Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeremiah Bova.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jeremiah. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
What is JerBotz Sculptures? About five years ago, I started to build robotic style sculpture figures like a little maniac out of the garage, in fact, the first JerBot are items that I randomly picked up in the garage. These JerBotz are created from cool funny looking parts even some vintage as well each sculpture has something different to say, I enjoy the challenge of combining objects that you may not necessarily think would belong together. Discovering unusual parts and using them in a sculpture is a rush for me.
I’ve come to the realization I don’t need to be like anyone else and to stick with my style along with that came the desire to learn different mediums to incorporate in my JerBotz such as clay, painting, resin/molds it was difficult but I practiced them and eventually got good at them the techniques I developed are so valuable.
I work alone on my art full-time meaning, if I’m not physically creating a piece it’s being created in my head! So, in 2016, I decided to take my art to an online shop and then to public art shows I’ve had success in Granbury, TX the Harvest Moon Art Festival, State Fair of Texas art contest! I will never forget my first show in our driveway, I called it a Yart Sale… it rained so hard but not a bad turn out, in fact, the rain is always there at every art show.
At the end of my 2nd show ever in a new town, the new canopy was destroyed by the heavy wind and rain, the entire structure collapsed, of course, I saved the metal poles for a project possibly in the future, then a few years later, those poles became the foundation for ~Tyra ~ a baby Rubber Tire Elephant Sculpture which came from, a car, bicycle, and motorcycle tires, it is a sculpture to be reminded how precious our wildlife is and how wildlife needs to be protected from many things such as pollution so Tyra has a friend an 8ft tall JerBot named UBot “The man who is connected to everything” holding a broken umbrella over her being protective… as in protecting wildlife. UBot was a 4-month process of placing objects in layers where I felt they belong it was fun to use everyday objects as a way to connect to people and energy around me.
The newest art projects are life-size lotuses that have a watery appeal from the resin and the 21 petals glow as well they are called the “lit lotus” because of the multi-color led light in the center. Then, the 2nd style of lotus called ~chakra lotus~ each of the 7 lotuses has a chakra crystal stone centered. The creating process for the lotus is quite a task which takes extra patience and special attention, I love this because it allows not only myself to learn in multiple ways it allows others to connect in the way the need to as well which is what I love about what I do is that special connection that’s individual to that person.
What keeps me going is experiencing the positive and negative energy of the evolving world around me most rewarding is when I see you smile.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road, I struggled with an abusive upbringing which colorful LEGO’s and drawing was what I gravitated towards then 15 years ago at the age of 21, I hopped on a bus from IN to TX with just a backpack and left what people call the cold cultish community behind me… best and scary decision I ever made, my life and art always seem to be in survival mode. I never went to art school, I was too busy exploring Texas and finding new friends, I’ll never forget the first Halloween Block party Dallas, it was nothing I’ve ever seen before I wanted to wear a fabulous costume of my own so I did! The next year, I covered myself in mosaic tile mirrors that I glued together I was beginning to shine! It was a breathtaking fabulous Halloween party. Then, several costumes followed after over the years. My husband Cody and I moved to Burleson in the country away from friends and city life to care for his sick parents while he was also sick himself shortly after Cody’s Pop passed and it was a lot to handle so along with caring for each other while maintaining responsibilities I found time to build a meditation teepee with a skylight and practice Chakra meditation for the very first time… over a few months of meditation, creativity woke inside again without me really knowing it that summer, I was in Cody’s dad’s garage tinkering with some broken tools and funny looking parts and that’s when my first little JerBot Sculpture was made! I named him ~Pop Bot~ Over time, I struggled to learn valuable techniques from new mediums such as clay, painting, and resin. I’ve struggled with alcoholism but the help from a professional therapist as well as have saved my life..
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I get excited about the next piece also! I’m most known for my whimsical and colorful style while maintaining a sense of spirituality and love of nature in my work.
Not only is my art accessible online and an art show or 2 throughout the year, but I can also personally deliver my art to you locally.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment was when I had the opportunity to make a rose to Adalia Rose a girl with Progeria a few years back. I cried when she held it close during a gift-opening on Facebook live.
Pricing:
- Lit Lotus 79.99
- Dark Raven 149.00
- Carnie Botz 449.99
Contact Info:
- Address: 3820 Timbercrest Dr W
Burleson, TX 76028 - Website: JerBotzSculptures.com
- Phone: 817-888-4186
- Email: JerBotz100@gmail.com
- Instagram: JerBotz_Sculptures
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
