Local artist Ed Beals employs a unique filing system for his smorgasbord collection of found pieces. A buffet of parts  — light bulbs to loose tea-leaf strainer balls — there seems to be a method to his madness.

“I’ve found that when I look at an object, especially if I don’t know what it is, I would imagine what it was,” said Beals, who has been creating since childhood.

“I like the idea that you find something, it reminds you of something else, and you put that item together.”

Beals’ more focused creations include a set of old, beat up and broken hand tools.

“To me, they looked like handles from ray guns — sleek, shiny futuristic weapons — but why would they be old?”

Beals explains that clearly they were from a period between the two World Wars where soldiers used ray guns to fight off an invading army.
I’ll buy it.

Together with fellow artist Nick Brunt, Beals will be showcasing his found creations during The Retro Robots Rockets and Ray Guns Shoppe exhibit, taking place at Argyle Fine Art as part of Saturday night’s Nocturne Art at Night festival.

“Nick’s art is really colourful and bright and I dare say goofy, but in a dark way — I love his work and I think it’s a great counterpoint for the sculptures I’ve made,” Beals said. Up for the challenge, Beals, after years of being a Nocturne observer is excited to finally participate.

“For Nocturne you can’t just put your stuff there.  People expect more. You have to do something with the space other than just put our art in it.”

With these two joining forces, wowing the crowds for Nocturne will be child’s play.