Whitney Pierson
Staff Reporter

It's a unique talent many might never have been aware of. However, for Chelsea Ewen, a freshman biology major at NIACC, it's a hobby she seems to enjoy.

Ewen got the idea to begin this hobby from a flea market, and now has been putting her skills to use for three years.

She combines copper wire and various size stained glass pieces to make almost any shape or animal.

Ewen said she taught herself this skill, and obtained the needed materials to let her creativity guide her own designs.

"My favorite piece is the dragonfly," Ewen said. "My art teacher liked it so much she asked me to let it be used as an inspiration."

Ewen said the project design for the dragonfly was generated in two days, and the actual completion of the project took another four days. She has used her makings as 4-H projects, and her dragonfly design won Grand Champion of Visual Arts in addition to a blue ribbon at the State Fair for Special Recognition.

Ewen said she would recommend this hobby to others. "It's pretty easy and cheap, the hard part is learning how the cut the class," Ewen said.

Sammie Stuessy
For the Logos

While many NIACC students participate in traditional sports such as football or basketball, one NIACC student has found a way to take his love of bicycles to a new height - literally.

A.J. Haines, a sophomore from Mason City, belongs to a BMX (Bicycle Motor Cross) group called Chaos on Wheels.

The BMX group, which consists of 10 different people from North Iowa and Southern Minnesota, travels across the country entertaining audiences that average 5,000 people with the stunts the group performs on their BMX bikes.

While performing, Haines takes off of a 7' ramp and goes as high as 14' in the air. He said his favorite jumps are tailwhips.

Although he has had gashes and jammed fingers, Haines said he has never broken anything while performing.

The group has shows every week, year-round across the country.

Haines said he has visited a number of states across the country while performing. North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, Oregon and Arkansas represent just a few of the states Haines has visited while performing with the group on the summer tour.

Haines said that even practicing has required him to be on the road. Haines said he travels to Mankato, Minnesota for his practices with the group.

"We practice two to four hours or longer every day that it's not raining," Haines said about the time commitment to be in the group.

Haines said he started BMX originally because he was bored.

"I wasn't into many sports, BMX was an alternative and it's not team reliant so it's all on you," Haines said.

The group recruited Haines when he was 12 years old because they needed a biker for a show.

They liked the way Haines rode and decided to make him a part of the team.

Haines' interest in the sport has allowed him to not only keep in shape and travel, but also express his creative style with the many jumps and stunts he does as a part of the group.

"I'm going to keep riding BMX until I'm no longer physically able to," Haines said about his future in the sport.