I use coat hangers for the armature and feet of my bird sculptures.  I've made
over 300 of them - all different and representing various species - which have
been used in 6 public art installations.  Some 60 of my birds are currently at
the state office building plaza in Providence, Rhode Island and a small flock at
Empire Fulton Ferry State Park in Brooklyn.  I find the coat hangers work great
for sculpture armatures - especially the white wire ones which are usually
easier to bend.  I've used them for other installation pieces too.  I'm sure
many other artists use coat hangers.
Good luck with the research on coat hangers.
Best, Jane

Grace Seiberling wrote:

>         Coat hangers have served as a symbol for back-alley abortions
> in the abortion rights movement.
>         A friend of mine was wearing a badge showing a coat hanger in
> a circle with diagonal slash through it. A salesperson in a clothing
> store said to her "What a great badge! I hate wire hangers too."
>         Coat hangers have been used as a substitute for broken car antennas,
> and for a great many other purposes too. I think some Calder wire
> sculptures were made of them.
>         Grace Seiberling

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Jane Ingram Allen's web page
http://www.borg.com/~allents