Benjamin Heller Wallace (Ben Wallace)

Benjamin Heller-Wallace (Ben)
Tacoma, WA United States

This piece was made with recycled dalle de verre billet using the lost wax technique. I learned glass kiln casting last year at Pilchuck and this bull was something i challenged myself to make shortly after. It took quite a few tries, but I am very happy with the results and learned a lot through the process. The original model was a plastic toy a found in a farm store a few years ago. I love how glass, as a material, will elevate any form.
As I continue to work through childhood trauma, I am compelled to make work that brings me closer to the things that brought me joy when I was younger. I have been exploring motifs around "forest treasures," flowers, salamanders and other animals. I worked at a farm through high school so I have a very soft spot in my heart for cows, but also a healthy fear. I think this model captures the elegant strength and tenderness of a young bull. The latin name, bos taurus taurus does not differentiate between breeds of domestic cattle, but this piece represents a toro de lidia, or Spanish fighting bull.

Dimensions: 4 x 5.25 x 2.75 inches