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By Takayuki Higuchi
October 7, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)--Remember being a kid—the innocent joy and laughter? Spring Valley native Dan Jones has embarked on a whimsical sculptural works project titled ‘Tinkerbot,” which evokes those magical feelings from our childhood. Tinkering them with his own hands, Jones gives new life to materials which otherwise would be thrown away.
The sculpture work: Tinkerbots
Jones embarked on this art works project about two years ago. It stems from gaining a sense of confidence through his past experiences, including learning innovative ways to use tools and material.He recycles items from old broken machines and kitchen tools, which he tears apart, collecting parts such as screws and iron plates, then tinkers and reassemble them.
“I try to make it fun,” the artist said. “I’m a big kid in my mind. I try to make things happy. So, a lot of my characters have bright colors and eyes and expression bring smile to a lot of people.”
Early inspirations
Dan Jones’ imagination and creativity have stayed from his childhood. Growing up in Spring Valley, Jones has lived in San Diego for his entire life. He attended Monte Vista High School in Spring Valley. He went to a local community college and found his interest towards sculptural work later in his college years.
“I patterned toys when I was 22,” he recalled, adding that he drew inspiration from this work. Meantime, he also worked in a lumber yard run by his family, learning construction skills which could help him with his sculpture work.
Since then, while working as a clerk under the United States Post Office for 22 years, Jones has also kept growing his different persona as a local artist presenting sculpture works. Currently, he lives in the Crest area of El Cajon. He built his house, which he calls ‘Magical Gateway” by himself. The house and garden which he created evoke the fantasy world spelled by the magic wand.
He has displayed his works in several exhibitions including Alley Cat Art Walk in El Cajon, Summers Past Herb Farms in Flynn Springs, local arts and crafts shows, and the Comic-Con International convention in San Diego, drawing new inspirations for ways to bring characters in his mind to life. He also showed interest in doing animations in the computer.
“Some day I hope to show some sculptures in a local art gallery,” he added. Jones also displays photos of his sculptures at www.flicker.com/photos/tinkerbots. “I really like to make art that makes me smile,” he said, adding that he challenges himself to see what he can create from junk “to make something fun and that brings a smile to others.”
On-going creative process from daily life
Jones manages the time for art work in the studio around a rigorous daily schedule.
“My shift is from 3 am to 11 am.,” he noted. “After taking a nap, I can spend all the rest of the day with being in the studio and create art…It is kind of an around the clock process for me. If I don’t have hands-on creating the art works, I’m thinking about it every time, sometimes during the nap: what will I do and where should I start, etc...That seems to me important element for my creative process.”
Jones builds his creations in his mind by picturing them mentallybefore getting something holding with his hand. He chuckled, “…even at work…I’m kind out over there as well, wouldn’t tell them about it. It’s been over 22 years, so I can do work automatically…I daydream about things, how things would go together, and jog down a little sketch of the new project, and stick it into my pocket so that I wouldn’t forget by the time you get home. ”
Inspirations
Jones aspires to science fictions, Retro Style. Vintages including rockets, ships and robots as well as things like R-Guns and Busters during the 1930s-50s.
“Growing up about five years old, I started to listen to radio broad casts from the 1930s to 50s as well as collect vintage or antiques [of] a lot of adventures such as Superman, Shadows Tarzan. Over the 35 to 40 years, I saw the things and listened to the shows all the time.”
Furthermore, Jones emphasizes the importance of observing everything happening in daily life. He describes the everyday experience as an ‘adventurous daytrip in San Diego’ that includes driving, grabbing a cup of coffee, and listening to great music.
“I see architecture of a building, or simply lighting and the atmosphere that makes me feel a certain magic,” he observed, “…looking at how things are made and how the light comes into the alley across the building and the color. All the elements come together, and it’s a secret journey that I am on there,” he said, adding that most people don’t realize all the information that he is soaking up.
Art and Creativity: Individual Uniqueness
Finally, I asked him what art/creativity means to him. Jones replied, “Across the Old saying, art and beauty is in the eye of the beholder …Art is part of individual expression, it can be just a stick drawn in the sand of beach…It comes from the uniqueness of individual. So, how I feel art is that it even can be just how we see sun falling in the shadows and light. And it covers every aspect. It makes you feel a smile that moves you, stars your emotion. Something you create in whatever medium is art.”
Asked about the art environment in East County Area, Jones replied that it’s important to get involved in the community, celebrate and get every artist living in the community together. “Artworks and the uniqueness of artists bring the community joy and festivity,” he observed.
“I am really thankful to have the good career,” he concluded, grateful that he’s been allowed to “experiment with my creativity, really have a fun life--just having kept the child’s heart to see things the way the child might and never losing the imagination.”
Takayuki Higuchi is a sociology major at San Diego State University, an intern with East County Magazine. A native of Japan, he is also an aspiring musician and an aficionado of jazz and creative arts.
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