Left 'Phoenix Fire' -- Oz, magic rising Right 'Swan designs,' = romantic love story art
Both are offered under the same roof - same 'one man business', "Miles of Alaska" with same slightly 'improved' logo below. Basic design since I was 8 yeas old. My initials for 'Miles Walter Martin' run together like mountains, with the sun coming up, 'Let there be light!'
Phoenix Rising Phoenix is a symbolic magical bird that rises up out of the ashes of destruction, to bring forth fire and energy of a resurrection of previous power that lives on for 500 years. Much of my work, raw materials, books, custom knives, has a lot to do with worn out used up material being repurposed, given life with strong messages and connections that have endurance, will be used and remembered for a long time. I deal with fire a lot, forging and casting molten metals. There is also the fire of purpose and passion, with something mythical and unique going on. Associated with my ‘Black Swan’ line of more famine art. All are Ancient stories, being brought back to life. Circle is the sun, also 0 for infinity. The Z, last letter of the alphabet, is for ‘Oz,’ Man of magic. Oz crashed and burned in his crazy hot air ballon fiasco. Like a phoenix, did not stay down in defeat, but took the broken parts and built a world of his own, a product of flames to be remembered through good energy.
Black Swan art
A black swan is rare. They represent a unique unpredicted event to notice. Not mainstream, nor how it’s usually done, but odd, not normal. In a world where we are told, ticky is trendy, and tacky – all the same, is cool, Black Swan Art says, “No!”
I mix materials not known to be mixable, in unique unpredictable ways. I recycle, repurpose, hand select from the land. Beauty found in the imperfect, out of style. Ending up cutting edge future of individuality. Hopefully bringing a, ‘Wow this speaks to me !” Two black swans connect in a way ‘mass production factory’ does not offer. This art tends to be romantic -spiritual love stories. Welcome to OZ, Miles world.
Both concepts refer to 'Oz'
A person of magic, however in the original story ending up, also a bit of a humbug. No one is perfect. No one can deliver full time magic forever. Magic is often followed by the word 'trick.' Nothing really replaces hard work. Nothing can equal 'gifted,' at something. I can play on this, but am human, doing the best I can to deliver what will please you. I prefer to say 'Gifted but tweaked.' Meaning if I speak of my special gifts... isn't this bragging? Yuck! If I mention equally, my mistakes and faults along with my gifts, is this being honest? Better? I am not ashamed of issues, getting it wrong sometimes. Art is one of a kind, done without instructions. Not all art will be equal, and is all an experiment. Some experiments are magically amazing! Yet others simply do not work out as planned and a learning process. Some no one knows until it either fails or holds up beyond expected.. Either is possible. The main point I'd make is, I go for it. I put my work out to the public and be seen, for better or worse, put my name out there. Like I wrote. book, after failing English in school, no rating. I simply decided I can and I' going to! I now have 12 books doing ok- making a profit. It took 20 years to write the first one. This is what I mean.
Oz in the original story, sends all these folks out on missions! In the end, did any of them need to go off chasing witches and ruby slippers? Maybe not! Yet they all agree it was an adventure, They all learned something. "There is no place like home.? The lion discovered courage, a tin man a heart. All the bells whistles smoke screen, a man behind a curtain pulling levers. He as well has his purpose.... As a kid who decided to leave some small town in 'going no place' Kansas. Has a dream! LocLs make fun. Build a hot air balloon, no money no tools? What a silly notion, sure to fail ha ha. He builds it anyhow! He will show them! Shows yes, it does not work! He crashed and burned! Yet he did not return in defeat to live out some hum drum life of Hell in the treadmill, just another squirrel. He took the wreckage of his life and built a world of his own he named OZ. This is a perfect Black Swan event. And out of the ashes of ruin and despair, Phoenix rises! Building a new way to think and live filled with fire of desire and hope. If it fails or not, there is a burning and a rising. These concepts speak of my own life. I feel I have arrived at a place I sought out, Yes. Yet few who know the truth, the reality, would wish to walk in my footsteps and pay my price. Still. I have something to offer. Like a Shaman a goal to connect you to the energy you seek. Finding the damaged, the old, the set aside, the not so valuable, the common... and giving it worth! Showing it off as something God made, and I will repurpose, mix with other energy and show it off under a new light to praise the spirit world so to speak. I am as a middle man connecting you and objects. Sounds good anyhow huh? What am I really doing? Only you can decide, something good or not. A humbug, or man of magic. Is reality both, yet like most of us, want to focus on ghe good and be 'Oz, man of magic!'
Black Swan art
A black swan is rare. They represent a unique unpredicted event to notice. Not mainstream, nor how it’s usually done, but odd, not normal. In a world where we are told, ticky is trendy, and tacky – all the same, is cool, Black Swan Art says, “No!”
I mix materials not known to be mixable, in unique unpredictable ways. I recycle, repurpose, hand select from the land. Beauty found in the imperfect, out of style. Ending up cutting edge future of individuality. Hopefully bringing a, ‘Wow this speaks to me !” Two black swans connect in a way ‘mass production factory’ does not offer. This art tends to be romantic -spiritual love stories. Welcome to OZ, Miles world.
Both concepts refer to 'Oz'
A person of magic, however in the original story ending up, also a bit of a humbug. No one is perfect. No one can deliver full time magic forever. Magic is often followed by the word 'trick.' Nothing really replaces hard work. Nothing can equal 'gifted,' at something. I can play on this, but am human, doing the best I can to deliver what will please you. I prefer to say 'Gifted but tweaked.' Meaning if I speak of my special gifts... isn't this bragging? Yuck! If I mention equally, my mistakes and faults along with my gifts, is this being honest? Better? I am not ashamed of issues, getting it wrong sometimes. Art is one of a kind, done without instructions. Not all art will be equal, and is all an experiment. Some experiments are magically amazing! Yet others simply do not work out as planned and a learning process. Some no one knows until it either fails or holds up beyond expected.. Either is possible. The main point I'd make is, I go for it. I put my work out to the public and be seen, for better or worse, put my name out there. Like I wrote. book, after failing English in school, no rating. I simply decided I can and I' going to! I now have 12 books doing ok- making a profit. It took 20 years to write the first one. This is what I mean.
Oz in the original story, sends all these folks out on missions! In the end, did any of them need to go off chasing witches and ruby slippers? Maybe not! Yet they all agree it was an adventure, They all learned something. "There is no place like home.? The lion discovered courage, a tin man a heart. All the bells whistles smoke screen, a man behind a curtain pulling levers. He as well has his purpose.... As a kid who decided to leave some small town in 'going no place' Kansas. Has a dream! LocLs make fun. Build a hot air balloon, no money no tools? What a silly notion, sure to fail ha ha. He builds it anyhow! He will show them! Shows yes, it does not work! He crashed and burned! Yet he did not return in defeat to live out some hum drum life of Hell in the treadmill, just another squirrel. He took the wreckage of his life and built a world of his own he named OZ. This is a perfect Black Swan event. And out of the ashes of ruin and despair, Phoenix rises! Building a new way to think and live filled with fire of desire and hope. If it fails or not, there is a burning and a rising. These concepts speak of my own life. I feel I have arrived at a place I sought out, Yes. Yet few who know the truth, the reality, would wish to walk in my footsteps and pay my price. Still. I have something to offer. Like a Shaman a goal to connect you to the energy you seek. Finding the damaged, the old, the set aside, the not so valuable, the common... and giving it worth! Showing it off as something God made, and I will repurpose, mix with other energy and show it off under a new light to praise the spirit world so to speak. I am as a middle man connecting you and objects. Sounds good anyhow huh? What am I really doing? Only you can decide, something good or not. A humbug, or man of magic. Is reality both, yet like most of us, want to focus on ghe good and be 'Oz, man of magic!'