Crescent shapes spun in the sun, resembling a waxing and waning moon.twistingsteel.com, Mr Cardinali is self-taught.sonnysmetalart.com offer glimpses of his method and personality. In the About Us page on that website, the information states, "Everything you see is made from discarded metal, miscellaneous car and motorcycle parts, as well as household items, with the exception of most of the copper sculpture."

Marnie Uliasz noticed the likeness as she watched a large metal artwork on her lawn, its top arms spinning as the "moons" caught a breeze and made a quick orbit around the sculpture's center post.

One of three pieces of kinetic art currently installed in her front yard at 151 Berkshire Road, "Lunar Wind Catcher" is the largest piece positioned between "Could Have Been Plaid" and "Angry Woman," also built with decorated center posts and arm-like beams on top.

The creations, all one of a kind, are the work of Milford artist Sonny Cardinali. A friend of Ms Uliasz, Mr Cardinali had asked to put the pieces on her property, where she and her family have lived for roughly one year.

He and Ms Uliasz have art in common, which they spoke about while discussing Mr Cardinali's work during a February 26 visit in Sandy Hook. Ms Uliasz teaches at the Place Children's Multicultural Museum in Hamden.

Watching "Lunar Wind Catcher" cast stretched afternoon shadows, Mr Cardinali said that piece and the others are "strictly art," and "something to look at."

"The Angry Woman" and "Could Have Been Plaid" stood to the sides, throwing their own strange shadows across the ground. The design of "The Angry Woman" includes triangles welded to her center post, resembling the posture of a woman's hands on her hips. She looks "green with jealousy," Ms Uliasz said.

Walking toward the pieces, Mr Cardinali said he had started his sculpting in 1995, and more recently has begun creating kinetic, or moving art. He is experienced with the process of bending metal in his imagination. He had previously been a welder, then "I started making things and putting them in peoples' gardens at night."

"It's like upscale graffiti," Ms Uliasz said.

Currently, Mr Cardinali works for himself and on request, but does not take commissions.

"I do it for enjoyment," he said. Commissioned work brings time limits, and sometimes "visions don't match" between the artist and client, he said. He creates all his work from a one-car garage.

"I respect that you're in a small space and you do it," Ms Uliasz.

As he works, he said, "Some pieces I get attached to, or my wife [gets attached to them], and they can't leave the yard." He listens to music while he works, and sometimes friends will bring him music "to see what I do." He prefers listening to rockabilly or Leonard Cohen, he said.

Mr Cardinali's art changes Ms Uliasz's front yard, and "brings life to the land," she said. The art has been up for more than a month, and has generated comments.

"People ask if it's a weather station," she said.

People will also either "like it or hate it," Mr Cardinali has heard, "but some say nothing - that's the worst insult." People must "subconsciously feel something," he said.

Watching the metal arms spin, propelled by the wind cups of "Lunar Wind Catcher," Ms Uliasz said, "We'll sit on the front porch and drink coffee and zone out on the sculptures."

A bear walked between the three pieces recently, which was "pretty slick," she said. Her dogs were also at first afraid, possibly because of the sculptures' shadows and movement. However, "If a bear visits, you're doing something right."

In progress now is a piece Mr Cardinali calls "Girl In Hula Hoop." He plans a pinwheel in the sculpture's center. Another non-kinetic piece is also in progress: an upright bass playing itself, he said. Inspiration often strikes when something catches his eye and starts him thinking, "I'll put my own twist on it."

According to Mr Cardinali's website,

"He fell into art by chance after learning how to weld in his garage," he website notes in part. "Welding small pieces together for a local manufacturer, Sonny started seeing other shapes in the metal. He would sit in garage for hours, thinking up new ways to put the pieces together. After a few weeks, Sonny developed a love for art and has been creating sculpture non-stop ever since."

Also according to the website, Mr Cardinali often counts on a painter, Mike Galullo, to add "a new aspect to his metal art." The art on Ms Uliasz's lawn is painted.

"In the past, most of my sculptures were in a rusted, natural state," Mr Cardinali said. "Now, most of my sculptures are painted to bring new life to them.

"That new life is the artistic mind of Mike Galullo," he continued. "Mike and I have partnered to bring moving, colorful works of art that compliments any garden. His eye for color and pattern is matched by no one."

Mr Galullo teaches art in Wilton, Mr Cardinali said. They have known each other for nearly 20 years and Mr Galullo has been painting things steadily for the last two years.

"I think it enhances my work to a point, but I like the patina of the metal in its natural state," he said.

Another website highlighting his work,

"I try to use humor in most of my work," Mr Cardinali said. "My point is to make people laugh and feel good when they view my sculpture. I have been known to laugh out loud while welding metal objects together."