With his well-worn engineer hat, old stogie and deep bright smile, Thomas Malloy is a man all set to take off on his latest adventure.
Though his bearing might give the impression of his being a well-seasoned LIRR iron bender, he’s not — he’s a sculptor and the only iron he bends makes sculptures and has nothing to do with tracks.
If you’d like proof of that, all you need do is drop by the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium to witness the results of the artist’s most recent creative adventure.
Massive shovel birds and giant riveted finned fish not only cause visitors of all ages to scratch their heads with wonder and delight, but also playfully compete for attention with the live herons and fish that can be seen at the Hatchery.
Malloy works with junk and he’s proud of it. Salvaging old machine parts, farming equipment and all sorts of scrap iron, the longtime Glen Head resident welds his magic not only by creating works of art, but also protecting the natural environment.
“The nature of his work is right in tune with the Hatchery’s environmental mission to preserve and protect our natural resources,” said Steven DeSimone, Hatchery director. “By using recycled materials to create his sculptures, Thomas helps conserve resources while at the same time enriching our lives.”
The exhibition of Malloy’s sculpture can be seen now through September at the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium, located at 1660 NY-25A in Cold Spring Harbor.
For further information about the artist, you can visit his website at www.thomasmalloy.com.
The Hatchery is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., during July and August, and Saturday & Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For information call 516-692-6768 or visit www.cshfishhatchery.org