New Birds in Cedar Key

Note the mosaic on this bird.

An unusual flock of birds will soon be traveling north, and their owner Chick Schwartz expects them to roost temporarily in an art gallery in New York's Madison Avenue. Schwartz, a sculptor once trapped in the body of an engineer, now lives in Cedar Key where he has recently created numerous and distinctive "found object art" birds and beasts. Schwartz, and his mosaic artist wife Marsha, are best known locally for the fisherman sculpture at the Cedar Key Arts Center, a collaborative piece. They have again collaborated on many of the pieces shown in this article.

Life is great!

The "found objects" leap together in Schwartz' mind and stay together, often in animated fashion with the help of a welding torch and silver solder.

Go Gators! Go!

The Frank Miele Gallery in New York City and the Barefoot Artist Gallery in Cedar Key show only a part of the Schwartz bestiary. Online viewer can see more pieces at www.chickschwartz.com.

This bird can swim to New York City.