Art From The Farm
Thu, 2010-10-28 22:10 | 
Vicki Ferriss
In 2000 I sat down to make something interesting for my perennial garden out of some used barbed wire. I had found the barbed wire while scouring our Central Iowa Century Farm for junk. At that point, Art From The Farm was born. Since then my husband, Roger, and I have traveled throughout the Midwest selling a wide range of items I have made from barbed wire. When we are not on the road, I am at my studio in downtown Toledo at 103 E. High Street.
It is amazing to me how something as strong and dangerous as barbed wire can evoke a feeling of comfort and beauty. I believe this is because almost all of us have some tie to a farm or ranch. This could be from our family history or from a great western movie we watched as a kid.
I don’t call the wire I use old, I call it experienced. In many ways, this is the wire’s retirement job. It worked hard many years doing its job then it was taken down and put to rest. When I look at the wire, I see that much of it still has a lot of life left in it, so I put the wire back to work. This time, in a much more pleasant job. Just as each tree in nature is unique with its own twists and bends, so are my trees. I intentionally don’t measure the wire and I leave in as many imperfections or additions that I can. This makes an item as individual as you are.
Thank you for enjoying my art, and reading our story.
Vicki Jo and Roger Ferriss
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