Welding Garbage into Art
One Man ’ s Adventure
Harry Weekley Jr started welding in high school and had a career as a hydroelectric plant mechanic , but it wasn ’ t until a “ craftsy ” friend showed him a metal rendition of a stork he had welded together from pieces of scrap steel that he became inspired to start using his skills for artistic means . “ That was the light switch ,” he says . “ So I started putting this garbage together .” This is true in a literal sense , as his pieces are predominately built from scrap metal and pieces of junk no one has use for anymore . He displays roughly 70 pieces , remarkably diverse in their material and subject matter , on a public
Harry Weekley , left walking trail near his house several miles outside of Alpine .
Despite the remarkable craftsmanship and creativity demonstrated in his work , Weekley doesn ’ t take himself or his art too seriously . “ It ’ s funny because I don ’ t consider myself an artist ,” he says , " I just tinker .” His tinkering results in pieces constructed from ancient pistols , handcuffs , gas burners , slabs of river rock and old prop plane propellors . Even wine openers are used in some unexpected way .
Weekley ’ s pieces range from intricately crafted scenes populated with rail-road spikes and spark plug figures to wild animals you would find in the region like buzzards and javelinas , as well as mythical dragons , aliens , and dinosaurs you won ’ t find in any region of reality . This kind of diversity illustrates his easygoing approach to his craft . His pieces are often whimsical and humorous , with sly references to popular movies and culture scattered throughout the trail . Weekley summed his work up best in his own words , “ A lot of folks around here do fine art ," he says . " I do fun art .” To learn more and to visit the “ Art Trail ” go to GalleriesArtists . com . BB
All photos by Rachael Waller BIG BEND GALLERIES AND ARTISTS / 2015 17