Sculptor Turns Trash into Works of Art
arts, culture, mike durham, north carolina zoo fundraiser, sculptor, trash art,
When artist Mike Durham looks at a discarded bicycle seat, he doesn’t see refuse, he sees the beginning of a unique sculpture.
“I look at it and think of what I could turn it into,” Durham says. “I think I see something that could be a face or hands, maybe.”
Durham made a bird’s beak from that discarded banana-style bicycle seat, along with a muffler for its body, reflectors for eyes and rebar for legs.
An old rake serves as its tail.
“That was my first piece, and I still have it,” he says. “Now, I create all kinds of things from interesting shapes I find.”
Durham is working on a robot using motorcycle turn signals for eyes and an old camera for its head.
“I have some of my pieces in my flower garden. People stop and ask about them all the time,” he says. “I also contribute to the North Carolina Zoo fundraiser auction. I am always surprised at what my sculptures go for. It’s embarrassing but great.”
Last year, Durham’s piece went for $3,900 at the auction.
Sculptures aren’t the artist’s only creative outlet. The former art teacher also creates pottery using salt glazes. A typical salt-glaze piece has a glassine finish, usually with a glossy and slightly orange-peel texture.
“I make lots of face birdhouses,” Durham says. “The mouth is the opening for the bird, but I give each one a unique expression.”
Story by Beverly K. Ringstaff
Photo by Todd Bennett
