Repurposed Art at The Phillips Park Zoo 

In the Summer/Fall of 2022 I created  a series of Three Repurposed Art Pieces for the Phillips Park Zoo in Aurora, IL.  The primary structural material consisted of tires that would have normally been discarded. The focus of the work represented animals and other living creatures found in and near the zoo, with the hopes of sparking an interest in the natural world and reducing waste to better the planet. 

POLLINATOR PLANTER

"Pollinator Planter" was created for the debut of Phillips Park Zoo's first ever Pollinator Festival. This is a permanent piece at the entrance of the zoo welcoming all visitors and reminding them about the important job some of the smallest creatures do for us.  The majority of the materials used in this project are recycled and/or repurposed objects. The "reuse" of these materials bring awareness to the many ways we can reduce waste to help our planet. 

Materials Used:
Repurposed and/or Recycled - Tires, Bowling Balls, Heavy Gage Wire (antennae), Bowling Ball Stand, Window Screen (wings), Flower Picks (Bee's Stingers) and Corrugated Pipe Metal.
New materials limited to paint, adhesives, craft rings and beads.
Picture

TIRE TORTOISE

"Tire Tortoise" was created as a part of a series of repurposed art pieces at The Phillips Park Zoo in Aurora, IL. This permanent piece is located next to the outdoor reptile exhibits with several species of turtles/tortoise.  The majority of the materials used in this project are recycled and/or repurposed objects. The "reuse" of these materials bring awareness to the many ways we can reduce waste to help our planet. ​

Materials Used:
Repurposed and/or Recycled - Tires and Wood 
New materials limited to paint and adhesives

GARDEN SNAKE

"Garden Snake" is the last in a series of repurposed tire art designed for the The Phillips Park Zoo in Aurora, IL. This permanent piece is located next to the garden near the entry way to the reptile house and near the eagle and turkey vulture.  This was the most complicated of the three pieces in which the tires are actually twisted to resemble the coils of a ball python. The "reuse" of these materials bring awareness to the many ways we can reduce waste to help our planet. ​

Materials Used:
Repurposed and/or Recycled - Tires and Chicken Wire (head sculpture)
New materials limited to paint and animal safe modeling epoxy