Thomas Wargin

AWARDS

2008 3rd Place Sculpture Disney Festival of the Masters

2008 First Place Sculpture Lake Mary Art Fair

2008 Jurors Choice Award Kansas City Plaza Art Fair

2008 Best in Show 3-D Brookside art Festival

2008 2nd Place Sculpture Coconut Grove Arts Festival

2007 Best in Sculpture Disney Festival of the Masters

2007 Best in Show Brookside Art Festival

2007 Best in Show Boca Raton Museum of Art : Art Festival

2006 Best in Show Historic Shaw Show

2006 Best in Show Uptown Art Fair

2006 First Place Overall Kohler Art Fair

2006 Best in Show Madison Art Fair on the Square

2006 Best in Show Highland Park Festival of Fine Craft

2006 Award of Excellence Steven's Point Festival of the Master's

2005 Best in Show The Peoria Art Fair

2005 Best in Sculpture Rockford Art Museum Art festival

2005 Best in Sculpture Art at the Glen

2006 Invited Artist Highland Park Craft Festival

2005 Best of Show Stevens Point Art Festival Stevens Point

2005 Award of Distinction Winterpark Art Festival Winterpark, Florida

2004 1st Place Sculpture Geenwhich Village Art Fair Rockford, Illinois

2004 2nd Place Overall West Bloomfield Fine Arts Festival West Bloomfield, Michigan

2004 Best of Show 31st Annual Festival of the Arts Stevens Point, Wisconsin

2003 Best of Show Greenwich Village Art Fair Rockford, Illinois

2003 Best of Show Port Clinton Art Festival Highland Park, Illinois

2003 1st Place 3D Non-Functional Gold Coast Art Fair Chicago, Illinois

2003 Honorable Mention 3D Non-Functional Cantigny Sculpture and Fine Arts Festival Wheaton, Illinois

2003 1st Place Sculpture Art on the Square Bellville, Illinois

2002 1st Place 3D Non-Functional Lincolnshire Fine Art Festival Lincolnshire, Illinois

2002 1st Place Sculpture Cantigny Sculpture and Fine Arts Festival Wheaton, Illinois

2002 1st Place Sculpture Art on the Square Bellville, Illinois

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

2004 Harley-Davidson Design Patent Detachable Windshield

2003 Design Patent (#6832710) New V-Rod Saddlebag Harley-Davidson Motor Company

1996 Design Patent ( #5645290) Stackable Stroller System Ortho-Kinetics Company

1994 IDSA Student Merit Award Winner

1990 MIAD 4 Year Layton Scholarship Award Winner

The work in its entirety represents who I am, my interests, abilities and what lies beneath my sub-conscious mind. My goal is to engage the viewer and stimulate the mind as well as their visual senses. I want the viewer to go to a place that they can only dream of or hope to be part of. I sometimes am intrigued with childhood stories and interpret these stories in a fashion that captures my viewer and stirs them into a new way of looking at the story. The technique I use to create my work is a blend of old and new practices. I begin with sketches, which evolve into clay or carved 3- dimensional forms. Using various molding techniques, resin models are created, which are then hand packed into flasks with casting sand, ready for the casting process. In my foundry, I melt aluminum and bronze and watch as the molten metal burns new life into the molds. After cooling, parts are assembled for rough fit and positioning. Meticulously, I either weld or drill, tap and screw every component together to check for form, fit, and overall composition. Some pieces are disassembled again to be taken through phases of polishing or sandblasting. I complete the desired finish through high polish buffing or patination. Some of my art adds a diverse mixture of materials both raw and man made such as: various woods, stone, glass, or even original drawings. With the combination of these materials my goal is to compliment not compete in the composition and make it more inviting. These types of processes and materials allow me and my work to be spontaneous. It also assures each piece to be an original. My goal is to create a unique art form that shares a seamless integration between the world around me and the human spirit. All the work is the growth of my interests, skills and imagination. I personally accomplish every task in the creation of my work. I feel it harnesses the energy and creativity of my soul.