Laurie at Work
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Artist's Profile
Artist Statement
I have been making sculptures out of scrap metal for the past 10
years. Each piece of scrap possesses an inherent design that becomes a
source of inspiration to me, containing the germ of an idea for my
next
sculpture.
I am drawn to shiny, rusty, and twisted metal scraps, which I find
everywhere, from dumpsters to street corners and back alleys.
Sometimes friends find metal that has been stored away in their
basements and cellars and bring it to me.
Right now my scrap collection includes a huge array of motorcycle
parts, bike wheels, gears, and fenders. I store the scrap in my
backyard or garage where I can see and touch it. Over time an idea for
a sculptural piece will emerge out of the chaos. Usually the shape or
texture guides me in a certain direction. For example, bicycle forks
reminded me of horse legs. I
also had some piano strings lying around, which I thought would be
perfect for the mane and tail. Shovels without handles suggested
faces, so I combined them with various tools and other scrap to create
masks.
Biography
I grew up as a Navy brat which meant that there were many road
trips across America as we moved between coasts. I am heavily
influenced by all the roadside attractions we passed. When I learned
how to weld about 15 years ago, I put those influences to work, using
discarded materials to create these unique, one-of-a-kind pieces.
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