International Sculptor · Bernie Jestrabek-Hart

Metal Sculpture - Wire Sculpture - Barbed Wire Sculpture
 
28400 Harvey Rd., Caldwell, Idaho     208-866-8171

 

 PIECES currently
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Large Outdoor

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*Table top
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Small Works that make great gifts or awards
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Workshops-Lessons
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Newest Works

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JEWELRY
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Work for

Avenged Sevenfold's Stage -DeathBat
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Kid Rock's Stage - Eagles
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Fort Worth Hilton Mare and Foal
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Meridian Gateway Signage

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Golden Ear Bridge
Eagles

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St. Mary's Catholic Church Sculptures___

Step by Step
creation of the Doe and Fawns at Ann Morrison Park
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Mail Box Tops
and other metal
flat pieces
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By Subject:

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Sample of Book on Creating with Barbed Wire

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About the Artist 
 
PublicPieces  

About the Medium 
  

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Fun Stuff
Cactus
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Yard Art
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About the Medium of Barbed Wire for Sculptures

Durability

Safety

Strength

Barbed Wire Sculptures

Durability

I create these sculptures out of older barbed wire. Barbed wire is made of steel. The older wire is a soft, clean steel and was not galvanized. (It is called "black" wire.) Some of this wire is more than 40 years old. I prefer this older wire because I know it is durable.

I use wire that already has some rust and the galvanization, it there was any, has almost disappeared. (Galvanization is made up of Zinc and the gas released when heated it deadly.) I choose wire that seems substantial with the rusted coating. Wire that is too rusty is difficult to weld and would not be as durable.

As a finished coating there are two choices:

1.) No coating, leaving the wire to weather naturally, as it does on a fence.

The High Desert Museum chose not to use any coating and this piece has been in the weather since 1988, with no evidence of deterioration. The Oregon High Desert environment works well for the Barbed Wire.
High Desert Museum Mare & Foal1.jpg (24277 bytes)

 

"1867" at the US Bank, in Boise, Idaho, has also been outside, exposed to the weather for several years, with no adverse deterioration. Some color differences have been achieved by car & tree waxes.
1867-front view.jpg (31977 bytes)

2.) In 1997, I was introduced to s substance called "Rust-Be-Gone". I apply it to the rusted surface where it combines with the rust and becomes another substance. I then use good quality paint, for color. There will always be rust inside the sculpture where the coating cannot reach.

I generally use this process when I create a piece where I desire colors other than rusted brown.

Safety

It is the twist of the wire that gives my barbed wire work its texture and life. The "barbs" on the wire are not needed and I usually melt them down so they are no longer protruding unless the person commissioning the work requests that they remain. Therefore, my finished work is smooth and quite safe.

 

Strength

The wires are welded about 2 inches apart which makes the wire very strong. I also incorporate a strong inside bracing when I know it might be needed. An example is the "Great Blue Heron", on display near the green belt pathway by the Boise River in Boise, Idaho.

 

Created by Bernie Jestrabek-Hart     08/26/2009

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