Towering over a chainlink fence with snow-covered mountains rising from behind, an imposing 15-foot metal figure named COVID has been erected in a quiet neighbourhood in Hope.
香蕉视频直播淗e turned out to be a little bit bigger than I thought. A little uglier and mean-looking. So when this virus started, I said, 香蕉视频直播榳hy don香蕉视频直播檛 I just name him COVID?香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 said Ray Slanzi, the man behind the work.
Yet the inspiration behind the impressive peice of folk art in a yard along Elder Road stretches back long before the pandemic Slanzi explained. It香蕉视频直播檚 a project Slanzi, a former heavy duty mechanic, has wanted to complete for the last 20 years.
Only this past winter did he have the time to dedicate to it and the materials to make it a reality. Taking advantage of the bad weather, Slanzi got to work.
Building COVID took about three months - Slanzi spent about five to six hours a day working under a roof in his back yard. He began by making a skeleton from old mining pipes, starting with the legs.
香蕉视频直播淚 made the legs just a little bit taller than I should have. In order to keep it proportional, I ended up making the torso much bigger than I expected. Next thing you know, now it香蕉视频直播檚 15 feet,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Following in the folk art tradition, COVID is constructed using a range of repurposed materials either welded together or bolted on. What is added is up to the imagination of the artist.
香蕉视频直播淵ou start adding whatever comes to your mind and your imagination and that香蕉视频直播檚 one thing I do have is imagination,香蕉视频直播� Slanzi said.
The figure香蕉视频直播檚 head is the fanhood of a kitchen stove Slanzi hung onto when it was replaced, his belt buckle is an umbrella stand he and his wife Karen have had around for 20 years. Some of COVID香蕉视频直播檚 parts had to be painted, others retain their original colour.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 all kinds of parts - there香蕉视频直播檚 compressor parts, boat parts. There is even my wife香蕉视频直播檚 pasta maker on it,香蕉视频直播漇lanzi explained. 香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 got a bit of a beard made out of chainlink fencing and there香蕉视频直播檚 kind of a stainless steel chain for a necklace. And right underneath it you see a chrome thing, that香蕉视频直播檚 my wife香蕉视频直播檚 (hand crank) pasta maker.香蕉视频直播�
The figure香蕉视频直播檚 fishnet-looking 香蕉视频直播渁rmour香蕉视频直播� is made with a neighbour香蕉视频直播檚 old fencing material fastened onto COVID香蕉视频直播檚 frame with chrome rings from a wine barrel.
COVID is armed with a replica Winchester that took Slanzi almost a month to build. It helps the statue to stand up, as do the channel iron feet welded to the skeleton. COVID香蕉视频直播檚 legs are balanced for maximum stability and there are bars bolted down to concrete achors an inch below ground. 香蕉视频直播淪o he香蕉视频直播檒l be a permanent fixture there for a long time,香蕉视频直播� Slanzi said.
One thing viewers from the road won香蕉视频直播檛 see, is a secret compartment inside the chest of this repurposed metal warrior.
Inspired by his grandchildren, who range in age from three to 25, Slanzi put a door on the figure香蕉视频直播檚 back just above the belt. The space inside can hold two children five feet tall. 香蕉视频直播淭hey can actually crawl in there and sit inside and they can scare people when they go by,香蕉视频直播� Slanzi said.
Ray and Karen are isolating and have been for weeks, but once the virus subsides they香蕉视频直播檒l welcome the grandkids inside.
Slanzi insists he香蕉视频直播檚 not an artist. Yet like many creators who finally finish their pieces after months and years of painstaking work, Slanzi said he is mighty glad to be done.
香蕉视频直播淚 said to my wife 香蕉视频直播業f I ever start something like that again, just hit me over the head with a frying pan香蕉视频直播� because that was just a little bit much,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Slanzi is happy for people to come view Hope香蕉视频直播檚 newest peice of folk art, but he prefers they admire COVID from the road outside the fence.
