Al Farrow swaps elements of destruction into miniature religious symbols

Artists like Al Farrow from San Francisco can see art even in ammunition and firearms. Wow! The artist has fashioned miniature churches, synagogues, and mosques using them as the raw material. All these sculptures will look as if they have been crafted out of metal unless you care to give another closer look. The artist feels that a lot of objects can be formed using such deadly parts.

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The designer:

Al Farrow, is a Brooklyn-born artist who has been exhibiting his work (both private and public) all around the globe, from the past 20 years now. He has worked with materials like bronze, clay, paint and steel but the most fascinating and outstanding being his creations carved from salvaged guns and bullets. With the metal bronze, the artist has a casting experience of almost 20 years.

Over the years his work has been displayed at Oakland Art Gallery, the San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery, Falkirk Cultural Center in Marin, the San Francisco Art Institute, and the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, to name a few. Al Farrow, at present stands for Catharine Clark Gallery in San Francisco.

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The creation:

Al Farrow’s creative call is not restricted to canvas or metal like many other artists. Farrow has molded symbols of devastation like bullets, hand grenades, bombs and guns into religious models. He basically crafts Christian reliquaries and Islamic mosques models, which definitely attracts a lot attention as well as respect. His artifacts have a shade of history which has been blended with modernity.

The artist met with a fatal accident, that was a near death experience, when one of the bullets he was working with was live and exploded. But even such incidents didn’t deter his spirit and Farrow continued doing what made him stand out of the crowd. The style of the Mimbres culture, an indigenous people who lived in what is now the southwest and northern Mexico, and painted in their traditional single reed brush style with images of B-1 bombers, radiation symbols, tanks and other military images are some of his past projects that were appreciated.

The aesthetic:

The tasteful and attention-grabbing collection has been made from war materials like bullet-shells, used rockets and other shells that had been disposed of. Such materials, once thrown, hardly serve any purpose and these elements of destruction could be symbol of religiousness as well is something no one could have ever imagined.

Al Farrow, with his artistic mindset has created masterpieces that look so stunning. He has presented religion, sign of war as well as art o the same platform in a pleasant and elaborate way. Al Farrow, a peace loving person by nature, has closely reviewed what effect such weapons have on their society and how easily accessible and widespread they are. He has been putting his artifacts on display from the past twenty years now.

Why should I look out for it?

The creation has been beautifully carved from materials that are a symbol of death and destruction. The artist through his efforts has tried to blend religion with these atrocious elements through his art form. A lot of destruction is done in the name of religion/God, which usually ends at a sad note. Al Farrow’s art work is very hopeful and sends a positive wave all across.

Green aspects:

The artist has crafted sculptures using thrown away bullets, hand grenades, bombs and guns. These devastating objects have been given the shape of religious monuments that too the eco-friendly way. Normally, all the ammunition and firearms, which are of no use, keep piling up and hence, are a threat for our beautiful environment.

Picture Gallery

Religious sites built from ammunition and firearms