By Steve Garone
Wayland resident Dr. David Shein doesn’t fit the typical profile of an artist. He is a physician in Wellesley, and at Boston University he was a few courses short of an art history minor.
Shein has always been drawn to art, however. He combines his art interest with his fascination with discarded items to create unique pieces.
One of the many everyday items he has used is the tennis ball. While tennis players throw them away after they no longer retain their original bounce, Shein decided to see how he could repurpose them. The result was a table base constructed from the yellow orbs.
According to Shein, discarded items have an “underlying beauty” from which interesting and valued art can be created.
During a visit to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art he observed how clocks were used in several different designs. He decided it would be interesting to create something based on items not intended to be used in clocks. He then obtained a variety of items – like clock mechanisms, car speedometers and bicycle parts – from places like junkyards and behind his favorite bicycle store to make his art happen.
The next step in Shein’s art evolution began with a visit to the Museum of Industry and Innovation in Waltham. Waltham’s industrial history reflects a concurrence of automotive, watch, and bicycle manufacturing. Conversations with museum employees led to an explosion of ideas and an exhibit at the Museum in 2019. Because of the COVID pandemic, the temporary exhibit was the subject of a virtual tour.
Shein describes his work as “unexpected art,” hoping to make people smile. He is also aware of the environmental impact of discarding some of the materials he uses. He feels his art has a positive effect on the environmental footprint, which is a personal goal. He also strives to give the viewer a “sense of motion” with colorful things that move and are interactive, but not to mask the original design aesthetic and function of their parts.
When Shein joined Arts Wayland, the old space didn’t have adequate room for sculptures. However, the new location in the town center has more space and can accommodate his work.
Shein has also exhibited his art at MASS MoCA in North Adams as part of its visiting artist opportunities, as well as Coolidge Corner and JP Licks in Cambridge. He has talked about his work as a guest lecturer at Wayland High School.
According to Shein, some people see his work as an intersection of crafting and art. His view is that his art evolves organically. With new ideas, he creates something around another theme. Recently, he has focused on works incorporating wood.
See more information and images of Shein’s work on his website: upcycle.space/gallery.
