art happens

Discarded silverware, old street signs, rusty car parts are just some of the many found objects that artist Ritch Branstrom uses to create his pieces. I had the opportunity to photograph some of Ritch’s artwork at Wheatland Music Festival. What captured my interested right away was his amazing sculpture of a robin that he had fashioned out of various rusty items. Ritch used a vintage Volkswagen Beetle hood for the beautiful red breast of our noble state bird.

Symbolism is integrated into his work as he noted on the Artprize website “I felt that the Volkswagen Beetle hood was very fitting for the bird’s breast. It was the perfect color, size and shape. And thinking about it a little more, robins eat beetles. But I think most importantly, it’s symbolic for all the invasive beetle species that Michigan, as a state, has dealt with over the years. In 1949, the German Beetle variety made its way here and has had an impact on the state’s auto industry through the years. And how about in the late 1960′s with the English Beatle and its indirect affect on Detroit’s music industry? And now again, another invasive Asian beetle taking a toll on our state’s tree population”.

Ritch has many pieces in his collection of sculptures ranging in price and size, from his ever popular beer can fishes to his larger sculptures of animals, birds, and people. Ritch explained that personality is important to the success of each piece and this is evident when browsing through his collection. The more I looked over his art, the more I detail I found.

Ritch’s Robin will be on display at the El Sombrero Restaurant at 527 Bridge street NW. You can find out more about Ritch Branstrom, the found object specialist by going to his website at www.adhocworkshop.com. If you want to read more about his art prize entry you can visit his profile on Art Prize.