HOVEYWARE SCULPTURES

Since 2004 Gary Hovey has been sculpting stainless steel forks, knives, and spoons into realistic forms. Favorite subjects are wildlife such as herons, bears, and bass. In 1978 Gary saw a sculpture made of chrome car bumpers by John Kearney. At the time Gary thought, "Someone could do something like that with spoons", but he lacked the skills.  Nearly twenty-five years later he decided to try the idea with the metalworking experience he had acquired over the years. The result was “Hoveyware” – stainless steel flatware cut, welded, and shaped into art.

Gary began acquiring metalworking skills in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he coordinated the metal shop at Turkey Track Bronze Works. From 1981 to 1984, while reproducing other artists’ work, he made some bronze pieces of his own. Following this he gained years of experience as a skilled welder and metal fabricator. From 1992 to 1996 Gary was commissioned to sculpt a commemorative bronze edition and a life-size bronze.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of producing his creatures has been seeing people discover the different levels of Hoveyware. First they see the animal's form and appreciate its appearance and "attitude", then they suddenly realize what it's made of and enjoy it on a whole new level.

What question is Gary asked most often? “Everyone wants to know where I get all that flatware! A lot of it comes from my dad. He hunts it down at flea markets and garage sales and ships it to me in flat-rate boxes. My mail carrier really gets a workout!”

Gary has participated in solo and group exhibitions. At local, regional and multi-state shows he has won numerous honors including best of show, first place, and peoples' choice awards. Hoveyware can be seen at American Gallery, Sylvania, Ohio, Ursus Art Space, Upper Arlington, Ohio, and Bears Mill, Greenville, Ohio. Commissioned work accepted.

Gary lives in rural New Knoxville, Ohio with his wife and four kids. All of them are artists.