"Gettin' Sideways" by David Groenjes

Title: Gettin’ Sideways
Artist: David Groenjes
Medium: Reclaimed Metal Sculpture
Dimensions: 16” L × 15” W × 4” H
Price: $7,500
Availability: Original Artwork

Product Description:

Coiled, watchful, and ready to move, Gettin’ Sideways is David Groenjes’ incredible reclaimed metal interpretation of one of the Southwest desert’s most distinctive residents—the sidewinder rattlesnake.

Handcrafted entirely from reclaimed steel and salvaged mechanical components, this one-of-a-kind sculpture captures the weight, texture, and movement of a snake with an extraordinary amount of detail. Groenjes uses perforated metal, roller chain, individually shaped steel plates, hardware, and found industrial parts to build the snake segment by segment, creating a body that feels armored yet remarkably lifelike.

The craftsmanship really comes alive in the details. Layered metal follows the natural pattern of scales along the coiled body, while lengths of chain trace its curves and emphasize the sidewinder’s unmistakable movement. The head is assembled from an intricate collection of mechanical pieces, complete with piercing eyes and an expression that suggests getting too close might not be your best idea.

Even the raised rattle has been cleverly constructed from reclaimed components, giving the sculpture an unmistakable silhouette and just the right amount of attitude.

Natural rust, aged steel, welds, and industrial patinas have been intentionally preserved throughout, adding warmth and character while allowing the history of the individual materials to remain part of the finished artwork.

Known for seeing wildlife in piles of discarded machinery, David Groenjes has an uncanny ability to turn steel into something that feels alive. Gettin’ Sideways is a perfect example—rugged, incredibly detailed, and unmistakably Southwestern.

• Available exclusively through Ian Russell Gallery in Prescott, Arizona