HAMILTON — The City of Sculpture's new artist in-residence finds his inspiration — and his materials — in the scrap heap.

        Since January, Dennis C. Baker has spent many weekend hours in his new studio at Hamilton Scrap Processors, picking through odd pieces of stainless steel.

        He incorporates items that catch his eye into metal assemblages.

        “The beauty of found objects, to me, is that they're always different,” Mr. Baker said. “I never know from one trip to another what I will find — it's kind of an industrial egg hunt.

        “I work with steel because it satisfies me in some primal way. And I have, as long as I can remember, liked to assemble stuff.”

        After grinding and buf fing the metal, Mr. Baker welds it into forms that please him. Sometimes, he said, incompleted sculptures sit in his studio for weeks until he finds just the right finishing touch. Then he often adds a dash of color.

        “Dennis doesn't change the shape of things,” said Gerry Hammond, a member of Hamilton's City of Sculpture board of directors. “He takes the shape it is, just as he finds it.”

        Mr. Baker said that working with used objects is “like being reborn, from an artistic standpoint. These pieces could be out of (the scrap yard) next week. I try to catch them before they leave to become someone's refrigerator or countertop.”

        Neil Cohen, owner of Hamilton Scrap Processors, supports Hamilton's efforts to enhance its public spaces with artwork. He donated the studio space and provides whatever scraps Mr. Baker needs.

        Recently, Mr. Baker gave one of his larger works to the Fitton Center for Creative Arts in Hamilton. The sculpture's title, “Over Eight,” comes from the figure-eight shape formed by two red circles perched atop the piece.

        Fifteen of Mr. Baker's sculptures were auctioned Sunday to finance expansion of the artist-in-residence program. Ms. Hammond said the money will be used to buy equipment for the studio. A well-equipped space, she explained, will allow gifted students to work with Mr. Baker.

        “Dennis is our first artist in-residence and we are so fortunate to have him,” she said. “He is so committed to mentoring high school students, and he knows how to communicate.”

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