Secrets of Rusty Things – Transforming Found Objects into Art

By Michael deMeng

My children have a story book called The Monster Trap by Dean Morrissey – it is about a truly creative invention to trap what a grandfather assumes are imaginary monsters… but it ends up trapping real monsters and they play with his grandson and have a blast! Secrets of Rusty Things reminds me of an adult version of this children’s storybook!

Unique. Creative. Humorous. Interesting. Informative. These are just a few of the words I could use to describe Secrets of Rusty Things by Michael deMeng. Even those who have not been bitten by the “artistic bug” would find this book a good read. From the front cover to the last page, the photography is well done and the pages themselves are full of interesting details – much like Michael’s art. Michael creatively intertwines interesting mythological tales with his amazing artwork. Each piece is representative of a character from one of the tales. Michael has a true talent for taking what some might consider “junk” and seeing what truly lies inside – just waiting for someone to bring it forth. The side notes tell about how he obtained some of his fabulously unique found objects with a humorous twist – I laughed out loud at some of his adventures. His writing style is easy to follow and understand. He uses “everyday language” rather than technical terminology which makes the book a truly enjoyable experience. Instructions are well explained, but not in terms so technical that they would scare a beginner away. I found myself wishing I could have a chance to sit down and talk with Michael about art and watch him at work. He takes you on a creative journey with his book; you step inside his mind for a bit of a wild ride as he transforms his found objects into truly original artwork. It’s a great ride, and it’s definitely worth the trip!