On the north side of Bruce, Mississippi, just to the West of Highway 9 on a little gravel road is a 20+ foot tall sculpture of a guy built entirely out of tires.
I’m not sure how I missed noticing this before, but it caught my attention this weekend. I’m sorry the picture above doesn’t give any clue about scale, but this thing is REALLY LARGE. At least 20 feet. An online search turned up only the information that someone from Oxford saw it three or four years ago (but could not remember whether it was in Calhoun City or Bruce).
L’art pour l’art.
He bears an uncanny resemblance, in posture and pose, to the original Shoney’s Big Boy. More:
http://open.salon.com/blog/monte_canfield/2009/07/20/the_case_of_shoneys_big_boy_evil_motorcyclists
“Entirely?”
Bibendum? Is that you? What is vous doing in Bruce?
Constructed by Mr. Jerry Fred Aron, the tire man has been around since at least 2006. He used to hold a large Mississippi flag in his raised hand. Apparently it has either been removed or blown away.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/drewbaker/2401672512/sizes/m/in/photostream/
This could be a good way to end the drought! Just stick Nicholas Cage in there along with some pigs and chickens and set it on fire while everybody dances around it singing “Summer is a’cumming In!”
I do believe there is one in Pontotoc too. Across from the John Deere dealership on Hwy 15.
I’m a TV producer at Mississippi Public Broadcasting and have been asked to look into this structure for a possible segment on one of our shows. I would be interested in hearing back from James (July 26, 2011 at 8:34 am) if he’s notified of my comment, or anyone if can track him down. Or of anyone else would like to contribute to this story with memories or notions of this tire man please let me know!
Also, bodean (July 27, 2011 at 5:24 pm), I would be interested in confirming the existence of the Pontotoc version as well.
I have enabled replies by email if you choose to do a follow up.
Thanks in advance!
Embarrassed, I just noticed myriad typos above. I was in a rush when I made the post.