Junkyard Crafts
Where Junk is Turned into Art
Artist Profile
How Larry Strayer got here: The Journey:
I am a Horticulturist, retired, located in Brandon, Mississippi. For years, I made trellises, arbors and arches, and still do; but as I began to utilize a few discarded items (i.e. Junk) in my designs, I discovered a new passion: folk-art. I had been making ornamental iron items and trellises in an old building that once was a carriage house and I called my company Carriage House Iron Works. My new vision needed a new company name to describe my folk art pieces, and the name JUNKYARD CRAFTS was created; a perfect fit.
My overactive imagination can actually visualize the opportunities in what others view only as junk or a pile of trash. The old saying ‘one man’s trash is another’s treasure’ is true. A new design word has become popular -- re-purposing – using discarded stuff in a new way, in a sense giving it a new “life.” However, I am still true to my horticultural roots, as most of my pieces are for patio and yard use. My new vision and direction was confirmed when I was admitted to the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi in 2007.
It’s been an amazing journey, transforming from a welder
into a metal-craft folk-artist.
