Jim Lambert of Fair Oaks, California has put years of drinking corked wine to good use: he recently built a massive rhinoceros with the leftover corks. This giant 300 pound, 12-foot long beast took Lambert over three years to make.
The quest began after Jim’s wife suggested he take up a hobby. His obvious reaction was to build a rhino out of corks. With the help of family and friends, Jim constructed a framework out of plywood. The next step was a three year process that involved the actual gluing of the 12,000 corks Jim was storing in his garage.
Upon completion of the project, Lambert named it ‘Rhinocirrhosis’ which is a play on the liver disease caused by excessive drinking. The piece has since been entered into the Michigan ArtPrize competition for a shot at $200,000. Lambert says that all winnings will be donated to charity.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Cork Art
- Creating art using recycled or leftover wine corks as a sustainable art medium.
- Upcycling Hobbies
- Using one's hobbies as an opportunity to reduce waste and environmental impact through creative upcycling.
- Artprize Competitions
- Incorporating sustainable and recycled materials into art pieces for recognition and potential winnings in art competitions.
Where This Applies
- Wine and Spirits
- Opportunities for sustainable packaging and production methods to reduce waste and encourage upcycling of cork materials.
- Arts and Crafts
- Incorporating sustainable or recycled materials into crafts and art projects to encourage eco-friendly and innovative designs.
- Charitable Organizations
- Partnering with environmentally conscious artists and hobbyists to create unique art pieces that can be auctioned off to support charitable causes.
