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AssetID : 22430429
Headline : Animal X-Ray Lampshades
Caption : SPIKE VAIN'S ANIMAL X-RAY LAMPSHADES
A Los Angeles veterinary technician hangs up her surgeon scrubs n stethoscope at night to switch-on the living room lights of animal lovers
everywhere. . . .
Spike Vain, founder/ designer of @XrayVisionDesigns, puts all other lamps in the shade, creating radiant lamps resplendent with covers - fashioned from animal X-rays.
The 42 year-old, Ukraine-born artist had always had a fascination for X-rays, dating back to when, as a four year-old, she attended doctor's appointments with her grandparents. She was drawn to her unique medium
when she stumbled upon a small shop showcasing medical arts-related items and vintage medical equipment - with X-rays displayed in the window. Her curiosity for digital images depicting the internal workings
of living creatures - derived from electromagnetic radiation waves - was well and truly piqued.
Spike began collecting X-rays, with those donated by her mother, grandmother, and friends - as well as those depicting her own back injury. Soon she produced her first X-ray lampshade - presented to a girlfriend.
Now, Vain has constructed more than thirty lampshades - ninety per cent of her sales feature animal x-rays. Her choice of subject matter stems from a natural love of/ affinity towards animals that led to her current
role as an oncology technician performing chemotherapy at a veterinary hospital located in Los Angeles. She also three Chihuahuas pets at home - two of them with three legs.
Each @XrayVisionDesigns X-ray lamp takes approximately between two-to-four weeks to produce. Initially Spike would, individually, recycle and reconditioning all of them - stripping,sanding and priming them prior to affixing them shades.
In the near future the plan is to weld on her own so eventually all the design and fabrication will be done solely by Spike. Vain is currently testing new techniques to facet and secure the X-rays to the frames along with her plans to weld and fabricate all the components.
An X-ray shade sans lamp will cost $375 and up to $2000 for a floor lamp. Due to the large demand there is a one month waiting list for orders.
@XrayVisionDesigns items - including night lights, jewellery and bookmarks - are available to purchase at www.XrayVisionDesigns.crevado.com. Also, by visiting her website at www.xrayvisiondesigns.com and via her bookmarks atwww.etsy.com/shop/XrayVisionDesigns.

Credit: @XrayVisionDesigns/WENN.com

WENN Interview

Spike Vain on Spike Vain. . .

Q:What is your motivation....

Spike Vain: My motivation stems from the intrigue and respect of modern medicine coupled with a love of functional art.

Q: Tell us the origins of your X-ray art. . .

Spike Vain: "The idea manifested after seeing a store windows display of x-rays. At that point in time I had my own small collection x-rays and was thinking of ways to display them. I used a few in hanging pendants light and realised it created beautiful effect.

Q: How do you obtain x-rays

Spike Vain: I mostly collect my film stock from local hospitals who are transitioning from traditional radiology to digital.

Q: How painstaking (no pun) is the process of using such materials in this capacity?

Spike Vain: The process of making a lamp is quite time consuming. one lamp can take about 4 weeks to complete. The x-rays are sturdy yet are considerably fragile at the same time. The emulsion can be damaged easily so precautions need to be taken.

Q: What is the message you wish to convey behind such a high concept project?

Spike Vain: The message I try to convey with all my pieces is: beauty and fragility of the living foundation. and when that foundation breaks down the lengths we go to mend it. we all have a breaking point (figuratively and literally) regardless of factors like disease process and traumatic incidents.

Q: What are your future ambitions?

Spike Vain: I am working on my own lampshade frame designs and lamp bases that will incorporate metal sculpture. I have discussed doing an art show with my lamp at Memento Mori LA in Echo Park but we have not set a date.

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