Industrial Revelations: About...

Sculpture by:

J. Amber Conger

---Salvaged Metals ---Found Objects---Recycled Treasures---
---Urban Artifacts---

“About five years ago, I decided to buy a welder…. A friend gave me the basics; showed me how to turn it on, how not to get electrocuted, & so forth… The next few months were full of frustration, learning, tears, a few small fires, & lots of “experiments.” The search for inexpensive metals to practice on eventually led me to the local salvage yards where I discovered a whole new world, full of industrial inspiration & new possibilities… I was immediately drawn to the gears, bearings, pipes, chains, etc: especially the big heavy ones, covered in grease! Eventually, the guys at the salvage yards stopped giving me weird looks & started pointing out the cool stuff right when I walked in (the cool stuff that no one else wants : )

From there, it’s grown; bigger & heavier pieces of steel & gears: larger sculptures & public art projects, big trucks, cranes, & more salvage-ing! I started picking up copper & stainless steel, concrete, glass, wood, & other elements to add into new designs & experiments: up-cycling has become a big part of my work. I enjoy the process of giving a new life to something that has been abandoned; looking at things in a new way; & combining unrelated materials into something new.

My work is inspired by the artifacts of our industrial society; the very things that are tossed aside in favor of something newer & better: those objects that have a past life, & a real story to tell"

J. Amber Conger

The work of metal sculptor Amber Conger has been described as bold, strong, thought provoking, & beautiful. Her use of reclaimed materials & found objects goes far beyond simply recycling: objects & materials are transformed into works of art that are completely unique. Amber’s signature industrial style is infused with history, imagination, & beauty; she somehow re-works materials such as steel, concrete, & cables into sculpture that keeps an industrial edge, while being softened with feminine lines & curves. Amber’s work ranges from small-scale, intimate pieces to monumental sized outdoor sculpture. Steel is the main building component of most of her pieces, & she scours the local scrap yards for building components—using salvaged materials whenever possible. Copper, stainless steel, glass, stone, & concrete are also common in her work, along with urban artifacts, found objects, & recycled “treasures.”