Dallas Owen commissioned local artist Scott Coats to make a sentimental piece for him and his family after his son was having medical issues at birth. His son’s lungs were not developed. “Life Giver” was then thoughtfully created. The sculpture displays larger-than-life human lungs taking shape into vibrant wings. The piece was to celebrate God's goodness and as a reminder that it is God’s breath in our lungs. A poem was presented along with the piece, as Coats likes to add with his work. The poem, “Lungs laced in life and laughter,” accompanied the sculpture. The piece is lit with LED lights to glow from within, giving peace and optimism to its viewer.
Meet Scott Coats, artist, missionary, writer, and worship leader. His medium of choice might strike a surprising chord with you. Coats often creates sculpted pieces using people’s heirloom instruments and transforms them into meaningful, one-of-a-kind pieces for the families, displayed in gorgeous expressions of whimsy and faith.
Although Coats has not studied art formally, he grew up loving art and the outdoors, often doodling on church bulletins while sitting in a pew or escaping outside to the woods nearby.
His first piece, called “The Sound of the Harvest,” incorporates the mechanics of a piano, balancing inspiration from nature and music. The keys start to look like stalks of wheat, and the way they blow in the wind, spreading throughout the sky and shooting upwards towards the sun. This was the beginning of an artistic journey that Coats would take.
Since then, Coats has gone on to create original and innovative pieces based on his faith and passion for music. “Modern Fossil” is another beautifully expressed piece, with rich and bright blues, cogs all intertwining and working together in a common function, purpose, and aesthetic.
The first art that was showcased was in his hometown, Raleigh, North Carolina, at Good Trip Gallery. The sculpture is an 11-foot-tall, bold and striking lion’s head and bust, all made with five pianos over 100 years old and organ pipes for the lion’s teeth, with goose feathers for the fur.
When describing his unique choice of medium, Coats uses instruments because there is “so much beauty in the instrument itself.” Nature and musical mechanics inspire his work, asking himself, “What would it look like if I were to break apart this instrument?” What can it transpire to be?
To get a mental picture, think of a cascading waterfall of cymbals or flutes being reworked into a bouquet of flowers.
Instruments are a tough medium. You can only do so much with it, but because of those limitations of movement, stretching, and sculpting, it can be a blessing in disguise. “It pushes and squeezes the creativity out of you,” said Coats.
Owen and his wife will be hosting a private showing and wine tasting in October to celebrate Coat’s art. The in-home gallery will present “Connected,” “Seraph,” “Scales,” “Modern Fossil,” and 15 other unique pieces never seen and ready for purchase.
You can reach Coats via his website or on Instagram.
Scottcoats.org
@scottcoatsart
Nature and musical mechanics inspire his work, asking himself, “What would it look like if I were to break apart this instrument?” What can it transpire to be?