Artist reuses refuse to create vibrant exhibit at new Las Vegas library

We see, literally, a pile of junk. Southwest artist Dave Thompson sees art -- or at least the potential for art.

Thompson converts old scrap metal, light switches, car parts and used and recycled items into works of art -- and has done so for more than 30 years.

"I took welding classes in high school, and that started me down this road," he said.

Thompson's work is on display in the gallery of the Windmill Library, 7060 W. Windmill Lane.

The exhibit features everything from ants made from spare car parts to a large peacock made from discarded shovels.

Thompson, who grew up in New Mexico and has held a series of odd jobs in Las Vegas since 1990, said he didn't consider himself an artist until the past few years.

"I started out making gifts for friends, and they encouraged me to take it more seriously," he said.

Local teens Mary Stebbins and April England were at the newly opened library one Thursday afternoon in mid-May when they wandered into the gallery, stopped to sign the guest book and languidly strolled through the tiny space, pointing and discussing various pieces as they went.

"My favorite are the little frogs stacked on top of each other," Stebbins said. "They are so cute."

England was more impressed with Thompson's depiction of a raven, perched on a tree made from scrap metal .

"The flowers are cool, too," she said. "I like the silverware in the center. I wish more people did cool stuff like this for art."

Thompson said he heard a similar conversation among teens visiting the gallery a few weeks ago as he was flipping through and reading guest book comments.

"They didn't realize I was the artist, but they talked about how much they liked what I'd done," he said. "That, for me, was the ultimate flattery because teenagers pull no punches. In fact, they can be downright brutal in their critiques. If your work is no good, they are going to make comments , e specially if they don't know you're standing there."

Thompson said that over the last several years he has become more focused on his art.

"This is pretty much what I'm doing full time now," he said. "It's a good feeling. I love being able to take something that was nothing and make it beautiful. I don't know that I even really consider myself an artist, though. I look at things more from the junk side. I'm just moving piles of junk around to see if I can make something that will appeal to others. A piece only becomes art if it speaks to someone else."

The exhibit is scheduled to run through June 21.

Thompson said he created a garden creature theme for the library exhibition, but he also enjoys creating scrap versions of dragons, plants, trees, flowers and even people.

"It is such a creative outlet for me," he said. "I never know what will trigger it, either. A while back I saw a piece of tubing that reminded me of an elephant's trunk, so I began searching for other pieces that would allow me to make an elephant.

"I love to push the boundaries of what I'm able to do. As long as I continue to love it, I will continue to do it."

Thompson said he does commission work. For more information, call 335-FROG.

Contact Southwest and Spring Valley View reporter Amanda Donnelly at adonnelly@viewnews.com or 380-4535.