Guns, Bullets, and Steel: Al Farrow's Reliquary Sculptures

Perhaps a metaphor for society's dependency on weapons. Maybe a sardonic statement to what's really sacred these days. But one thing's for sure—Al Farrow's bullet-framed reliquaries are enough to make any gun-toting art enthusiast wet their pants.

His elegant and brooding religious shrines are flawlessly sculpted from guns, firearm parts, artillery shells and cartridge ammunition, most spent and some seemingly with bullet and charge intact. Farrow's pieces include menacing mausoleums, towering synagogues and beautiful cathedrals, even a menorah where the candles are placed inside gun barrels. They're miniature architectural masterpieces built on turmoil, some based on real-life sanctuaries.

If you want to see these magnificent holy beasts in person, including his harrowing and ironically decrepit Bombed Mosque, the Catherine Clark Gallery is housing Al Farrow's detailed sculptures now until May 28th, 2011 in San Fransisco, California.

See some of Farrow's other gun and ammo sculptures below. You can also see more galleries on his website or on Flickr.