Collection: David Groenjes

Artist Statement:

 

I make sculptures with junk that brings life to the lifeless.  Sculpting with recycled materials is more than just conservation, the familiar parts and pieces of the sculpture create a connection with the viewer that would not be achieved by the subject alone.  When put together properly, these colors, textures, and shapes form a relationship.  It’s an incomplete puzzle that is finally finished with a long gaze, an inquisitive thought, and a big smile.

 

Biography:

David has loved art in many forms, recalling saying at a young age “I want to be an artist when I grow up”.  Being raised in the Northern Midwest of Minnesota and Wisconsin gave a solid foundation to appreciate the beauty of our natural environment.  With the desire to help preserve this, he pursued a College Degree in Natural Resource Conservation.  This provided a unique opportunity to work with the US Fish & Wildlife Service for three consecutive summers.  Working in the field helped provide an even stronger appreciation for the land we call home and what can be done to preserve and restore it.   After graduation, life had a different plan and David used his talents and knowledge of mechanical work in the Automotive Repair field.  Years later, a strong mechanical aptitude, love of nature, and a yearning to for a creative outlet culminated in melding these elements together in this beautiful form of scrap metal art.  Using recycled and repurposed materials is gratifying as well as sustainable.  Mundane and ordinary items become individual components of a much larger picture.  The metal develops character, life, warmth, even illusions of movement.  David’s wildlife sculpture focuses on realistic anatomy, posture, and expression in the pursuit of life in every piece.   His work is a testament to the appreciation of wildlife and desire to preserve our natural world for generations to come.