Artist Creates Animated Straw Sculptures

Artist Creates Animated Straw Sculptures FARM HOME Novelty Items After years of experience as a trained artist working with wood metal cloth and other materials Brian Sobaski found the medium he thinks he was meant to work with – straw Instead of fancy galleries his artwork appears at festivals state fairs and other outdoor venues with room for his big scale straw sculptures One of his latest exhibits was at the Iowa State Fair “Running of the Bull” was a whimsical line-up of farm animals including a bunny pushing a bull in a wheelbarrow Sobaski’s sculptures are framed with metal and cedar posts with hinges for articulation He holds straw in place with twine and “bashes” the straw with a giant wooden Vietnamese wooden ladle to create muscle structure “With the twine I can pull it out or add more straw I make it very loose and so it looks like a cloud ” he explains The sculptures as tall as 22 ft are secured in place with welded metal and giant rebar staples placed underground and covered with woodchips Sobaski credits his engineering business partner Tracy Baresh for making sure the lightweight sculptures don’t blow away Most of the artist’s work is commissioned for specific events and sites He asks clients many questions and provides sketches and models before creating the final piece The final sculpture is often assembled onsite with local straw or hay and becomes a participatory performance “People like how the characters are telling a story and like the idea of it being made with natural materials People love how they make them feel – happy lively fun ” Sobaski says They also recognize it is temporary A straw sculpture only lasts a month or two before it turns grey sags and morphs into a “monster” that composts and can be used to grow mushrooms he notes Possible subjects are endless from animals to a 40 by 60-ft pumpkin mosaic to a 22-ft tall beehive with a turnstile on the inside that moves bees on the outside Engaged couples also contact him for straw sculptures for their farm-themed weddings “My favorite piece is always the next one I’m working on People want to outdo the last one ” he says For more information about ordering a custom sculpture or to see samples of his work check out Sobaski’s website Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Brian Sobaski Falcon Heights Minn 55113 ph 651 283-7992; www mockduck3 wordpress com; mockduck@comcast net

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