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TOLEDO — “Up until now, I was out in the barn, under a tree or in my mother-in-law’s basement,” Vicki Ferriss said last week from her new studio at 103 E. High St. in downtown Toledo.

Recognized for her unique art work fashioned from what she calls “experienced barb wire,” Vicki and her husband Roger opened their Art From The Farm Studio last week.

Whose idea it actually was is sort of ‘tangled,’ however. Roger claims he had been encouraging establishing a permanent home for the art for at least a couple of years. Vicki says the idea came to her while she spent many hours this fall operating a combine on their family farm north of Toledo.

Whatever the case, the space formerly occupied by the Kenkel Law Office which moved next door in the same Toledo House Building, now features a gallery of Vicki’s art. Those passing by can stop in or gaze through the storefront windows and catch her crafting art from wire right in the front room.

Protected by chaps and leather gloves and wearing safety glasses, Vicki uses pliers and bolt cutters to fashion barb wire into everything from unique flowers to 5-feet-six-inch high snow people.

“Everything I see I always think I can make it out of barb wire,” Vicki said.

A couple of years ago one of her works portraying a life-size farmer, took the Best of Show award at “Pigcasso,” an event held in conjunction with the International Pork Expo in Des Moines.

She began creating the barb wire art seven years ago.

“I wanted something different for our perennial garden, we had a roll of barb wire, so I just molded a basket,” she explained as the start of the what has turned into quite a venture.

The Ferriss’ were on the road about 115 days in 2006 and the same, if not more this year, setting up at art and craft shows in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri and Nebraska as well as Iowa.

Some of the work is custom orders from customers. Popular creations are names and personalized works for customers made on-the-spot at shows, the couple said.

Wire is almost always used. Vicki said she tries to leave the wire as she found it — “with a story to tell.” It is not completely unusual for it to still bear some cattle hair or knots from it’s intended purpose, she said.

She relies upon a supply of wire from their own farming operations, also buying some at farm auctions and given quantities by fellow farmers who want to get rid of it.

While Vicki is the artist, Roger pitches is in charge of the bookings, travel arrangements and does a little welding on some of the projects.

 

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