What secrets hide beneath the rust?
Rust is an interesting thing. Most of the time it’s something we see as representing deterioration, destruction, decay, or a death of some sort. We spend millions of dollars annually on products like Rustoleum to cover over this seemingly ugly cancer on our metal possessions, to hide the imperfections and brighten the surface.
Yet in many ways, rust is cool. It’s a silent testimony to age. It colors everyday objects with a patina of long-ago, almost providing a sense of steadfastness, longevity, stick-aroundness. Many antique stores prominently display rusty lawn furniture as proudly as a major furniture gallery would showcase its latest collection.
We’re drawn to rust, us in the vintage/antique/secondhand world. It shows a sense of primitiveness; old rusty hand tools for the garden take up places of honor along many a barn wall or even living room corner. It’s a connection to all things that have come and passed, a kind of “been there, done that,” if you will, of somebody’s hands having handled these implements in their everyday life, making for himself or herself a home by the utilization of this particular implement.
Rust looks interesting on doors. I was at the Museum of Science and Industry the other day and amidst all the newfangled gadgets and high technology, I happened upon this now-unused door you see above. The entryway’s steps, now cracked, still provided suitable shelter from the slight off-lake breeze, and the door’s intricate handle, now frozen in iron oxide, hinted of generations of budding scientists’ visits of days long forgotten.
Rust is so cool that apparently now there are entries on DIY websites that show how to create the rust look on perfectly brand-new metal.
Seems we’ve come full circle.
Now if the Rustoleum company would put out a special projects can called “rust,” life would be perfect, and I would not have to wait for the normal wear and tear afforded my relics.
But then again, I’d miss the journey.
Dawn is a budgeting queen!
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Rust is cool. I never thought about it until I read your blog . I like it. Thanks for writing that.