One Man's Junk

Super Bowl Countdown

2012-01-29T22:16:00.000-06:00

Super Bowl XLVI arrives in Indy!

Da Bears!

Did not have to worry about the ice melting

At the Soldier's Monument

Scenes from downtown Indianapolis as it prepares for and celebrates the Super Bowl. Of course as an artist in metal, I have to say I really liked the planter decor of rusty metal footballs.

Sneaky Snake

2012-01-25T21:24:00.001-06:00

Remember that country song by Tom T Hall? It went something like "Boys and Girls take warning, if you go near the lake....keep your eyes wide open and look for SNEAKY SNAKE!"

I've heard that having something in your garden that resembles a snake is suppose to keep the pests away from your "goods".

If that is in fact true, this whimsical little guy should do the trick.

He's made from an old 7/8" auger bit that was put in the forge and formed on the anvil. Add some ball bearings for eyes and a slit piece of metal for his tonque and there ya go......Sneaky Snake. He measures about 15" long and is about 2" wide.

The longer he stays exposed to the elements, the more character he'll develop.

Hello Sunshine

2012-01-24T21:28:00.000-06:00

While cleaning out an old pole barn, I came across this very cool vintage red bucket. All it needed was a junk metal flower. Luckily, I am never at a loss for junk metal.

The head of the flower is from an old lawn edger. I love it because, to me, it reminds me of the sun....and what flower doesn't enjoy a little vitamin "D"?

A couple of beat up railroad spikes form the leaves.

Size" 9-1/2" wide x 20" tall

Among the Flowers

2012-01-22T20:06:00.000-06:00

I love hummingbirds and am blessed to have them visit the hanging flowers outside of my Tiki Bar.

They have a telltale "buzz" that I can hear when they arrive providing I don't have Jimmy Buffet blaring on the sound system.

At any rate, their visits are the inspiration for this junk metal piece titled "Among The Flowers".

A railroad spike that has been heated in the forge and bent provides the body of the hummingbird, while trowels are it's wings.

Size: 13" wide x 34" tall

I Don't Know What it is

2012-01-21T20:49:00.000-06:00

One of the nice things about being an artist in junk metal is that the items I have to work with are always different and unique. Take this flower for instance. I have no idea what it is that I found for the head of the flower but I new it would make a great flower head because of it uniqueness . I was not disappointed.

I just wish I new what it was!

Size: 11" wide x 24" tall

2012-01-20T21:15:00.001-06:00

I have just recently been accepted on Pinterest. For those not familiar with Pinterest, it is a site that
"lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes."

Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests. To get started, request an invite.

You can follow me there by clicking on the Pinterest Logo on the side bar. Visit the site at http://pinterest.com/about/. Happy pinning

Pot Top

2012-01-19T21:56:00.000-06:00

Well, as you can see snow has hit the Hoosier State and the temperature is in the teens. However, this flower has not shivered up and died like all of the others purchased at the local nursery. No sir.

This junk metal flower, made from a discarded pot top and an old grinding wheel looks just as it did in July. Ok, maybe there wasn't snow on the leaves in July.

Size: 22" wide by 42" tall

Mask II

2012-01-17T22:37:00.000-06:00

This is another piece in the mask line. Simplistic in design but yet ears, eyes, nose and mouth are represented.

I never seem to run out of shovel heads or faucet handles. Folks just can't seem to get around to fixing broken shovel handles so they keep them hanging around in the corner of the garage for years until one day they have the garage sale and out they come. The result of failed intentions.

I snatch them up and then they sit in the corner of my studio until I come up with the right junk to turn them into a recycled creation. Hopefully it's not years until that happens!

Twitter

2012-01-15T16:45:00.003-06:00

As an artist, one is always encouraged to join the "Social Media" stampede. I tend to be more of a hernmit in that regard as I just don't think I have that much to say.

At any rate, I'll attempt to follow the advice of my advisors and contribute more to Twitter and Facebook in 2012.

With that in mind, I wanted an artistic icon for Twitter that would not only reflect the Twitter icon, but also add my own flair as a welder and artist. I had my friend Chris Mauk of http://www.chrismauck.com/ design this icon for me. It just cracks me up! It is just whimsical enough to reflect the work I do. I will link it to my account in the next day or so here on this site.

Blossum

2012-01-14T07:42:00.000-06:00

Blossum

This is a flower arrangement that I made for my sister-in-law. What I like the most about it is the garden themed can and the way the natural colors of the faucet handles accent the colors in the can. As you can see the can is filled with my signature "Industrial Dirt"

Toucan

2012-01-11T07:51:00.000-06:00

Birds are obviously a favorite thing of mine to create. This one takes me back to my childhood and a cereal called Fruit Loops that had "Toucan Sam" as it's mascot.

I never actually ate the cereal as I thought it was too sweet but I loved the toucan!

Angel

2012-01-09T07:43:00.000-06:00

Everyone needs angels in their life. The key is recognizing the ones that walk among us. This is a whimsical rendition of a "junk metal" one.

Once again you just have to look at things in a different perspective to see the hidden things that lie within them.

Size: 12" wide x 14" tall

Sprocket Flower

2012-01-08T08:27:00.000-06:00

I've known for a long time that the sprockets on a ten speed bike make a good flower head. I was pleasantly surprised when I came across this sprocket from who knows what.

It is just so industrial! I've added my signature trowels for the leaves.

I wish I had a metric boat load of these, but then, that is what makes each piece I make so unique.

Size: 12" wide x23" tall.

Vintage Wrench Hooks

2012-01-07T23:21:00.000-06:00

From the "When life Deals You Lemons, Make Lemonade" file. I purchase a lot of open end wrenches on Ebay to produce fish and horseshoe crabs. A lot of times these are sold in lots~so you have to take the good with the bad. The good being the larger wrenches. The bad (up until now) the small ones.

I was starting to get quite a pile of small wrenches with no idea what to do with them. Then one day I came across something that gave me the idea to use them to make hooks. I got the forge fired up, threw them in there to get them good and hot and bent them over a pipe to form a hook.

After that, I took them to my drill press and drilled a hole in them so that they can be mounted on a board or a wall to hold any number of things. I have several in my garage to hold jackets. I have some in my studio to hold my welding helmet and goggles. Ladies, you can even bring them indoors and hang your necklaces on them.

Shed Head

2012-01-06T18:24:00.000-06:00

The studio seems to get over run with miscellaneous junk over time so I needed to come up with some inspiration to use up all of the little pieces that didn't seem to fit into my other projects.

The result was the creation of something I called "Shed Heads"....little faces that can be hung from the side of the garden shed or on the fence to being some uniqueness to your humble abode.

I will be posting them here over the next month or so. I think I created about 20 of them or so and photographed most of them.

Piranah~Saw Blade Fish 46

2012-01-05T21:51:00.000-06:00

This saw blade struck me as the perfect body for a fish as the design of the outside perimeter of the blade lent itself to a fish's fins and the cut in the blade formed a perfect mouth...with teeth......like a piranah.

Although I normally do not paint my sculptures, I just felt that this one needed some color to compliment the color in the license plate tail.

Size: 7" tall x 11" long

C~R~E~A~T~E in JUNK

2012-01-04T19:58:00.000-06:00

"CREATE"

This piece comes from the "Stop and smell the roses" camp. If you stop to really look at everyday items with a new perspective, you see other opportunities hidden within them. This is good advice for everyday living as well as creating junk metal art. Go out and "create" something.

Red Faucet Handle Flower

2012-01-03T19:21:00.000-06:00

Vintage faucet handles make awesome flower heads. Usually I create flowers that go in the ground. This one veered off track and ended up in a little junk metal pot.

The nice thing about these flowers is that they never die, so they do not require a green thumb. Also, you can go off on that vacation you were planning and not have to pay the neighbor kid to come over and water the plants. It will still be in bloom when you get back.....even if you happen to call the boss and tell him some lame excuse that the car broke down or the airplane needs a new part just to extend the vacay a few more days.

Woodsy Owl

2012-01-02T22:43:00.000-06:00

This was the piece that started it all. I happened to find the wheelbarrow tire rim and an old fan in my father -in-law's shed. Little did I know at the time that I would end up welding them together along with some other found items I had to create this owl. That was over five years ago and I still can't believe how lucky I was to have come across these items and my passion in life.

What's Coming in 2012?

2012-01-01T18:39:00.001-06:00

Happy New Year! 2012 promises to be a great year. Throughout 2011, I have been working on three other stores to bring to market for 2012. The first will be Dwayne Bulla Designs. This shop will focus on jewelry from found objects and recycled metal. This shop will launch about the third week of January,

The second store will be called Exit Ramp. This store will focus on travel related items, once again recycling and repurposing items such as old maps. This shop will open about the second week of March 2012.

The last store will be White Sand Beach. This shop will focus on all things beach related and /or tropical.

Here you will find things such as beach glass and lake stone jewelry, beach decor for the home and outdoors and anything else that will help you escape to your favorite tropical locale. This shop will open around late April or early May just in time to hit the beach!

Of course junk metal art will continue to be created from discarded metal and old tools. Several new designs have been put to paper and will hopefully become reality. Stay tuned.

Black Cat

2011-12-30T06:18:00.002-06:00

When the last of my wife's and my parents passed away we got two kittens through one of my wife's co-workers to fill the void: Malden and Bella

Malden was mosty black with white on his chest and paws. He passed away suddenly when he was about a year old. He was my little buddy and was always very happy and always under my feet. I miss him greatly. This piece was inspired by Malden and his memory, He brought a lot of joy in the short time he was on this earth.

Woodpecker

2011-12-27T19:29:00.000-06:00

Woodpeckers continue to be heard in the trees around my house so I decided to create another version.

This one has a cut nail for it's head and ball bearings for it's eyes while a trowel forms the body.

Solid round steel discarded from other projects form it's legs.

This item is usually always for sale in my online store.

Size: 4" wide x 13" tall

Hinge Easel

2011-12-26T18:16:00.000-06:00

I purchased a bucket of miscellaneous "junk" at and auction and in the bottom of it was several old rusty hinges.

I ended up making a few easels with some of them by welding them into a 90 degree angle so that they held their form and welded a lip to the front to hold the item placed in it so it wouldn't slide forward.

Six: 6 inches wide x 6" tall.

Perched

2011-12-24T13:33:00.000-06:00

Similar to the "Two Old Crows" piece, this bird is a Lone Ranger. He sits alone, perched atop a piece of discarded 1/2" solid metal round stock and watches over the garden.

These creations have proven quite popular and, as in all of my creations, the birds are all unique based on the "junk" on hand to create them.

Centipede

2011-12-22T20:16:00.000-06:00

The nice thing about having been an artist in junk metal for awhile is that family and friends think of me when they are cleaning out their garages, basements and sheds.

One day I came home to find this garden implement on my porch. After taking off the handle I instantly saw a whimsical centipede in it. All I had to do was add some antenae and it was done. One of the fastest and easiest projects I've ever done.

Size: about 5" wide x 16" long and 5" tall

Flower Arrangement

2011-12-21T20:51:00.001-06:00

While rummaging around a local antique store, I found this wonderful metal vase that was just screaming for some industrial junk art flowers. My studio is nevar at a loss to have faucet handles and other industrial castoffs that can become flowers.

This flower arrangement is great because unlike fresh flowers that bloom for just a short time, this one will never die and will always be in bloom.

Size: 14" wide x 27" tall

The "Ole Fishin Hole"

2011-12-20T14:05:00.001-06:00

I remember as a kid watching "The Andy Griffith Show" with Andy and Opie walking side by side and Opie picking up rocks and tossing them as they walked. This whimsical rendition of a fish is what I pictured on the end of Opie's stringer.

Made from all discarded metal, a shovel head is the main component of the the body with an old fan blade for its gill and a saw blade for it's top fin. Other found metal has been manipulated to form the remainder of the fish's body.

This piece is along a path and points the way to "The Fishin Hole"

Drill Bit Dragonfly

2011-12-19T19:52:00.000-06:00

While rummaging around flea markets, I noticed that there were a lot of old auger bits to be had. I think the only person that I've recently seen use a bit and brace was Roy Underhill on his PBS show "The Woodright's Shop".

I created this dragonfly by using the auger bit for it's body, cut nails form th wings and ball bearings form it's "buggy" eyes.

I have actually had dragonflies perch on my dragonfly in the flower bed.

Size: 9" wide x 9" long

Long Neck Goose

2011-12-18T13:36:00.000-06:00

This goose was inspired by a trip to Brown County Indiana for a log cabin tour. At one of the homes on the tour, the homeowner had a crow bar stuck in the ground much as you see it on this goose. I just happened to see it at the right angle and instantly saw a goose neck in it.

Luckily, when I got home and started digging around in my junk pile I had such a crow bar. The body is a farming implement and discarded rebar form the feet.

Overall size is 28" tall, 12" wide and l4" deep.

New Etsy Site

2011-12-08T12:47:00.001-06:00

Earlier this year I opened a new shop at Etsy called "Industrial Dirt" . Industrial Dirt was a name that I came up with that described the miscellaneous metal items that I would use to fill pots of flowers at my other shop where I sell junk metal art.

It turns out that there are artists out there that use what I can't in pursuit of their art forms. Instead of letting these valuable items rust away in the bottom of a flower pot, I will offer them at my new shop. Perhaps there will not be an interest in some of these items and that is OK. I will just use them as filler as I did before.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T05:05:00.003-05:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2011!

I've recently started seeing letters in junk (don't worry

my doctor says it's not contagious). This sign is one

of the first of what, I believe, will be many to come. Stay

tuned! I see that if I added an "L" and an "M" to this set

it would spell "BLOOM". I think the sickness has set

in. I guess the best thing to do is not fight it and keep

looking for letters!

2011-08-12T22:20:00.001-05:00

In an effort to be "Green" and recycle most of the junk metal that comes into my shop, I'm always searching for ideas that will use up waste.

This key chain was created from a small cut off piece of 1/2" round stock that got heated in the forge and formed into a leaf.

One trip to the county fair gives you more key chains than you can use so the ring was repurposed from one of the many keychains collected this summer

Put~In~Bay

2011-06-19T22:03:00.001-05:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I am happiest by the water. And if it's an island, that's even better! My wife and I took a little vacation to Put~in~Bay, Ohio, an island out in Lake Erie.

You Can Get Here From Anywhere!

Bring a Friend!

Can't believe it's Ohio

Getting Inspired!

A World Record!

Cool Sign

A nice couple of days spent in Ohio. I feel recharged and creative again.

Woodpeckers

2011-05-13T20:39:00.000-05:00

One morning while laying in bed, I heard a God awful racket on my roof. More specifically on my gutters. Well, it turns out that it was a woodpecker. Go Figure!

Anyway, it inspired me to create these two guys. The nice thing about these is that they are eternally ready to peck at something, but never will. Ahhhhh, silence.

Cattails

2011-05-11T21:51:00.000-05:00

When a friend of mine had high winds rip through his neighborhood and toss his trampoline into the neighbors house, he didn't have much left of the trampoline that was useable.....to him anyway. I took the springs that held the fabric to the frame and created these cattails out of them.

RailRoad Spike Cross

2011-05-10T21:58:00.002-05:00

I use a lot of railroad spikes for critters but wanted to create something more intimate and meaningful. On a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico I saw a cross similar to this one.

Size: 8" wide x 8" tall

Grasshopper from Wrenches

2011-05-09T21:42:00.000-05:00

What would "Joe the Plumber" think if he knew that a perfectly functioning pipe wrench had open end wrenches, cut nails, and hex head nuts welded to it to create a grasshopper? Well, hopefully he would say "COOL"!

Size: 12" wide x 8" tall

Wrench Fish

2011-05-08T21:35:00.000-05:00

Just as there are thousands of different species of fish in the seas, there are thousands of ways to create a fish out of junk metal. All one has to do is open their eyes to the possibilites that what something once was is not what it can become.

For example...one day a wrench.....another day a fish bone.

Size: 18" wide x 16" tall

Praying Mantis

2011-05-07T21:24:00.003-05:00

A Praying Mantis is such an interesting creature. The past few summers I have been blessed to observe on up close and personal as it has taken up residence on my window screen.

This gave me the inspiration for the junk metal version seen here.

Size: 19" wide x 26" tall

Two Old Crows

2011-05-06T21:21:00.000-05:00

These two old guys remind me of and was inspired by the Windex commercial where the two birds are in the tree and watch the man of the house walk into the glass door.

I can just hear these two chuckling over the stupid things that humans do as they are perched atop their junk metal telephone pole.

The birds are created from old trowels, cut nails, nuts mad scrap metal.

Size: 6' tall x 32" wide

Shovel Head Fish

2011-05-05T21:13:00.000-05:00

Tropical fish have always interested me and so has snorkeling. Whenever possible, I like to create junk metal fish. They remind me of warm weather and tropical places. Ahhhhhhhh.

This guy was created using a shovel head, saw blades, part of a rake, and a brace along with other found metal.

Size: 23" wide x 24" tall

Garden Angel

2011-05-04T19:58:00.000-05:00

I often say in the pursuit of this crazy art form of mine that you have to look at things in a new perspective. That is exactly what I did with this piece.

This garden angel was created from an old housing of a pulley. A piece of solid round scrap metal was used to form the halo and a piece of metal from an old real estate sign holder is the stake. This piece lends a calming peaceful addition to the garden. I have had some folks use them as a marker for their pets that have passed on as well.

Size: 9" wide x 11" tall

Grandma's Windowsill

2011-05-03T20:32:00.000-05:00

When I was a kid growing up, my Grandma always had pots of flowers on her window sill in her living room.

This piece reflects those memories- incorporating junk metal into an artistic flower arrangement. Vintage faucet handles form the flower heads while discarded metal forms the stems. A flea market find serves as the perfect pot for these flowers to grow in.

Size: 11" wide x 18" tall

Prickly Pear Cactus

2011-05-02T09:06:00.000-05:00

This cactus piece was inspired by a trip out West. There, cactus are as commonplace as a dandelion is here in Indiana.

I remember making one of these and displaying it at an art show. I recall a lady asking me what it took to make such a piece.

Being in a playful mood, I quickly responded "an up to date tetanus shot!"

Overall size: 16" wide x 18" tall x 4" deep.

Artful Tread 2011

2011-05-01T20:57:00.000-05:00

This year I will provide an entry for the Artful Tread in Indianapolis for Arts A Poppin. See the press release below.

Racing fever has hit Mass Ave! Twenty-six businesses in the Cultural District are hard at work revving up for the 10th running of Artful Tread May 6 & 7. Businesses will decorate the area with used tires turned into creative works of art in honor of Indianapolis’ racing heritage and May’s racing events. Many of the tires used are donated by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The tire artwork will be revealed Friday, May 6 at 5 p.m. and will be on display throughout the month of May, weather permitting. District visitors will have a chance to vote for the “People’s Choice” of all tire designs both May 6 & 7. A panel of “experts” will also judge the tires and vote for their favorite.

Artful Tread began in 2002 and is sponsored by the Mass Ave Merchants Association (MAMA). Since then, it has become a favorite annual tradition among Mass Ave businesses and visitors alike.

The Friday, May 6 event will feature a new element this year – the Handmade Promenade. This group of local artisans will display their arts and crafts as part of the Spring Gallery Walk on the grassy lot owned by Dean Johnson Design in the 600 block of Mass Ave.

Along with Artful Tread, the Spring Gallery Walk May 6 provides visitors a special opportunity to tour the numerous Mass Ave art galleries and experience top-notch art from local and national artists. The galleries put up new shows and exhibits especially for the Spring Gallery Walk.

The Spring Gallery Walk coincides with IDADA First Friday. IDADA, Indianapolis Downtown Artist and Dealers Association, sponsors the art walk which connects 31 Downtown galleries and artists’ studios. The art walk takes place from 6 – 9 p.m. The event is FREE and open to the public.

Listed below are businesses that will be participating in the 2011 Artful Tread competition.

300 Block

Bazbeaux Pizza

400 Block

Chatterbox Jazz Club

Arts a Poppin

Global Gifts

Schmidt Associates

Mass Ave Toys

Silver in the City/At Home in the City

Nurture

600 Block

The Frame Shop/ Franklin Barry Gallery

Agio

Sweet Tooth Bakery

Aesop’s Tables

Watt’s Blooming

Century 21 Scheetz

Handmade Promenade

Moxie’s on Mass

700 Block

45 Degrees

Yogulatte

ComedySportz

800 Block

Best Chocolate in Town

Evolve Salon

R Bistro

City Dogs Grocery

Off Mass Ave

Nestle Inn

Henry’s on East Street

Athenaeum Foundation

Menopausal Flower

2011-03-01T13:50:00.001-06:00

This flower is dedicated to the women out there that have hit that time of life when the hormones start changing.

If you look closely at the handles that form the leaves, you will see that one is a hot one and one is a cold one.

I've learned that both of these temperatures can hit at any time and sometimes within seconds of each other.

Get out of the way when the covers start flying!

Awesome

2011-01-24T21:53:00.004-06:00

This is one of the best uses of plumbing fixtures that I have ever seen...sculptural light fixtures from recycled plumbing fixtures and glass. View more here: www.liquidlightsite.com.

Fork Easel

2010-07-28T17:18:00.005-05:00

Not everything in the pursuit of junk metal art is welded as witnessed in this easel made from a vintage fork.

I have used it to show a small framed photo, but they can also be used to hold a recipe card, a thin painted rock or anything else thin enough to fit in the bent tines of the fork.

Old forks are plentiful in second hand shops and Antique stores. There are artists that also make jewelry out of them. Perhaps at a later date I will take a stab at making a fork pendant.

Art In the Garden 2010

2010-07-05T20:23:00.000-05:00

Gardens on the Prairie presents "Art in the Garden", an incredible day of handcrafted art, beautiful gardens, and great entertainment.

Art in the Garden will be held at Gardens on the Prairie, July 25th from 11:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.

Come on out and say hello. I will have a booth up by the shed.

Fan Blade Flower

2010-06-26T21:50:00.000-05:00

Fan blades make such interesting flowers. It's amazing to me that such industrial types of things, such as a fan blade, look good in the garden setting.

As they are exposed to Mother Nature they only look better as the rusty patina develops.

Size: 14" wide x 24" tall

Hose Guide

2010-06-12T19:29:00.003-05:00

What do you get when you take old rusty carriage bolts and marry them with old door knobs?

Well, if you think out of the box, you get hose guides.

If you object, speak now or forever hold your piece.

Uptown Gallery: Hobart, Indiana

2010-06-05T19:19:00.000-05:00

A new art gallery will be opening on June 19th in Hobart, Indiana. The Uptown Gallery located at 200 East 10th Street, Hobart will feature art from dozens of local artists. I have been invited to display my art there and will feature eight (8) pieces.

There will be an Opening Reception from noon to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 19th. Uptown Gallery can be reached at 219-484-9355.

Taltree Art in the Garden 2010

2010-05-28T20:54:00.001-05:00

I will be participating in Taltree Arboretum's Art in the Garden on Sunday, June 6, 2010.

The show runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Taltree Arboretum is located at 71 North 500 West, Valparaiso, IN 46385.

Taltree is an idyllic experience in the midst of one of Northwest Indiana's best natural inspirations. It is a 300 acre complex of gardens, woody plant collections and restored and preserved native areas.

Old Judge

2010-05-01T14:29:00.000-05:00

I came across some old coffee cans at a garage sale and thought they would make good vases for flower arrangements. I stuck with the red and white theme in the can and found some faucet handles in the studio for the flower heads.

Overall size: 14" wide x 16" tall

Orchard In Bloom 2010

2010-04-05T20:15:00.001-05:00

The 21st Annual Orchard in Bloom Garden Show will be held April 29th-May 2, 2010 at Holiday Park in Indianapolis.

Come on out and say hello. I will have a booth in Tent One, Booth #2.

Horse Shoe Angel Fish

2010-04-01T14:18:00.001-05:00

Anytime that I can create something that takes me back to a warm tropical setting I do it.

To me there is nothing better than the white sandy beach of a tropical island.

Snorkeling in the Bahamas left me with many visual ideas for the creatures of the sea. This is a whimsical take on an Angel Fish created from a horse shoe, a washer, a hex nut  and discarded solid round steel.

I have created many of these and placed them in a school. The effect is pretty awesome.

Tears of the Adzman

2010-03-01T14:06:00.001-06:00

The old saying that "One Man's Junk is Another Man's Treasure" is fairly twisted in this creation I believe. Someone had an old Adz that they had tossed in the trash and I retrieved. It obviously had absolutely no value to them. It had value to me as the head of a piece of art.

I'm sure that the most value it had was to a collector of antique tools. Who knows, this adz may have been used to cut the trees that made Abraham Lincoln's log cabin. Far fetched perhaps but maybe not.

The point is is that everyone perceives value in something in different ways.

Vixen

2010-02-01T13:43:00.001-06:00

Always looking for new ways to incorporate junk metal into art, I have started to create whimsical "masks" that can be dispalyed indoors or out.

This creation began with a blade for a post hole digger being left on the doorstep and morphed into "Vixen" the Lady in Red!

She measures about 7" wide and 18" tall.

Happy New Years!

2010-01-01T23:07:00.003-06:00

Last year on New Year's Day, I was fortunate to attend the Winter Classic Hockey game between the Chicago Black Hawks and the Detroit Red Wings.

This year I sat in the warm confines of my living room and watched the Boston Bruins defeat the Philadelphia Flyers in overtime.

One of my favorite moments of the game was when they took time out to sing "Sweet Caroline" in the third period. I found this intriguing because it is normally sung during the "summer months" when baseball is played at Fenway Park and not hockey in January.

The point is that I usually weld my art in the summer months when the studio is warmer and my shop sits idle in the winter.....much like Fenway Park. I now find myself welding all year long thanks to all of you who purchase my art.

So like Fenway Park, and Wrigley Field last year, the lights go on in the "off" season and the owners of these establishments are thankful for the opportunity to showcase their wares and are thankful for the folks that support them just like me.

Thanks everyone and Happy New Year. I hope to see you out there in 2010!

The Attic (an art gallery)

2009-12-20T19:37:00.007-06:00

Starting sometime in January, 2010, I will displaying my art in a new gallery that recently opened in Crown Point, Indiana called The Attic.

Click on the following link to read a review of the gallery that was recently published in "The Times" of Northwest Indiana.

http://www.nwitimes.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/article_ae2cb536-49a0-5a44-9386-41be8f75b274.html

Fan Flower

2009-12-08T20:34:00.005-06:00

I'm sure there are antique fan collectors out there that are just cringing over the fact that I used a vintage Hunter fan for this flower but I just had to.

Uniquely different in the fact that the flower head is made from a old Hunter fan measuring about 10" in diameter it has my characteristic trowels for leaves.

The leaves span about 12". The stem is made from one of those real estate sign holder that grace many front yards across America.The flower stands about 2 feet tall and is about 31" long overall.

Recycled Wire Wheel Flower

2009-12-07T20:06:00.004-06:00

I really like to recycle things in the studio. Most of the time, I'm using found items, donated items, curbside finds or junk from the flea market.

I really like it when I can give new life to my own items! This flower was created from a wire wheel that I used in the studio until it was just plain worn down.

It still has a yellow center which makes it an ever bloomer. This photo was taken with the outside temp at about 20 degrees so as you can see it will always be in bloom.

The leaves are created from two trowels...a signature detail. The stem
is from one of those metal frames that real estate agents so often use to place their signs on. It makes a perfect flower stem.

Re-Energized

2009-12-06T18:17:00.002-06:00

I'm starting my New Year's resolution early this year in hopes that by New Year's Day it will already be a habit. That resolution is to contribute to this blog more frequently.

I can't believe that my last post was in January. YIKES!

This has been a year though of rejuvenation. Sometimes, one must take a sabbatical to recharge the batteries and that is what I did for most of the year.

I only did a few shows this year-some new ones-and some that have become tradition.

Important people in my life passed on this year and priorities have been rearranged.

I built a Tiki bar and enjoyed the summer to the tunes of Jimmy (Buffett), Kenny (Chesney) , and Zac (Zac Brown Band). Most of all, I enjoyed the company of friends and family.

I found it hard to get out and be creative. But alas, I feel more energized, I have a growing pile of junk just waiting to become SOMETHING. Perhaps it will end up in your house or garden.

In the meantime, I hope that all of you have a great Holiday Season and I hope to see you down the road.

Hanging Out Your Shingle in Nantucket

2009-10-29T20:03:00.000-05:00

When one opened a business in "the old days" it was said that they "Hung Out Their Shingle" On a recent trip to Nantucket, I was impressed by the "shingles" hung in front of the businesses. Not only were they unique, but they all required the services of a metal worker. See for yourself.

Town& County Building

Company of the Cauldron

Cheryl Fudge

The Crow's Nest

Vanessa Noel

Black Eyed Susan's

The Pineapple Inn

At The Kenny Concert

2009-09-19T19:39:00.000-05:00

Spent the Day in Indy at the Kenny Chesney "Sun City Carnival Tour" at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The line up included Miranda Lambert, Montgomery Gentry, Zac Brown Band, SugarLand and of course the man himself Kenny Chesney.

As an artist it is always inspiring to see other artists in any medium perform or put on a show. The promotional and performance aspect is something that one can learn from no matter what art form one is in passionate about.

Saugatuck, Michigan

2009-07-29T21:09:00.001-05:00

At the Beach

All work and no play is not a good combination as everyone knows. My wife and I took a long weekend trip to Saugatuck, Michigan . Originally a lumber town and port, Saugatuck, along with the adjacent city of Douglas became a noted art colony and tourist destination in the arts and crafts movement of the late 19th century. In the early 20th century, Saugatuck was home to the famous Big Pavilion, a large dance hall that attracted bands and visitors from across the Midwest. The building was a popular destination on Lake Michigan from its construction in 1909 until it burned down on May 6, 1960.

Saugatuck Village Hall

Today, tourists are drawn to the art galleries, harbor, marinas, scenery, unusual stores, the view from atop Mount Baldhead, and tourist attractions as well as Oval Beach on Lake Michigan, which enjoys a worldwide reputation.

Junk Metal Art!

Martha's Vineyard

2009-05-14T21:02:00.000-05:00

While visiting Martha's Vineyard

I came across a cool little gallery

with some interesting metal art pieces

the most interesting of which I show below.

I can just picture father and child frolicking in

the park and the father swinging the child. You

can almost hear the laughter.

Patton

2009-05-04T21:36:00.000-05:00

This turtle was a commissioned piece for a lady that wanted to incorporate a family member's old army helmet along with her love of turtles.

By creating a piece of art out of the helmet, it took it out of the attic where it was collecting dust and placed it in the garden where her loved one's memory would be more fondly remembered.

Time to Regroup

2009-01-27T14:20:00.007-06:00

I've just finished the Porter County Master Gardeners show at the Porter County Expo Center. Despite sub freezing temperatures a very large, lively and inspiring crowd showed up.

Of course, what took place behind the scenes for me were a few weeks of controlled hysteria as I designed a new look for my shows.

New backdrops were built along with a couple of rustic accent pieces made from used pallets. Along with all of this chaos, welding still needed to be done to prepare pieces for the show.

All in all, it left my garage and my studio in a shambles.

I will take a break, catch my breath, AND CLEAN and ORGANIZE my shop. This has been long overdue but coincides with most New Year's Resolutions to become more organized.

Organization of my shop will ultimately lead to not only being more productive, but being safer.

The spring rush of shows will be upon me shortly. I'll be happy to get rid of the Carhart's in favor of some warmer weather. Already the days are growing longer and it is nice to see the sun setting later in the evening.

I look forward to meeting some of you this year. Please stop by the booth and say hello. It will be my pleasure to meet you.

Life Is Good

2009-01-08T08:04:00.001-06:00

Do What You Like, Like What You Do.

In a moment, I'd like to share with you the story of "Life Is Good". Over the past year or so I've purchased quite a bit of their products. To me, it's a feel good story of "the little guy" succeeding in a world where the little guy often gets trampled.

I really like their mantra "Do What You Like, Like What You Do". I have been so blessed to find a hobby that has turned into a lucrative business. The best part about that is that I never get tired of creating pieces of art.

Someone once said that you should do what you like and find a way to make money at it. I couldn't agree more. So many of us toil in careers that really do little to satisfy our inner hunger for peace. Economic conditions now force even more of us to stay in a less than satisfying position just to keep the bills paid.

Some of us who are laid off during times of economic hardship find the courage, drive and commitment to pursue lifelong dreams and end up finding fullfillment. As I often say with my art, you just need to look at things in a different perspective.

I hope that 2009 is good for you. I challenge you to get out of your comfort zone. Explore new interests. Take a class. Find a hobby. You never know where it will lead.

And now, the "Life is Good" story:

In 1989, Bert and John Jacobs designed their first tee shirt. They knew nothing about the business.

For five years, the brothers hawked tee shirts in the streets of Boston and traveled the East Coast, selling door-to-door in college dormitories.

They collected some good stories, but were not very prosperous. They lived on peanut butter and jelly, slept in their van, and showered when they could.

Chicks were not impressed.

By the Fall of 1994, heading home from a long, less-than-fruitful roadtrip, Bert and John were desperately searching for answers to keep the dream alive. Little did they know, the only answer they needed was back in Boston, hanging up on their apartment wall.

Jake's contagious grin, simple as it was, seemed to express everything the Jacobs brothers believed in.

One fateful September day, they printed up 48 Jake shirts for a local street fair in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They laid the shirts out on their rickety card table. By noontime, all 48 of those tees were gone. A star was born.

Soon Jake was introduced to local retailers, and his simple message of optimism was embraced like nothing the brothers had ever seen. As demand for product soared, Jake's team grew, and the Little Brand That Could began to spread across America.

Today, the New England based brand stays close to its roots, with an emphasis on humor and humility. Through Life is good Festivals, positive products, and a steady dose of ping pong, Jake's crew does its best to keep the good vibes flowing.

Cold Steel on Ice: The Chicago Blackhawks

2009-01-05T16:19:00.000-06:00

I was extremely lucky to attend the NHL's Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on New Year's Day.

As a sporting event, it was one the most exciting spectacles I've ever seen and I've been to my share of "The Greatest Spectacle in Motorsports" the Indianapolis 500.

However, as a hockey game.......hmmm. The third outdoor regular season game in NHL history produced the most goals of the three but was also the least competitive. At least after the first period.

I thought the NHL, the Cubs organization and the Wrigleyville community did an excellent job of getting the fans involved in the game and maintaining order for such a sea of humanity. Where else but Wrigley would you be singing "Take Me Out To The Hockey Game?

I haven't followed the Hawks as much in recent years, but I know that several years ago, they had a marketing campaign touting the Hawks as "Cold Steel on Ice". They lived up to the hype against the Red Wings. After the first period, COLD was the word. The Hawks went cold. The fans were cold. One bright spot of the frozen tundra......the beer stayed cold!

I hope that the NHL continues with the Winter Classic. From what I saw of the fan enthusiasm, they would be foolish not to.

I think most kids growing up learn the game of hockey by playing it outside. That's the way I did as a kid. It is definitely a treat to watch a game outside, in the elements with the wind blowing, your feet freezing, your nose running, and your hands enveloped in gloves.

Art is the latest fixture at historic Hammond hardware store

2008-12-30T10:10:00.000-06:00

I've recently started displaying my art in Paul Henry's Art Gallery in Hammond, Indiana. What follows is a piece that was written in The Times by Rob Earnshaw, Times Correspondent. Be sure to check out the photos of a unique icon of Northwest Indiana

P.H. Mueller Sons hardware store has been a fixture in downtown Hammond for more than 120 years and has held steady at it current location since 1902, its owner said.

The business's adjoining store, added early in the 20th century, has been through several incarnations -- saloon, sheet metal shop and, until a few years ago, automotive paint business.

Today it's an art gallery, one its owners hope will help bring people back to downtown Hammond.

MORE: See photos of, and hear the story behind Paul Henry's Art Gallery

"Art has a wide reaching attraction," said David Mueller, co-owner of Paul Henry's Art Gallery. "We were here when downtown Hammond had its heyday, when downtown Hammond attracted business from all over Lake and Porter counties and from Illinois and Chicago too.

"The business is named after his great-grandfather and founder of P.H. Mueller Sons, Paul Henry Mueller.

I wanted to link it to the past, to the hardware store and its founder," Mueller said.

David and his wife, Rita, also a co-owner, chose art to accompany their historic hardware business because they wanted something with a distinctive nature within the historic walls -- something as original and unique as the structure itself.

It's a lestigial leftover from decades ago," Mueller said. "People enjoy seeing art in this space.

"More than 70 artists are displaying art at Paul Henry's Art Gallery. The initial presentation to artists from the Muellers included a history of the business and the P.H. Mueller building.

"We gave them an idea of who we really were -- our past and plans for the future," Rita said.

Paintings, sculptures, clay and ceramic pieces, wood and glass fill the artistic space in the 106-year-old building. Colorful paint splatters dot the floor in the back room -- now an art studio -- remnants from the automotive paint shop.

"The artists said not to clean that up, to leave it there," Mueller said.

Paul Henry's Art Gallery Location: 416 Sibley St., Hammond
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday.

Forged Candle Holder with Copper Rose

2008-12-28T19:51:00.006-06:00

This candle holder was a project when I belonged to the Indiana Blacksmithing Association. My group would meet at the Round Barn Museum in Rochester, Indiana where they had a functioning Blacksmith shop. Once a month we would gather, get the forge a cookin and create different projects.

This candle holder has a steel base that was cut and hand forged into the legs. The rose candle holder has three individual pieces of copper that was formed over a mandrel and then heated to get a nice patina.

Size: 5" wide x 4" tall

Steel Magnolias

2008-12-26T22:02:00.000-06:00

I worked in a machine shop several years ago where I would use milling cutters such as the one forming this flower head to cut grooves in metal.

At that time, I was not creating works of art out of discarded tools and junk metal but I wish now that I had been as I would have had a good supply of "raw materials".

It is interesting to note how past experiences come back to mold you into the person you are today. It was at this job that I had my first experience with a weld shop.

Size: 12" wide x 24" tall

Artful Tread 2008

2008-12-22T11:33:00.000-06:00

I participated in "The Artful Tread" competition in Indianapolis this year. For those unfamiliar with it, it is held in conjuction with the Indianapolis 500 festivities during the month of May.

Artists are asked to create pieces of art in which at least part of the art is a tire.

It is held on Mass Ave in Indianapolis a trendy street with lots of unique art galleries, dining, and shopping opportunities. Visitors to the street are asked to vote for their favorites along with a panel of judges.

I faired well in the judging and was thrilled when my entry became a permanent piece of art on Mass Ave. You can find it in the 800 Block of Mass Ave at the corner of Mass Ave and College Street right by The Art Bank.

http://www.discovermassave.com/

And So It Begins

2008-12-21T22:36:00.000-06:00

I haven't done any writing or journaling in quite a while. In fact I think that years, or even decades, would be a more appropriate word.

It is late on a Sunday with the wind chill near -30 degrees F. Hardly a perfect time to embark on a blog but one must start somewhere. I think someone said that "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step" or something close to that, and that is where I begin. A first step.

Much like a baby's first steps, I'm a little shaky. Heck, I'm not even sure I've been crawling to this point. I am an artist in junk metal, not a writer of profound thoughts.

The year 2008 is drawing to a close and what a year it has been. Among all of the gloom and doom that has been touted by the media, I have a lot to be thankful for and I will share some of that as it relates to the "Madness" in future posts.

I don't know where this journey will take me, much like I did not know where my art form would lead me or the opportunities that would present itself. I try to keep my eyes and ears open and look at things in different perspectives. That is how I am able to turn "trash into treasure".

Join me on the journey as I turn "One Man's Trash......Into Another Man's Treasure".