Turning "Stuff" into Art
Dr. Eugene Buatti Applying Earlier-Learned Skills in a New Way
During last fall's emeritus reunion luncheon in the Sindecuse Atrium, Dr. Eugene Buatti poses in front of the sculpture he created.
It's happened to all of us. A collection of "stuff" in a garage or basement has been gathering dust for months or, in some cases, years.
Eventually, there comes a time when you ask yourself, "What do I do with it?"
Sometimes it's saved. Or it's sold at a garage sale. Other times, it's thrown away.
But Dr. Eugene Buatti (DDS 1957, MS 1961) knows what to do with "stuff" when he sees it.
He turns it into art.
For the past seven years, Buatti has made somewhere between 40 and 50 sculptures from an eclectic list of "stuff" - pliers, chains, hooks, wood, and even baseball bats.
He also works with a variety of media including steel and exotic woods to make wall hangings, copper to make flower arrangements, and clay that is made into models and then cast in bronze.
Some of his creations are in his home. Others are outdoors.
Creation for 50-Year Reunion
A closer look shows the sculpture was created from dental instruments Dr. Buatti used as a dentist.
About a year ago, his classmates suggested he put something together that could be displayed during Homecoming Weekend to commemorate the 50th year of graduation from the U-M School of Dentistry.
After thinking about it for a while, Buatti, who is 76 years old, put his creation together. During Homecoming Weekend activities, he became somewhat of a celebrity among his classmates.
Using general dentistry and orthodontic instruments, Buatti conceived and created a sculpture that has been arranged to resemble a human head with eyes, ears, and a quirky smile. He gifted his creation to the School which is on display in the Sindecuse Atrium.
After treating patients at his Ann Arbor practice for 40 years, Buatti retired in 2001. Now an adjunct professor in the Department of Orthodontics, he teaches at the School one half-day a week. "But I began thinking about other things I might be able to do about seven years ago because I needed something else to do with my spare time," he said.
At first, Buatti took a painting class, "but I didn't like it. I couldn't get the hang of coordinating colors so they caught your attention."
So he tried his hand (yes, the pun is intentional), at sculpting. He discovered his niche.
Applying Earlier-Learned Skills in a New Way
Circulatory System: I had two aortic aneurysms about eleven years ago and spent about three weeks in intensive care, so this was my way of turning those negatives into a positive. The angled pieces at the top represent what my aorta probably looked like after I had the aneurysms. Instead of being a gradual curve, it was probably distorted. The egg-shaped object on the left represents a healthy heart. I also had a collapsed lung, which is the long, elliptical object on the right. The small piece of metal at the bottom on the right sags because it represents the kidney failure I also had. The piece was made from sheet steel and square steel tubing welded together.
"I was working on projects for sculpting classes I was taking at Eastern Michigan University, sometimes five or six hours at a time without taking a break, that's how much I enjoyed myself," Buatti said. "Time goes fast when you're enjoying what you're doing. So I stuck with sculpting."
Many of the skills he learned and used as a student and later as a practitioner are now being used in much the same way.
"As a dental student I learned the lost wax casting technique and as an orthodontic student, I learned to weld and solder. I also enjoyed fixing things, so sculpting is a logical extension of that," he said.
Unlike artists who sketch their plans and then begin their work, Buatti takes a different approach.
"I like to have all the pieces in front of me. Then I arrange and rearrange them before I finally come up with something that's both fun to create and interesting to look at," he said.
"My fingers continue to function very well and I enjoy using my hands as much now as when I was a student," Buatti said.
Nearby are photographs of some of his creations. His comments about his work are italicized. Check www.dent.umich.edu/museum/buatti.html to see other works of art
Self Portrait: Look closely and you'll see the nose is a J-hook, the eyes are hex wrenches, and the hair is a chain.
Ropeskipper: This piece was first sculpted in clay and then cast in bonze. I like the elongated form. She looks quite athletic, doesn't she?
