Wayne Kusy Known in the art world as an Naive Art Historian.
HMS Quebec (1974) a good first try at toothpick model making. It was built
from his imagination, influenced by the USS Constitution and other famous tall ships.
Wayne working on his model of the Lusitania. From trial and error, he learned
to build his ships to store position upright to conserve space.
Wayne using a toothpick layering technique he developed in 6th grade. This process gives
his work a smooth effect and a realistic quality that fools even the most seasoned sailing enthusiasts.
Wayne Kusy is known in the art world as a “Naive Art Historian.” This simply means he has no previous training, as his work/art is a concoction of his own design. Contrary to popular belief, Wayne has no experience in design engineering, architecture, or the fine arts for that matter. He developed his art as a hobby, beginning in the 5th grade, when he was 10 years old. His work requires a tremendous amount of research, refined skill and discipline, and a boatload of patience. Wayne's work grew from his admiration of history and a fascination with construction.
Many who see Wayne's work are fooled by the perfectionism, and think his ships are anything but toothpicks. But it's really a culmination of over 25 years of taking small pieces of matter and building large things with them. It all started as a 5th grade art project. The assignment of the week was to build art from materials you find around the house. First it was Popsicle sticks, oatmeal, and then toothpicks. Wayne didn't immediately get an "A" as one might think. A teepee he built proved lackluster, at best. But he saw other uses for this smallest piece of lumber. At the time, he found sailing ships and World War II airplanes fascinating. His hobby was building small plastic models. After the art project, Wayne switched from plastic models to toothpicks. His first project was a small, fort-like structure. Several months later, as he entered the 6th grade, he started working on his first ship, the “HMS Quebec” (pictured). The “Quebec” is a fictitious ship modeled after the “USS Constitution.” At 3,000 toothpicks, it was an awkward-looking clipper. Not satisfied, Wayne wanted to try again.
Within the next three years, Wayne would refine his toothpick-fashioning technique, using a file and some wire cutters. Wayne was really going high tech. The "Plymouth" (1975-76), based on the “Cutty Sark,” was his second attempt at perfection. At 6,000 toothpicks, the “Plymouth” was the first ship to have a skeleton and a system to brick toothpicks in layers, just like the planks of a real clipper ship. These techniques were the hallmarks of his quest for realism and remain present in his work today; pretty good for a 6th grader. In the 8th grade, Wayne worked on a small fishing boat, but lost interest in his hobby when he entered high school. The fishing boat (untitled) was never completed. Ten years later, all three of these ships were destroyed in a moving accident in one devastating blow. In 1986, while renovating a loft apartment, an unhinged door fell on his models, pulverizing them. Wayne only felt a little anguish. One year earlier, he had eclipsed everything that was destroyed with his toothpick replication of the RMS Titanic.
The Titanic (see Titanic page) was the ship that brought back Wayne's interest in toothpick model making. It was three times longer than any thing else he’d built previously. It was one step closer to perfection. Most of all, it was a model of an actual, existing vessel. Built in 1985, long before the movie, it was the epitome of his work. Shortly after, Wayne went to college. Though his interest had not diminished one bit, his school and a full time job pushed his completion date back for his next big project. The “Lusitania” (1994) would serve as Wayne's step up to national recognition. From the New York Times, to People magazine, the “Lusitania” would make the waves Wayne needed to start establishing himself as an artist. National television would soon follow. In 1995-96, Wayne went back to his toothpick roots, so to speak. He built another clipper ship. This time it was the “Cutty Sark” again…but not just something that resembled the “Cutty,” but the actual “Cutty Sark.” It made Wayne feel like a 6th grader all over again.
Wayne is currently working on his model of the Queen Mary. It is a real test of his self-taught art and engineering skills. But like the rest of his work, it has always been a lot of fun and very satisfying. It's very relaxing and therapeutic. And regardless what stage of construction his work is in there is always someone who wants to see how it’s coming along.
BIOGRAPHY