Horse SURFER by Tom Franco

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Found objects, mixed media – African carved head, soft fabric CPR-doll, child horse scooter, hand sewn clothes, toddler shoes, handmade ceramic buttons, animal toys.

This piece has several consistent themes that came together as one.  The idea of using a nicely carved wooden head from another country, I found for next to nothing and undervalued, to become the central element of inspiration for a bigger sculpture.  It really came together with the head and the baby doll body, which I have no idea what the original head was because it was meant to be detachable for CPR practice. Then taking this recognizable soft fabric body and creating original handmade clothes for it which put it in a completely new context.  The challenge of this piece was to make all these varieties of elements stand together with strength because the surfing posture is very hard to stabilize.  In the end, it stood strong and solid.