| Avid gardeners are generally very green folk. | | | | drums which were once used to transport oil or |
| They like digging in the dirt, recycling and | | | | other products. After removing the ends these |
| composting, and easily incorporate other people's | | | | drums are flattened and then carved by hand into |
| discards into their outdoor decor. When looking for | | | | exotic works of art. Using only hammers, chisels |
| interesting pieces to decorate their yards, | | | | and other simple tools, the artists carve elaborate, |
| recycled metal garden art is a popular choice. | | | | decorative designs out of the steel. Haitian drum |
| Recycled metal garden art is a true reflection of | | | | art is world renowned and spreading in popularity. |
| the artist's personality and ingenuity. What may | | | | It makes a striking piece of wall art for inside the |
| be trash to you or me is reborn in the hands of | | | | house or in the garden. |
| these eco-artists. One artist, Andrew Chase, | | | | Saving bicycles from untimely graves a new |
| makes amazing mechanical structures of giraffes, | | | | breed of artists are using recycled bikes parts to |
| elephants and robots from recycled automobile | | | | create their art. Bike art has become so popular it |
| and plumbing parts. He gets discarded engine and | | | | is a genre of its own. With gears and wheels, nuts |
| transmission parts from his local auto repair, and | | | | and bolts, spokes and bars, a bicycle is the |
| by combining these with plumbing pipes and | | | | perfect raw material for recycled metal art. |
| fixtures he is able to create wonderful, moving | | | | Part of the appeal of recycled metal garden art is |
| creatures. | | | | the weathered and often rusted look of some of |
| Old oil tanks and drums are quite commonly used | | | | the pieces. Rusted metal has a natural, earthy feel |
| to make metal garden art. Painted oil tanks that | | | | to it and blends with the garden rather than |
| once supplied fuel to cottagers are cut down into | | | | making a loud statement. For this reason a lot of |
| brightly colored critters, including dogs with bones, | | | | gardeners seek out pre-rusted metal art. |
| dancing sheep or moose, lurking alligators and | | | | The ingenuity of artists working with recycled |
| climbing frogs. For something a little different you | | | | metal never ceases to amaze me. Add some |
| can even add a diva or a devil! | | | | recycled metal art to your yard and add instant |
| In Haiti a growing crafts community is creating | | | | character and charm. |
| wonderful metal wall sculptures from flattened | | | | |