculpture relief works.
Once I moved to Florida, I mostly created sculpture relief works because I sold my printing press. I really enjoy creating textured sculpture relief works.
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How important is texture in your work? Is your work meant to be touched? Texture is the key for portraying realistic work. Museums usually prohibit touching, but I don’t mind gentle touching of my work. Here’s an amusing realistic texture anecdote: When my ‘Borough of Manhattan’ sculpture relief was first exhibited, a viewer told the director, ‘That lady ought to be arrested for stealing a manhole cover to put up on the wall!' Do you have a favorite piece? My favorite work, ‘Metropolitan Cover,’ hangs above our sofa where I see it every day. It’s a sidewalk scene from Fifth Avenue, just south of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. I'm very proud of the Belgium Blocks I replicated. This sculpture reminds me of the enjoyable trips to New York City, visiting its marvelous museums and experiencing its dynamic musicals. |
Metropolitan Cover
Sculpture Relief ~ 48 x 36 x 5 inches © Bobbi Mastrangelo |
Any special mentor who inspired your work early on?
The two professors I’ve mentioned, Dan Welden and Lawrence Alloway, influenced my art. Professor Alloway made ‘Art Since 1947’ so fascinating, especially Pop Art of common objects. I began to realize that manhole covers are also common objects that we walk over or drive over.
The two professors I’ve mentioned, Dan Welden and Lawrence Alloway, influenced my art. Professor Alloway made ‘Art Since 1947’ so fascinating, especially Pop Art of common objects. I began to realize that manhole covers are also common objects that we walk over or drive over.
Blue Bell
Linocut on Handmade Paper ~ 18 x 24 inches © Bobbi Mastrangelo |
Water Service
Collagraph on Handmade Paper ~ 18 x 24 inches © Bobbi Mastrangelo |
What's next for Bobbi?
I’m a fortunate survivor of a hemorrhagic stroke, but I do have limited use of my left arm and hand. So, I have retired from creating new art. But I still send my art out to important exhibitions.
I am working on my autobiography: It’s a Grate Life.
After my story is published, I will concentrate on getting my art accepted into museum collections.
Where do you find sanctuary?
I find Sanctuary as I arise and thank God for a bright new day.
I’m a fortunate survivor of a hemorrhagic stroke, but I do have limited use of my left arm and hand. So, I have retired from creating new art. But I still send my art out to important exhibitions.
I am working on my autobiography: It’s a Grate Life.
After my story is published, I will concentrate on getting my art accepted into museum collections.
Where do you find sanctuary?
I find Sanctuary as I arise and thank God for a bright new day.
Bobbi Mastrangelo is an artist specializing in relief sculpture, mixed media, and fiber art, including handmade cast paper. She was born Barbara Ann Betschen in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1937. Her work is best known for its themed manhole and water covers, grates and drains. Her art has been exhibited in the U.S. and is included in several museum collections.
Bobbi's activities as a community leader in the 1970s and ‘80s, which drew attention to littering, environmental pollution, and water conservation, became themes reflected in her art. Her manhole-themed collages made from handmade paper and sculpture relief works sometimes include street litter bits. Eco-conscious messages also appear in her works.
National Postcard Week, 1991-2015, post cards she received from the U.S., U.K. and the Philippines, as well as her originals, are now in the Yorktown Museum in New York.
Bobbi's activities as a community leader in the 1970s and ‘80s, which drew attention to littering, environmental pollution, and water conservation, became themes reflected in her art. Her manhole-themed collages made from handmade paper and sculpture relief works sometimes include street litter bits. Eco-conscious messages also appear in her works.
National Postcard Week, 1991-2015, post cards she received from the U.S., U.K. and the Philippines, as well as her originals, are now in the Yorktown Museum in New York.
