Bicycle chandeliers
Artist Carolina Fontoura Alzaga makes chandeliers from old bicycle parts, including chains, sprockets and spoked wheels. Her company, Facaro, ships the custom-made light fixtures all over the world. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Artist Carolina Fontoura Alzaga collects used bicycle parts from junkyards, trash bins and boxes she has placed at about 80 bike shops throughout Los Angeles. She cleans the metal parts and uses them to create chandeliers that are also urban fine art sculptures. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Artist Carolina Fontoura Alzaga keeps a checklist and spare parts in the Boyle Heights workspace where she turns old bicycle parts into chandeliers. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Shown is a closeup of some of the bicycle parts that artist Carolina Fontoura Alzaga uses to create chandeliers. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
There is a seven-month waiting period for artist Carolina Fontoura Alzaga’s bicycle chandeliers, which sell for $925 to $22,000. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
“The chandelier was meant to convey luxury and status through its scale, [and] ornately decorative and dramatic elements,” artist Carolina Fontoura Alzaga says. “I find that the allure of this bicycle chain chandelier exists because of the juxtaposition of its two disparate elements.” (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Artist Carolina Fontoura Alzaga uses the natural color of bicycle components in crafting her chandeliers, but she is playing with the thought of adding color with copper, silver and brass. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)