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Sculptor Works With Chicken Wire
Artists often use chicken wire as the framework for sculptures, but we were impressed by an Australian artist who uses chicken wire for the sculpture itself. His sheep look soft and wooly. Birds appear to have feathers that could take flight. And his celebrity portraits are incredible.
  "After many years of trial and error, I've built up a large variety of effects and methods that I can use to create almost any subject," says sculptor Ivan Lovatt. "The process starts by crushing up the wire to make a kind of sponge, then I make a rudimentary shape of the subject. All parts are made separately, and then added to the framework. The final layer of the sculpture is made from wire that's folded over many times. This makes the work very strong and durable."
  His favorite subjects are wildlife, particularly birds of prey. But, his commission work has also included pets and livestock including horses, roosters, bulls and sheep.
  A few of his many portraits include Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Bob Marley and Abraham Lincoln. A collection of them was commissioned for Ripley's Believe it or Not museums; he ships commissioned work to the U.S., Canada and other parts of the world. Prices range from $150 for a little blue wren to $20,000 for 10-ft. sculptures.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ivan Lovatt (ivanlovatt@msn.com; www.ivanlovatt.com)


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2011 - Volume #35, Issue #3