Eau Claire man creates art of recycled materials

Eau Claire (WQOW) - Where one might see useless scrap metal, an Eau Claire man sees motorcycles and bird houses.

One man’s scraps…

“The materials are everywhere, they’re plentiful everywhere you look,” says Bob Heller, a Master House Carpenter and Artist.

Are another man’s sculpture. 

“They’re all hand-made, one of a kind, world-class certified artwork,” says Heller.

With at least eight different kinds of metal. 

“There’s aluminum, here’s copper, there’s brass, and steel,” says Heller.

Bob Heller is a carpenter, that stumbled upon a new craft. 

“About five years ago I hurt my back in karate class and I got a heat stroke about the same time from roofing and I didn’t think I could ever work again and so I started making these motorcycles and I loved it,” says Heller, “Everything costs just pennies, I probably have less than a dollar into each one.”

He’s been to over 70 different art and craft shows and motorcycle events. 

“And they just would not sell.  It wouldn’t pay for the gas.  It wouldn’t pay for the vending spot, says Heller.

So he continues to make most of his income through carpentry.  But his art hasn’t been overlooked.  It’s been praised and signed by Willie Davidson, the last surviving grandson of Harley Davidson. 

“And I showed them my motorcycle art and they were really excited and Willie said that I was going to go to the moon with this art if I kept it up and his wife Nancy said that they’ve been all over the world and never seen anything like it,” says Heller.

Bob has made around three hundred motorcycle sculptures.  But he’s also made the same amount of something else…

“I like using tin on the roof.  It lasts a long long time,” says Heller.

Birdhouses. 

“I sit right here in the winter time and I make the birdhouses right here.  So comfortable, I can make seven of them a day,” says Heller, “No two are even close to the same.  The materials are plentiful.  I tear down buildings to come up with the materials.”

Bob says his artwork is his therapy.  But it’s also a way to make useful goods from un-useful materials. 

Click here to be taken to Bob’s website.  

Eau Claire man creates art of recycled materials