Hello Villager People. Thank you for bearing with me during my health scare. I’m back!
Being a contributing writer for the Villager allows for some privileges. Like, the wonderful afternoon I spent last weekend. It all started at the intersection of 14 and 44. I was sitting at the light, and this truck turned left onto 14. What attracted my attention was the contents of the trailer. It had a black dragon on it! Ok, maybe I need to check my glasses, maybe my meds, but Ethel swears she saw a dragon, riding on a trailer, pulled by an oldish pickup truck. Of course, I had to continue my day and forgot about it soon thereafter.
Fast forward a few weeks, I attend a car show in beautiful Paris Township. There is that dragon again! And a few friends are in the trailer with it. Okay, I gotta investigate. As a reporter, I approach the dragon master. His name is Bill Starcher, and he is very friendly.
He shows me the creatures on his trailer. He had a dragon, a snake and an eagle. All made from tires! Very detailed, almost alive. Ethel needs to know more! Unfortunately, that is about the time of my health scare, so on the back burner it goes, but I did get his card and looked him up on Facebook. The first thing I did once I returned to health was to contact him.
Bill Starcher is a local artist. His day job is an ironworker, but it is what he does off-duty that is truly unique, and captivating. He invites me to his home to show me his works. Little did I know I would be entering a different land.
His home is in a rural area, and you can’t see it from the road. Thus, I passed it a few times. My GPS wasn’t too fond of me. I knew I had found the correct driveway when I was greeted by a giant bear, made of tires. He looks friendly! It’s Papa Bear. Can’t wait to see the rest of the family.
As I pull in, I am greeted by a giant Phoenix, then the artist himself and Cheryl, his wife. When I say giant, I do mean it! It has a few colored feathers, flames around the bottom, and a big yellow beak. The wingspan dwarfs the couple. Truly, an awe-inspiring work. Bill and Cheryl fill me in on the story behind it. Apparently, most of his works (all) have a story behind them. I am all ears.
Bill was feeling sorry for the students who were cut off from, basically everything, during the pandemic and wanted to do something for them. So he and Cheryl, his muse and planning partner, put their heads together and came up with the idea of a Phoenix. Like the country rising from the ashes of the pandemic, he made a Phoenix rising out of the flames. Closer inspection shows the materials used; tires, repurposed orange crates, spoons…as a matter of fact, everything is repurposed.
I am privileged to get the tour. On his trailer sits the dragon that originally got my attention. A snake and eagle are keeping him company. From a distance, the observer can’t see the attention to detail or the craftmanship that goes into each piece, but it is quite evident up close. Tires! On the frame of exhaust pipes. Each piece is separate, so they can be repositioned according to space. With each reposition, the statues take on a different look.
In front of the house is a buffalo, and a Native American upon a horse, with an arrow aimed at the buffalo. The buffalo horns are made from pool ladders, the eyes are from spoons. If you look closer, the horse has a Whirlpool mark on it. Wow, a repurposed washing machine. It was Bill’s idea to pay tribute to the famous painting of a Native American hunting a buffalo.
I am invited into his garage/workshop, where the magic happens. Upon entering, one can’t help but notice a metallic, lime-green Studebaker, with a friend (Komodo Dragon) on the back. Along with making art from tires, he also refurbishes the occasional car. He found out that this can be an expensive pasttime, so he applied his ability to repurpose things to his car. Scouring flea markets and trade shows, as he would find appropriate parts, he had a limit of $25.00. Sometimes he uses parts from a different, but compatible, car. A few parts he would lmanufacture in his workshop. Now, the final product can be seen at local car shows. It’s a beaut!
Above one door is a giant, silver fish. Close inspection reveals it is made from butter knives. Lots and lots of butter knives. It was the first sculpture in this medium. But certainly not the last.
Conversation turns to his inspirations. Cheryl states he will often have an idea while drifting into or out of sleep. Up he gets, out to the workshop he goes, and starts the next work of his unique art. Sometimes he will sketch it out and return to sleep, but usually it is time in the workshop. Cheryl sure is a patient woman. It is evident that she is not only his love, but also his muse, number one fan and support system.
Bill is in the middle of making a shark sculpture. He has the framework soldered on his workshop bench. The next step will be to weld the butter knife blades. This reporter is a scuba diver, and she has seen this shark before! It is stunning how lifelike metal scraps become under Bill’s skill and vision.
So, what got ya started? Bill remembers when he was laid off from his job. Money was getting scarce, and he had to do something. He applied his skills from his job as a woodworker to making rocking horses to sell. Soon, he has many orders, and with each he improves his craft. Bill offers a lifetime guarantee (his lifetime) should one break, just bring it back and he will fix it. He keeps horse patterns on the walls of his workshop, for easy access.
By now, I have marveled at tire sculptures, knife sculptures and wooden rocking horses. Surely, that is it? Nope. Let’s walk on over to the gazebo. This large gazebo is home to more friends; a Spinosaurus, and a Wooley mammoth. Did I mention, we passed Sasquatch, a gator and a cobra on the way? Careful, Bigfoot seems to follow you with his eyes. They are made of spoons, and as you move, your reflection in his eyes also moves. Kinda eerie! Also located in the gazebo are benches and furniture. All crafted by Bill, all from repurposed wood. So is the gazebo.
Out in the yard his first tire sculpture is proudly displayed; a bear raiding a bee nest. What a wonderful start to a life-long passion! Okay, this must be it. Again, nope. I am invited into their home. (You guessed it, he built it, too.)
Inside, the family room is populated by furniture crafted by himself—of course. One can tell he has a fondness for aquatics and has built a display case to show off some more of his treasures. In the rec-room is a bar, again his work, a pool table and a unique bench. The bench is made from parts of a Volkswagen. Simultaneously stunning, cute and nostalgic. Reminds this me of my first car, though in much better condition!
Cheryl has invited me up for coffee and a piece of pie. I did mention that this job has its perks! While sitting at the dining room table, she shows off the kitchen cabinets that Bill made. It is a lovely kitchen, with an island, all made to her specs.
The pie and coffee are enjoyed while I get to know this couple a little better. Bill tells of different ‘gigs’ he has, bringing his art to different locations. His favorite, by far, is when he gets to share his art with kids. He is sure to make the sculptures safe and sturdy enough that children can touch, inspect and sometimes climb on them. A teacher’s nightmare is a student’s dream! What does he charge for an appearance? Let me tell you, any price would be worth it, but his actual price is as stunning as his art. He likes to bring his artwork to local schools, fairs, special occasions for free, and is sure to give out smiles!
As a retired teacher, this reporter recognizes something in him from her professional years. I mention that he likely got in a wee bit of trouble at school- not for misbehavior, but for attention. Nailed it! I wish I could share his joy and passion with my myriad of students that share his learning style. Perhaps he is doing so by bringing his art to different schools.
Well, I have existed outside of normal time and space for about three hours now. Bill and Cheryl have created their own lovely bubble of existence, and I was honored to share it for a while. But reality intrudes and I must be on my way. We exchange goodbyes, and as I drive off, Papa Bear is there to wave. Back to the real world.
Bill maintains a presence on Facebook and Instagram. Look him up, you will be glad you did! Instagram is @billstarcherart.
