Authentic & Unique Eco Art

If you walk into the Merritt Island Public Library, one of the first things you’ll notice is a sculpture made with 400 wrenches, 26 keyboards, and 20 cell phones. It’s called Preparing to Shrug and was created by Merritt Island eco-artist, J.L. Thompson, who also owns a construction company that benefits from his creativity and attention to detail.

When he began creating his sculptures, he had no budget for supplies, so he salvaged. Then, someone traded him a welder for unpaid rent and his art took on a new life. Every piece is an original. I started with yard art, then went upscale.”

Authentic and Unique Eco Art

Photos and Story By Mary Brotherton

25,600 soup spoons

One of his favorite pieces was created with 25,600 soup spoons and was sold to a restaurant in Melbourne. A smaller and different version of this hangs in his kitchen, which is filled with other original art he has kept. His art has been commissioned and recognized throughout the United States.

“I’ve found venues to sell my art,” Joe said.

Some of those venues include high-end green markets in West Palm Beach, Florida.

“I raised four kids selling my art.” Authentic and unique.

Joe was not formally educated as an artist, so his style is authentic and unique. He credits this originality to being self-taught and following his own path.

“Art should make us feel, or maybe inspire us in some way. Good art always triggers something,” he said.

He has created life-sized sculptures from driftwood and miniatures from old watches. He said that he has found his materials while taking a walk or in pawn shops and other secondhand retailers.