Cleveland Cavaliers fan and jewelry artist Sandy Buffie, known for her great works of art, has crafted a unique sculpture of LeBron James to show her support in the NBA Playoffs, complete with detailed tattoo and beard representations.
Check it out below:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVDNlO0FHpo/
As you can see, this is no ordinary sculpture. Made from 30 gallons of dryer lint, Buffie’s bust of James made its debut before Game 3 of the Finals and has become an instant hit with supportive Clevelanders. Fans from all over are flocking to catch a glimpse, rub the beard, or simply take a photo.
Read his lips! What does this guy tell LintBron? #CavsHQ #DefendTheLand #lintbron#fox8 #channel4news #espn #nbafinals #thisiscle pic.twitter.com/4Pd3bJ0KxR
— sandy buffie (@sandybuffie) June 11, 2017
Buffie, who has also created dryer lint sculptures of Johnny Depp, Steve Smith Sr., Donald Trump, and Shaquille O’Neal‘s dog, Thor, estimates “LintBron’s” weight to be somewhere around 10 pounds.
Hey @SHAQ @sandybuffie has a lint sculpture of your dog Thor. Stop by her studio in the @5thStArcades before you leave Cleveland! pic.twitter.com/unejF6JqFL
— Randy Ziemnik (@RandyZiemnik) June 9, 2017
Last season, Buffie made a similar bust of James. However, as Michelle Martinelli of For The Win writes in her recent article, Buffie wasn’t quite satisfied with the first rendition.
“I think the new LeBron might be my favorite,” Buffie said of the many sculptures she has on display at her shop two blocks from Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland. “But that might be all tied up here with the Finals and excitement of the games. Win or lose, he’ll still have my heart.”
Buffie says she had some help with the creation of LintBron. Most of her dryer lint is actually donated through social media, the mail, or from folks leaving it at her door.
“A lot of people say they’re not creative – which I don’t agree with, I think everybody is creative – but it gives them a way to participate in creating a piece of artwork and make something that’s one of a kind,” Buffie said. “I think that they feel like they can help, and if they didn’t, it wouldn’t be created.”
As she does with most of her works of art, Buffie says she intends on selling the new LeBron sculpture to the highest bidder, with proceeds going to the Center for Arts-Inspired Learning in Cleveland.
“He really represents hope for Cleveland,” Buffie said of James. “He makes everybody happy, and he’s such a great role model for kids and for the whole community. … People love him, win or lose, and they know he puts 100 percent into each game.”