I’ve heard of method actors delving deeply into a part, but method welders? Could be! While Joseph Jilbert was welding his latest sculpture, a 16 foot tall crawfish, he ate and studied the crustacean for two weeks straight as preparation!
Boiled, fried or welded
By Jeff Moore • For the Daily World • January 3, 2010
When roving artist Joseph Jilbert landed in the Crawfish Capital of the World, he found an obvious subject for his larger-than-life sculptures.
Jilbert recently unveiled the product of that inspiration —
a 16-foot crawfish made of recycled scrap metal.Dubbed Le Clarkii, for the crawfish’s scientific name, Procambrus Clarkii, the towering decapod is currently on display at Louisiana Purchases in Breaux Bridge.
Jilbert said the underbelly of the crawfish was made from old tractor parts, while the shell is made of parts from an old sugar-cane factory. The sculpture weighs in at a hefty 4,500 pounds.
“It’s more intense than any sculpture I’ve ever done,” said Jilbert, who ate and studied crawfish for two weeks straight while creating the sculpture. “I’ve gained a lot of respect for crawfish.”
Jilbert plans to eventually sell the crawfish and has several potential buyers lined up.
His next creation? A 45-foot version of the piece to be displayed at the Breaux Bridge exit of Interstate 10.
