Couples create 300-pound rhino sculpture from wine corks

FAIR OAKS, Calif., Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Four California artists said they are taking "Rhinocirrhosis," their 300-pound rhino sculpture made from thousands of wine corks, to a Michigan art contest.

Jim and Mary Lambert of Carmichael, and Bob and Di Nelson of Fair Oaks said they spent three years creating the sculpture, named after a rhinoceros and the drinking-related liver disease cirrhosis, from thousands of wine corks along with some plastic foam and plywood, the Sacramento (Calif.) Bee reported Wednesday.

The couples said they are preparing to load the sculpture into a covered trailer for transport to the ArtPrize international art competition in Grand Rapids, Mich.

"The whole event is sort of a culmination of having a good time with friends and family members," Jim Lambert said. "Sure, we have grandiose thoughts of winning, but they are grandiose thoughts. We are just going to have some fun."

The grand prize of the competition is $200,000 cash.

The couples said they had a lot of help from friends and family in creating the artwork. They said about 83 people ranging in age from 9 to 93 helped them apply the corks to the sculpture.

The artists said they hope to sell Rhinocirrhosis and donate the proceeds to the International Rhino Foundation; Operation School Bell, which provides clothing to needy Sacramento children; and construction training programs for high school students.