Magnetic personalities : Art and sardine tins

When I visited Adam Fenstera and his wife, artist Mickey Waring, for their annual spring party in  Metuchen, N.J., I was blown away by their art-filled home —but, it was the tiny magnet sculptures on their fridge that stole the show 🐟🧲🎨

I asked Adam all about them. Here is his story!

Chimney Sweep

How do you call your creations?

I call them “Magnetic Personalities”.  They are mini shadow-boxes with magnets on back so they can serve as refrigerator magnets.  As such, these objects become functional, to counteract our world, which has become dysfunctional.  Their full name is “Magnetic Personalities for the Fridge”.

How did you start?

I went to a show at a gallery in Hopewell, NJ, where the artist painted portraits of extinct species.  The portraits were presented in sculpted frames with an industrial feel.  I was inspired to replicate the style of this work in miniature.

Why sardine cans instead of tuna cans, for example? 

Sardine cans have an aesthetic.  They measure roughly 4 x 2.5 x 1; they feel balanced and they are harmonious to the eye.  And, emotionally, the shape is familiar, even nostalgic.

Puss N Boots

How do you proceed?

These refrigerator magnets are hand-crafted from sardine tins, ceramic tiles, wire, bells and other elements.  When completed, I attach a magnet to the back.The ceramic tiles are hand-molded, glazed and kiln-fired.  Then I install them in the sardine cans which I then decorated. The wooden molds that I use to shape the tiles come from the Black Forest in Germany. They are traditionally used to make Christmas cookies called "Springerle," a rectangular-shaped sugar cookie with a design stamped on the top. 

The attached magnets are rare-earth Neodymium magnets. They are permanent and strong, holding up to 10 pounds' weight.  The Magnetic Personalities are really meant to function as refrigerator magnets.

Watchman

What are the little trinkets that you attach?

For the most part, inherited baubles and  yard-sale odds and ends. Also, small hand-made ceramic animals and flowers – whatever I have lying around.

Your pieces are very colorful. How do you pick the colors? 

Depends on the color of the clay that I use for the tiles.  Red clays, when glazed, result in a more subdued color.  And white clays a more vibrant color.  So there's a range.

Do you have a routine?

These days I do most of my ceramic work in a studio at the Arts Council in Princeton, NJ.  I do the “Magnetic Personalities” at home in a basement studio I share with my wife – I have a small kiln installed – with lots of ventilation – which permits for small-scale work.                                                                                                                                                                  

 Is functional art, art?

Absolutely! Museums are filled with Greek vases and medieval sculptures – works whose original purpose was functional.

I hope that you enjoyed the story. Maybe Adam's creations will inspire you to turn your fridge into a mini art-gallery.