Photo by Brian Lewis

T.J. Tangpuz displays the moveable eyes and mouth of his sculpture. It will be on display at the Olive this weekend with other pieces of Tangpuz’s work. Tangpuz has a degree in sculpture and is studying for a degree in metals.

T.J. Tangpuz is living proof that television influences children.

While growing up Tangpuz loved “Transformers” and “The Muppet Show.”

“I loved ‘Transformers,’” Tangpuz, Kansas City, Mo., continuing education student, said. “It’s probably what got me into making things. I made a lot of my toys when I was a kid.”

He loved them so much he started to make toys out of paper because his parents couldn’t afford to buy them.

It turned out to be a creative blessing that’s getting him noticed. This weekend Tangpuz will have his second non-academic showing this weekend at the Olive Gallery and Art Supply, 15 E. Eighth St.

“That’s kind of what sparked it all,” Tangpuz said. “I think when you’re that young and forced into that kind of a situation it forces you to be a little bit more creative.”

The showing, entitled “Paper: Reloaded,” will feature about eight sculptures by Tangpuz, mostly made of paper.

One of the works, “Head Studies,” is where the “Transformers” and the “Muppets” influences collide.

Standing at about 5 feet tall, the brown paper head has big eyes and a simplified look similar to one of Jim Henson’s creations. The eyes and mouth can open and close by manipulating levers behind the head.

“He primarily uses scrap paper,” John Hachmeister, associate professor of sculpture, said. “And creates value from it.”

Another work expected to be displayed is a black horse head with a mane made from shredded paper that falls almost naturally onto the neck. Another work, called “Accordion ring” can be worn on the person’s hand and has a miniature accordion that moves with the fingers.

“My treehouse”

Tangpuz also made his studio from scraps.

Below the sculpture room in the Art and Design building there is group of studios called the Sub Base, which resembles “The Pit” from the 1992 film “PCU,” complete with old couches and walls covered in graffiti, but sans the booze and the metal band.

In Tangpuz’s section he works in what he calls his treehouse — a double-decker loft space made up of throw-away materials.

Painted all-blue, a seven-step spiral staircase leads up the upper level where Tangpuz stores some of his projects. Below the loft area is his workshop.

“They were remodeling the woodshop upstairs, so they had these empty cabinets, and they were throwing them away and I was like ‘No way,’” he said. “The nice thing about being a sculptor is that we’re highly resourceful. Some people see junk, we see potential.”

The loft takes advantage of the high ceilings of the Sub Base and gives his studio mate Desiree Warren, Ottawa senior and a wood carver, more room to work.

“I think that it’s great that he’s utilizing his space,” Warren said. “I have tendency to spread out.”

The spiral staircase also becomes a landmark, Warren said.

“When people look for me I tell them to find the studio with the spiral staircase,” she said.

An infection

Between classes, having a student job and working in his studio, Tangpuz estimates he spends 50 hours a week in the Art and Design building.

“He has a genuine dedication to his art,” Hachmeister said. “That dedication is infectious and students identify that and try do it.”

His work ethic has spread to Warren. When he sticks around, she wants to as well because he is so fun to work with, she said.

Tangpuz remembers his parent’s work ethic, which is the inspiration for long hours in the Sub Base.

“He’s the hardest working person

I know,” Warren said. “He’s almost always here when I leave. And when I usually get here in the afternoon, he’s here.”

Dual personalities

Tangpuz relates to “Transformers.”

“I just like the idea of them having two identities when they change their shapes,” he said. “I guess I’ve become one, too, because I have this dual thing.”

Tangpuz’s given name is Juniper — which he describes as “the drawer” — and T.J. is the name he gave himself, which he describes as “the builder.”

“Starting out, I was a shy kid and was just tough for me to interact,” he said. “So in order for to me to do that I had to create a different kind of persona to help get past that shyness and it just became a different kind of identity.”

Tangpuz emerged in high school to give a fresh start after personal troubles, he said.

The two sides of his persona come together in a pop-up book he made for his illustration class entitled “Mad Squirrel and the Senseless Caper.”

“Whenever he draws anything he draws himself,” Warren said. “He draws himself as a squirrel. It kind of has his haircut.”

This project inspired Tangpuz to move from illustration to sculpture.

Now, Tangpuz is trying to move into other materials such as metals and iron casting, but is always trying to make different materials have the aesthetics of paper.

“Paper to me is more like a native language,” Tangpuz said. “Approaching a new material is almost like I’m traveling to a different country,” Tangpuz said. “They have their own little language and tools, it’s a lot different.”

— Edited by Austin Caster

If you go ...

• What: Paper: Reloaded, featuring the work of T.J. Tangpuz.
• When: Tomorrow, 6 to 10 p.m.
• Where: Olive Gallery & Art Supply, 15 E. Eighth St.

Source: The Olive Gallery & Art Supply