DAVISON TWP. — What started as making a unique, one-time Christmas ornament has turned into a full-fledged hobby for Stacy Rhines.

About 10 years ago, Rhines said he created a piece of scrap metal art as a windchime he made for a family Christmas party where the participants were supposed to make something by hand.

He said he enjoyed making it so much it grew into a hobby which has resulted in him producing 500 or more works of art.

Rhines said he’s gotten so good at turning leftover pieces of metal into fun and unique sculptures that he has entered one of his art works in Grand Rapids’ ArtPrize festival, which is running now through Oct. 2.

This is his second entry into ArtPrize, the first being a turtle he did back in 2016.

Rhines, 55, said his inspiration comes from everyday things he sees and when something pops into his head, he starts looking into ways he can build it as a scrap metal sculpture.

Stacy Rhines with one of his pieces of scrap metal artwork.

The parts for Rhines’ creations come from all over, he said.

Some of the places where he finds materials are yard sales, trips to the scrap yard, friends donating things and sometimes, people will ask him if he wants anything from a parent’s house they are cleaning out after they have passed away.

“It’s not uncommon where a parent will pass away and leave me a bunch of stuff and then I’ll make something out of that and gift it back to their family,” he said. “They can keep it for a memory…a legacy piece so they have it to remember them by and to thank them for giving the materials to me.”

Much of Rhines’ work can be found on his Facebook page Scrap to Art Metal Works and on YouTube pages where he demonstrates how he makes pieces so others can try their hand at scrap metal art.

One of his pieces, that of a man pushing a wheelbarrow, can be seen in the landscaping found in front of Hansen Funeral Home, 421 N. Main St., in Davison.

The trailer loaded with Rhines’ disc golf exhibit bound for Grand Rapids’ ArtPrize. Photos provided

Rhines said his latest entry to ArtPrize is a disc golf course made of five different sculptures.

The pieces are on display at John Ball Zoo, 1300 Fulton St. W. in Grand Rapids.

He said MVP Disc Sports in Marlette donated 75 new discs to go along with the exhibit to Grand Rapids so people at the John Ball Zoo can play a game while they check out the sculptures.

Rhines said the…