iN PHOTOS: South Okanagan artist living his dream creating cutlery sculptures

A South Okanagan metal artist is gearing up for another season of showcasing the masterpieces he makes out of cutlery, rebar and horseshoes.

Mark Wong spends most of his time with a welder in hand at his home studio in Osprey Lake west of Summerland creating both production pieces and custom builds.

“I don’t even have internet in the studio, once I’m in there, I’m working away. It’s my sanctuary,” he told iNFOnews.ca.

A stainless steel fabricator by trade, Wong is currently creating multiple pieces for gardens. The pieces have the dual purpose of looking decorative with hummingbirds, woodpeckers and dragonflies while providing support for big plants.

“Hardcore gardeners grow big plants and they tip over so I design pieces that hold them up,” Wong said. “I just got an order for hundreds of them from a garden architect in the Okanagan and I sell a lot of them at farmers’ markets.”

Some of the garden sculptures are small pieces people can travel with and take as gifts for friends.

When he has time, Wong let’s his creative passion flow and designs custom pieces.

“When I’m in my studio what comes out, comes out,” he said. “I’m working on a bear and he’s supposed to be standing on his back legs. I banged out the head and started structuring the body and the bloody thing ended up sitting on his ass with his legs out in front of him like Winnie the Pooh. You never know what’s going to happen, that is the fun of what I do.”

Wong incorporates cutlery into his art pieces and receives a steady stream donated by neighbours and clients, however, he didn’t give an estimate on how many pieces of cutlery he has repurposed over the years.

“Forks and cutlery are stainless steel and the best things you can buy,” he said. “It’s reusable, reasonably cheap and easy to find in thrift stores. Almost every show I go to I get a bag of cutlery from a client.”

Now in his 60s, Wong is living a dream he began chasing 27 years ago when he and his wife left Vancouver city life and full-time jobs behind for him to pursue his art.

“We left everything and didn’t know exactly where it was going to go but we went for it. Twenty-seven years later we’re still going strong and meeting artisans from all over the province, you never know who you’re going to meet. My wife has taken up the art form and often sells more pieces at markets than I do.”

He’s an advocate for other hardworking artisans in the BC Interior and knows well their plight well, especially the feast or famine lifestyle that goes with it.

“It’s hard to sell as an artist, it’s getting increasingly expensive to participate at art shows, but we’re all professionals and it’s mind blowing what we’re coming up with,” Wong said.

A section of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail passes by the end of Wong’s driveway where he has a gallery of metal sculptures on display.

“It’s fantastic, tourists stop in and I get to meet people from everywhere and show them my collection,” he said. “I’m having so much fun and I say to anyone who has a dream to go for it.”

Wong will be at shows in the Shuswap, Okanagan, Prince George and Vancouver this year. He’ll be at huge craft fair Creative Chaos in Vernon at the beginning of June.

Go here to follow Wong’s social media content.