One of the things the Brady Bunch always goes on and on about is the danger of "spraying from the hip", when it comes to semi-automatic weapons. On that I agree with them - shooting from the hip is wildly inaccurate, and will not result in terribly many rounds hitting the target... which, after all, is the whole point of shooting at it. (And, yes, I know that is not what the Brady Bunch is actually talking about when they use that phrase...)

However, when you are standing about three feet away from your target, that target happens to be a 32in. by 36in. by 1.5in. sheet of metal covered with what amounts to be car paint, and you are looking to make a piece of art out of it... "spraying from the hip" actually turns out to work pretty well.

By way of example, I give you Matt Stromberg, a professor at the Savannah College of Art and Design:

The Savannah College of Art and Design professor of foundation studies and sculpture uses rocket fuel, explosives, pyrotechnics, propellants and munitions to create earth-shattering art. These energetic materials are used to manipulate metal, wood and paper -- using destruction to create art.

Stromberg’s creations include sculpted metal panels. He’s also used a submachine gun to create pigment-infused solid rocket-fuel paint that is literally shot into stone.

“I think it stems from a long-term interest in energetic materials,” Stromberg says. “Recently, with the birth of my daughter, my wife and I were thinking about what we are going to teach her. I want to encourage her to seek out things in life she finds interesting.

“I’ve always liked energetic materials,” he says. “I think the risk-taking is a big part of it, which is probably a key element of being an artist.”

Stromberg first began experimenting with energetic materials last year. It’s not something for the faint of heart. “I would say it’s very dangerous,” Stromberg says.

Special licensing is required to handle some of the materials Stromberg uses. That can get expensive, but a SCAD Presidential Fellowship for Faculty Development is helping with those costs.

It’s also providing funds for research and safety training with Explosives Educational Services Inc. in Texas. “Lately, I’ve been watching hours of safety films,” Stromberg says. “Doing this makes you really focus on safety. It’s all about concentration, education. I follow the safety protocols.”

In July, Stromberg will conduct research at testing facilities owned by Accurate Energetic Systems, LLC in McEwen, Tenn. The company, which manufactures explosive compositions and specialty products, has a variety of testing areas with trained personnel and safety managers available at all times.

The creation of explosive art can’t be done in a studio. “I have a couple of sites I use,” Stromberg says. “For more dangerous work, I use acreage in Effingham County that’s owned by a colleague.

He has gotten a fair bit of attention across Savannah, and if you want to see some further examples of his work, he has some videos set up on YouTube.

I wonder if the long-distance outdoor ranges that have them have ever considered painting up their steel targets after they are done with them and trying to sell them... Of course, just how perforated is one of those at the end of its operational lifespan?

Hat tip to Gizmodo, again.