Art From Recycling at Colorado's Swetsville Zoo
Be Inspired to Reduce Reuse and Recycle by this Fort Collins Artist.
Apr 6, 2009
Swetsville Zoo is an inspirational spot to see what a wild imagination is capable of. Bill Swets never threw anything away; instead he used what most would call garbage and turned it into fanciful creations. Colorado natives and tourists can find the Swetsville Zoo conveniently just off of the first south side Fort Collins exit from I-25. Taking a walk through the Swetsville Zoo is much like entering the limitless, imaginary world of Alice’s Wonderland, in fact a couple of the creatures might bear quite a resemblance to creatures from the story. Things don’t have to make sense here, but they are very enjoyable
What To Do
The park is free to visitors but a metal doorman will accept a kindly donation, which will help cover costs and future inventions. After experiencing the wizardly sights and sounds in the zoo, you will undoubtedly feel compelled to contribute. There are dinosaurs, dragons, knights and castles. Cross over a bridge and you will find a musical band of creatures whom you may join in creating some of your own music. Mallets made from iron bars and golf balls sound surprisingly beautiful upon smokestack-sized wind chimes.
Feel free to practice your skills on a metallic didgeridoo, but watch out for the sea dragon behind you Bring a lunch and relax at various picnic tables. Don't forget your camera or your sketch book; despite the fine welding skills, most of the sculptures are for eyes only.
The workshop at Swetsville Zoo is still in use and in full view for those who enjoy witnessing artists at work. One of the newer creations is Cow and Calf, amiably greeting zoo guests at the driveway.
A New Message
Beasts you may meet at the zoo range from fearsome to silly. The butterfly-go-round and hubcap garden are beautiful. What is more beautiful is the inspiration to get creative when it comes to reusing our trash. In a society where wastefulness is getting the best of our health, it would do well to visit the Swetsville Zoo. Regardless of the artist's original motivation for creating the sculpture park it bears a new message of creative responsibility for the things left behind by consumerism.
A lesson can be learned from the zoo if one simply imagines all the different pieces of scrap metal from the sculptures in a huge heap. Compare this thought to the creations of a farmer turned artist with no formal training. It is the human imagination and intelligence combined that can deliver such spectacles as the Swetsville Zoo and forge a new and better lifestyle for us all.
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