Bill Abatecola is often found rummaging through junkyards in Tucson. Sometimes he has an idea of what he is looking for before he goes. Other times he surprises himself.
“I like going to junkyards and finding a bunch of junk and putting it together and making something of it,” Abatecola says.
Scrap metal, old bicycles, satellite dishes, brake rotors and gears are just a few of the materials he picks up and turns into art.
“[I love] finding some item in the junkyard that has uniqueness to it and then bringing it and incorporating it into some new material and actually building the piece around that unique item,” he says.
Metal sculpturing is Abatecola’s passion. He is the owner of Abatecola Metal Sculptor.
“I think the first thing I welded was a bicycle seat,” he says.
Abatecola’s grandfather started a welding business in 1933 in East Providence, R.I. His father took over the business, and in the mid- 1950s, Abatecola started working in the shop.
He took over the family business in 1965 and about 10 years later, became interested in the art aspect of metal. Before he got married, he started building metal sculptures and selling them in the Boston and New York areas. Abatecola relocated to Tucson in 1991. He put aside his art while working for a local welding company. When he injured his knee he decided to start sculpting again as a form of physical therapy. Now, Abatecola is living his dream.
“I am happily married with four kids and four grandkids and I do what I love to do,” he says.
If he doesn’t feel like working one day, then he doesn’t.
“Sometimes I’d rather spend time with my grandkids,” he says.
He doesn’t make a lot of money from metal sculpting, but he says that’s okay. There are so many people who are not happy with their jobs and the only time they are happy is when they are doing their art, he explains.
“Then they should do [art]. Whatever they do, they should be happy doing it,” he says.
Never one to push his creative instincts, his inspiration for pieces comes when it comes.
“Sometimes I wake up at 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning and sketch something out,” he says.
“Sometimes I see something that generates my interest and it’ll stir something that will click when I get home and I make it.”
A few years ago, Abatecola found some disassembled compound archery bows at a junkyard. He had no idea what he would use them for but knew that they would serve a purpose.
Now, years after picking them up he has designed them into a wind sculpture.
“If somebody wants something made and it’s kind of interesting and different, I’ll make it,” he says.
Arizonans love the southwestern theme of his art, Abatecola says. He incorporates up to 80 percent recycled material in his art, which helps give the pieces a rustic, natural look.
Most of Abatecola’s pieces are custom-made for customers throughout the nation, but he takes pride in the pieces he’s donated to the Ronald McDonald House, Casa de los Ninos and other local charities. With countless projects under his belt, Abatecola shows no sign of slowing down any time soon.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time, but I enjoy doing it,” he says. “I tell people, if you get the chance to do it, then just do it and be happy.”
