A house on the northwest side isn't likely to be the top choice of ambitious door-to-door salesmen or other kinds of solicitors — not with the scary-looking sculptures standing sentry over the yard.
"What people are really intrigued with are the presence of them," local sculptor Bruce Butler said of his rusted-steel sculptures, three of which can be found at a home on the west side of North La Cañada Drive between West River and West Orange Grove roads. "They're very foreboding, but a lot of people like them because they look like protectors."
Those works are among dozens the lifelong Tucsonan has made since developing his technique of molding metal into monolithic art nearly 20 years ago.
"When I was out in Chicago when I was younger, I saw some metalwork that I was really impressed with," said Butler, 59, who works in a studio at 2805 N. Palo Verde Ave. "It took me awhile to get to it, but in 1990 I got a torch and started going at it."
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Butler also has been a schoolteacher, a painter, a photographer and even a male model.
He was the International Camel Man for Camel cigarettes from 1984 to 1986, before being replaced by the cartoon Joe Camel character.
He said he's developed techniques that allow him to alter the consistency of the scraps he works with, enabling him to "move the metal."
"Steel is my clay," he said. "I can do some pretty interesting techniques and textures with things."
A number of the sculptures are modeled after historical American Indian and Wild West characters, but others take on a futuristic tone.
One such piece, called "Captain America," is 17 feet tall and can be found at Pima Community College's Downtown Campus. Butler said his inspiration came from the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and watching the heroic efforts of New York City firefighters in and around Ground Zero.
Another, known as "Warpspeed Warrior," resembles something out of a science-fiction movie, as the figure is riding what Butler says resembles a hovercraft.
"I have a lot found objects that people had given me, and a lot of times the inspiration comes from the metal in my scrap pile," Butler said.
Got an oddity?
Is there something you've noticed while driving through Tucson that has piqued your curiosity to the point you wish you could find out more about it?
Call Brian J. Pedersen at 573-4224 or send an e-mail to bjp@azstarnet.com
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