Artist Clare Graham - wonderama

I learned of artist Clare Graham from this Ready for the House blog post, which pointed to an article in LA Times Magazine called Clare Graham: Wonderama.  CG makes elaborate sculptures from recycled materials that he has obsessively collected.  Interestingly, CG classifies his work as craft and not fine art.
Here's a selection from his mission statement posted on his website: 


"Childhood rituals have grown with adult veneers and have turned into a manifestation of obsessive compulsive order. Art has been added as a legitimizing manifestation that allows a semblance of sanity. The collections themselves have become a source of raw material for manipulation. Materials are assembled in vast numbers so that they take on form and substance beyond the single unit appeal."

These are made from "pop tops" (as CG called them on his website).  Otherwise known as pop tabs. 

These are made from beer bottle caps.  I love the rope-like quality of these ones.

CG is originally from Atikokan, Ontario.