San Francisco Bay Area ArtistTony Serra Artist
CROSSED UP
Tony Serra Creates Metal Sculpture
Metal Sculpture
In 1972 an ART METAL class was offered in the Metal Shop school curriculum. Tony seized the opportunity to join this class and he quickly rose to the top of his Art Metal class.
His teacher Mr. Smizer took an early interest in Tony's work and allowed him complete freedom of expression in his class; by not stifling the creative talent he saw as he witnessed his projects becoming realized, he allowed Tony to spend extra time in the classroom and welding booth whenever possible.
At this time producing various types of transportation art pieces were some of his interests and was the driving force behind Tonys creations. Elements that reoccurred in his work were his helicopters, bi-planes, and motorcycling.
Creating sculpture by combining many elements—especially found objects—into a complete work of art is where he excelled.
In an interview Tony said this of the metal sculpture CROSSED UP; “I did not want to create a static object without feeling, if the object can be in motion then it is my desire to create objects of art that project a sense of motion." The front forks actually pivot like a real motorcycle.
Of particular interest in this sculpture CROSSED UP is his assemblage of many different elements. The knobby tires are actually gears from a motorcycle transmission that he got from Mr. Parang at the local Cycle Shack. The handlebars and front forks pivot on a cotter pin and the cylinder head is the threaded end of bolt.
Moto CrossED
Copper Plate
This Copper Plate piece was created in 1972. Tony's interests were clearly visible in this Motorcycle, especially in dirt bikes.
In this copper tooled work MOTO CROSSED, He was drawn to the image he had seen in Cycle magazine.
Transferring the image to a copper sheet then working the image into a 2D rendering, the paint was added to define the subject matter.
Hodaka 100
This metal sculpture was inspired by the gears themselves. And by the fact that Tony Owned a Hodaka 100cc. Dirt Bike.
This HOCKEY GOALIE was part of Tonys Art Metals.
Tony said he enjoyed the class and continued to draw from his extra curricular interests to express himself in his art. He especially enjoyed making the puck part of the art. While he wanted to show it flying through the air he did not want an attachment; so the puck remained static on the surface.
