Welding as art

To capture 150 years of history, one local teen is collecting an array of items to weld into a historical masterpiece.

Alyssa Weinkoetz,17 of Afton began welding in fourth grade.

“My dad got me into it,” said Weinkoetz.

Today Weinkoetz creates life-size sculptures of animals using metal objects she welds together. She began creating the animals in 6th grade after she saw a buffalo made using the same methods.

Weinkoetz said she likes to use materials such as wrenches and other old and unique items to form the shapes she needs – putting them together and seeing where the materials take her.

The various objects she uses – saw blades, chain, hammer heads, wrenches and various other metal objects – are from a family friend, who purchases them at auctions. Weinkoetz said she also goes to a junk yard in Shannon City with her father where she is able to find many of the materials she uses in her sculptures.

To create the sculptures, Weinkoetz said she goes into each project with an open mind, piecing the items together and allowing the process to take its course.

Weinkoetz creates the sculptures for 4H and shows them at county and state fairs. Each year she chooses an animal and attempts to create it.

The animal sculptures she has created include a life-size horse head, eacgle, pig, deer and bear.

Weinkoetz created the horse head using chain, saw blades and hammer heads. The eagle was made using mostly mower blades.

The inspiration for the pig sculpture came from her family, whome raise and show the animal. To create this, she used gears, wrenches, saw blades and other objects.

For the bear sculpture Weinkoetz began using larger items such as shovels and part of a fire hydrant.

Weinkoetz was asked to create a sculpture for Creston’s Sesquicentennial Celebration, the town’s 150th anniversary, which is scheduled June 29 through July 6, 2019. The sculpture, honoring the town’s railroad history, will be on displayed the north side of the Creston Restored Depot during the celebrations.

Individuals wishing to take part in the creation of the sesquicentennial sculpture may drop off materials such as wrenches, hand tools, chain and other metal objects at the Creston Chamber of Commerce, 208 W. Taylor St.