This Gallery highlights works from discarded auto parts which I recovered from junkyards or the trash pile of auto body repair shops.
John Chamberlain was a successful abstract artist, and if not the first, he was one of the earliest artists to work with junked car parts beginning in the 1950’s. His metal sculptures are featured in many modern art museums. Fast forward: 2019 in Lisbon, Portugal. A Chamberlain sculpture inspired me to create something similar. Without the means to collect the heavy metal car parts, I collected plastic bumper covers that are the ubiquitous trash in the modern auto body shop. I developed a method to mold the plastic without damaging the paint. Were it not for this piece (and others like it) these colorful but damaged parts would be in a landfill.
A (discarded) bicycle pedal assembly forms the pivot point for this sculpture that will turn with the wind
(these auto body works are all suitable for outdoor display)
While waiting for my car to be inspected, I took a walk around the grounds of the auto shop and found this auto radiator fan, housing and motor headed for the trash. Of course, I rescued it! Many hours later, the fan blades and housing is now a clock. (The fan motor still works, and will someday be incorporated into another UpCycled sculpture.)
