Get email notification!Tin Man Garden Art
Tin Man overlooks the garden, standing near its wooded, western edge. He is flanked by two Tupelo trees and footed by woodland perennials: ferns, trillium, Lenten Rose (helleborus),
The Tin Man Cometh
Tin Man was created by Peter Beals, an auto body repair man from Kingston, Massachusetts. I purchased his work
He debuted at the garden party celebrating Kenyatta Braithwaite’s (Weymouth, MA) academic success. I had to disrupt NRAS protocol to liberate Tin Man in advance from the Festival; accomplished with support from our friend and NRAS kingpin, David Brega, just in time for Keny’s party. Tin Man has attended all of our backyard events ever since.
Ars Longa Vita Brevis*
Gazing across the quiet garden he is stalwart, with a look of permanence and solidity.
But his profile reveals another truth – Tin Man is shallow and insubstantial. Almost two-dimensional, like Flat Stanley.
He takes our parties seriously. He attracts attention, yes, and teasing. But teasers poke fun fondly and he’s never offended.
*Ars longa, vita brevis (Hippocrates), commonly translated as “art is long, life is short.”
Tin Man Zeitgeist
Postured, impermanent, intent, revealing and deceiving. Tin Man was one of the first non-functional additions to my garden. He has his own story and he’s sticking to it. What story does your garden have? Share it!
Posted in Art, Mind, Sculpture | 
Tags: ajuga, ars longa, art, bugle weed, David Brega, ferns, Festival of the Arts, Flat Stanley, garden, garden art, Helleborus, Hippocrates, Kenyatta Braithwaite, Kingston, Lenten Rose, Marshfield Hills MA, non-functional, North River Arts Society, NRAS, Peter Beals, sculpture, Tin Man, trillium, Tupelo, Victoria Childs, Weymouth, whimsy
Tin Man was the first of four or five tin sculptors in that genre Pete made. The material to make Tin Man came from the lining of an old mail truck. The design was inspired by Gaudi, an Italian artist, Pete and I viewed in Barcelona. Pete passed away in November 2001. He was quite proud of his work and the fact that it was on this site. Thank you.
Thanks for your comment, Pamela.
Further, my 2 year old granddaughter, Maisy Karen Flynn, learned to playfully stick out her tongue because of Tin Man. An inspiration to young and old.
Wow – I did not know that Peter Beals had passed away. Nor did I know the story behind Tin Man, because I acquired him at the North River Arts Society Juried Art Show in North Marshfield a few years ago (certainly it was after 2001). Thank you for the vivid background information. I would love to see his other tin sculptures.
I realize that I made a terrible typo; Pete passed away in November 2011, some seven months ago after battling esophageal cancer for 23 months, caused by acid reflux disease. He was very brave and a wonderful man. You are more than welcome to come see his other pieces. I sent you the info on an internal e-mail. Thanks again.