Hi, I’m Mike Olson. I’m new to art and to art fairs.
My my wife likes funky yard art. I’ve made her a couple of items in the past. When someone gave me an old bowling pin, I spent days trying to figure out what I could do with it. I found that artists paint them to look like animals or characters, but I couldn’t find anyone who reconfigured them.
My eye saw a bird body and neck, if I could just bend it. I figured out a safe way to cut it and reattach the cut at a different angle. We live in Duluth, MN, so the first creation was a Seagull. Other birds followed, so I called my work “Flock Duluth “ (FlockDuluth.com).
I picked one up one day, and saw a Moose. I now make 7 different sculptures out of bowling pins. Other ideas are floating around my thoughts, but I’m trying to prepare for Art Fair season in MN, so new creations will be born over next winter.
I’ve juried in to one fair, and am awaiting word on others. I’m looking forward to making a go at being an artist.
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Just so you're prepared, the question you will get asked most often is "Do you make Frogs?" I make fused glass animal magnets, and over the past 10 years of doing shows, no matter where, no matter when, I get asked for frogs! I suppose I'll try making some frogs!
Ha! I’ll have to figure out if there are frogs living in the bowling pins. Thank you!
Thank you!