Heavy Metal, Light Touch

In Michael Amescua’s hands, steel comes to life. The sculptor, who works outdoors in a cluttered East Los Angeles parking lot, uses a blowtorch to turn quarter-inch sheets of used metal into three-dimensional works of art. Amescua, who draws his inspiration from Mexican symbols and myths, first uses chalk to fashion his desired design. Then, he follows the chalk with his torch and grinds off the rough edges with a rasp. He wears out a pair of welding gloves every couple of weeks.