Brian Marshall, a middle school teacher by day and a self-described “mad scientist” by night, has been named the featured artist for the 2025 Brandywine Festival of the Arts, which will bring more than 240 crafters and artisans to Wilmington’s Brandywine Park on September 6 and 7.

"I fabricate robots, fish and more from vintage items like a modern-day Dr. Frankenstein of junk," Marshall said.

Inspired as a child by garage sale excursions with his mom and tinkering in his own garage with his dad, he did some of his first work with clocks, lamps, and furniture. 

An early revelation was the impetus for the amazingly creative path he would take. “I flipped over a teapot one day and imagined the spout as a nose and the lid as mouth,” he said, explaining the start of an obsession that eventually led to the Adopt-A-Bot orphanage.   

Through the years Marshall has discovered vintage items while digging through piles at flea markets, yard sales, and the metal recycler, finding the search is as much fun as the creation of his little friends. Once collected, organized, and carefully selected, the objects are combined like the parts of a puzzle using only bolts and rivets to secure them. Made from various materials, many pieces cannot be combined with welding or brazing, but even when they can, he likes the challenge of finding ways to bolt them together. Bolting rather than welding also creates an impression that these figures could at any moment come to life and begin moving. Before the final assembly, Marshall may scuff or polish parts, leave them in their natural state or even give them a patina, depending on the look he wants to achieve. Once a piece is finished, it receives a hand-stamped tag to identify it as a member of the Adopt-A-Bot orphanage.

“My robot sculptures do not take a critical look at social, political, or cultural issues. I simply love the adventure of finding and collecting new objects and the problem solving involved in assembling those parts to create unique personalities,” Marshall said. “My enjoyment continues as smiles emerge on the faces of children and adults when they challenge each other to name the various parts that they recognize from their youth. To that end, I try not to render objects unrecognizable but rather assemble in a fashion that allows others to enjoy the original engineering and artistry of the parts that inspire me. If I do have a message or a wish, it would be for people to think outside the box and find new ways to use old things.”

As the featured artist, Marshall and his Robot Menagerie will have a prominent location for display and sale at the Brandywine Festival of the Arts, always the weekend after Labor Day, on Sept. 6 and 7 in Brandywine Park, across from the Brandywine Zoo.

In addition to painters, jewelers, potters, photographers, woodworkers and other artisans displaying and offering their works for sale, the festival features a food court, children’s activities and pet adoption opportunities.

Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7. Admission is $5, with children 12 and under accompanied by an adult admitted for free. The event is pet friendly.

For more information, visit www.brandwinearts.com or contact Barry Schlecker, producer for Barrys Events, at 302-690-5555.