By Rich Kriebs

My work is inspired by my interest in primitive antiques. I have been collecting and “doodling” with old stuff as far back as I can remember. I am a retired Engineer, but my “artsy” side came from my mother, a commercial artist and painter, and her father, my grandfather, a metal crafter. My medium turned out to be wood.  Half of my fun is scavenging for materials. I gather old wood from a variety of sources including stuff found lying by the side of the road, demolition projects, even dumpster-diving.  And of course, flea markets and antique shops, where I get much of the old hardware and other materials that I blend into my work. The other half is turning these random old materials into folk art. Mine are unique in that all surfaces are presented in their as-found colors and textures.  No new paint is applied. I draw all of my own patterns and select the materials to assure that each piece is one-of-a-kind. In addition to the bird houses featured here, I have created a wide variety of other decorative folk art creations.

Bird Houses
These one-of-a-kind bird houses are made from reclaimed wood, kept in as-found colors and textures. Roofs are old sheet metal, primarily textured ceiling tin. Hardware, such as hinges, hooks, and latches, are old and rusty. They are completely functional. Each has a reinforced hook for hanging outdoors and a thicker floor for easy mounting on a pole in the garden. A hinged and latched access door for easy clean-out of last year’s “birdie stuff” is built into each house. Their unique design and construction make them look just as good indoors as decorative pieces of primitive folk art.