‘Pick’ your medium

Around Sun City’s lodges, we see the beautiful art of creating: painting, sculptures of ceramic and clay, and even glass are a part of the wide range of media that artists use – but what about toothpicks?

Cesar Vega, a Peruvian-American resident of Sun City, uses the skills of an architect and the vision of an artist, to create intricate toothpick replicas.

“Since childhood, I was known as the kid with the artistic ability. I began making my own toys at four.”

It was after an extended illness that Vega took a leave of absence.

He states, “During that time, I began to play with toothpicks and discovered that beautiful artistic designs could be created from this simple medium. I began to create several objects, including cars, trains, and people out of these toothpicks.”

In the United States, wooden toothpicks are made from birch wood. Logs are cut into spiral cut thin sheets, then cut, milled, and bleached into toothpicks. The state of Maine was the leading producer of toothpicks for the United States until 2003 when the last factory closed.

Vega explained, “Diamond brand is my favorite.”

One of the Vega’s Latest designs is not a replica, but as he states, “The tower is my own architectural design. So far I have used over 7000 toothpicks and embroidery hoops.”

Vega points to another model.

“This is a New Orleans’ Trolley car. There are 43 seats and I have created a driver,” he said.

Vega’s home is filled with his treasures, “A horse and carriage with moveable wheels. This one was made with 5000 toothpicks.”

On a wall, Vega and his wife Gladys have both worked on a project creating a replica of Our Lady of San Juan de Los Lagos, The Virgin Mary has long brown hair. Her hands are joined in prayer, and she wears a beautiful white gown with a blue robe. She wears a beautiful golden crown and over her head, and two angels support a banner with a Latin inscription in blue enamel that says: MATER IMMACULATA ORA PRO NOBIS, which means Immaculate Mother Pray for Us.

“My wife hand embroidered the beautiful gown she wears; all the detail, the beading was done all by hand.”

On Vega’s coffee table is a replica of the Eiffel tower.

“This has over 10,000 toothpicks and I have added lights to it. The replica is made to scale and the antennas on the top are copies,” he said.

Vega sells his many structures as well.

“Each of my structures I first have to a make an architectural plan and these I keep so that if I am asked to make another one I have the plans,” he said.

Vega has not only displayed his work here in Sun City, but in other locations as well.

“I have had my pieces at various exhibits; one of the exhibits was at the Pan-American Art Festival held at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry. I displayed various pieces of art, including sculptures, prints, ceramics, toothpick models, and miniature matchstick sculptures.”

In Vega’s home, some of his paintings are displayed, including a painting of his wife, Gladys, as a bride. They have been married for 49 years.

When the piece is finished, Vega is content.

“I view myself as a contemporary artist who feels relaxed and liberated after completing an art piece,” he said.

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