(Sean P. Means | The Salt Lake Tribune)
"Gnome-be-gones" cart away a lawn gnome, in the metal sculpture of Salt Lake City artist Fred Conlon, on display at the Utah Arts Festival.
Utah Arts Festival: The art of war surplus
Published on Jun 21, 2012 01:26PM
Fred Conlon's found-metal sculpture was inspired by his grandfather, who fought in World War II and was present at Pearl Harbor.
"He said, 'War happens quickly, and peace moves slowly,'" said Conlon, a Salt Lake City artist displaying his work at the Utah Arts Festival for the sixth time.
When Conlon came upon some surplus Army helmets, he followed his grandfather's maxim to its logical conclusion -- and created the slowest animal he could think of, turtles.
From there, Conlon -- who has been making art professionally for 15 years -- created "gnome-be-gones," toothy metal monsters that cart away lawn gnomes, pink flamingos and other yard monstrosities.
He also has skulls on spikes -- an idea that came when an artist friend made bronze castings from a real skull, and didn't know what to do with them. Conlon also makes the skulls as trailer-hitch covers, which will get any state trooper's attention.
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