Q: So tell me exactly what you call your type of art?
A: I am a sculpture major and art Ed. I do a lot of casting, and I’m currently working on a piece that is going to (hopefully, fingers crossed) be a functioning BBQ grill that is in the shape of a cow … well a bull actually.
Q: I’ve been told that your work isn’t purely aesthetic because it has practical function. Would you say that practical function adds to the artistic value? Explain?
A: My favorite question is “What is it?” I think that practical function can add to the artistic value of a piece.
Most of the time the “average Joe” doesn’t know what to think of art or know what to do with it, so when you give art a practical function … like making a mug or a bowl … or a BBQ grill … it lets the “average Joe” into your world.
I don’t want all of my work to become functional though. I still want people to ask me, “What is it?”
Q: Where did you first begin to practice sculpture?
A: I’ve always really liked art, and I guess I started making sculpture when I was in my high school art classes. Tape sculptures. Paper mache.
We did some small jewelry casting, too, which I think influenced my liking for casting now.
I also would weld things together and make sculptures with my dad in the summer just for fun. My dad is genius when it comes to that sort of stuff.
Q: I’m sure some of your desire to practice art comes from living in western Kansas since there’s nothing else better to do. What else helps you kill the time?
A: I’m pretty involved in the theatre here, too. It’s something I’ve been doing since I was really little, too.
I like sidewalk chalking, which I guess is more art. Sometimes I like to just get in the car and drive around with no clue where I’m going. Hanging with friends on the weekends. Just staying really busy all the time, I guess.
Q: Do you think that 500 years from now, Indiana Jones’s great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandson will go searching for your sculpture? Will there be booby traps?
A: I hope he goes looking for it. That would be awesome. And of course there will be all kinds of sweet booby traps.
Maybe some creepy rabid raccoons to chase him, probably lots of cliffs and rickety bridges, and there would definitely be a pit of spiders. I hate spiders. Oh and a fire breathing dragon.
Q: Obviously your work is a mix of art forms. Do you ever have a desire to mix other forms of art? What?
A: I’d like to dabble a bit more in painting, and I think printmaking is pretty interesting.
I’d like to mix my performance art with my sculpture too and maybe make my art more interactive someday, but I haven’t figured out a good way to do it yet.
Q: Does listening to music help a person’s creativity bloom when working on an artistic creation?
A: It definitely helps me. I listen to music pretty much all the time … no mater what I’m doing. I’m listening to music right now actually … little bit of Anthony Hamilton. It helps me when I cook, too.
Q: What store are we most likely to find your work in some day?
A: I hope my art doesn’t get sold in a store … unless it’s like my own gallery attached to my studio or something.
Q: I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard …
A: “Wow you’re really short!” Really? When did that happen? I never noticed.
Q: If you could create a college class, what would it be?
A: I’d like to see more classes specifically for art Ed majors. That or something completely random like a class on origami.
Q: Skim, whole or two percent?
A: Two Percent.
Q: Why do you think keeping art in schools is important?
A: Ooo … love this question. I believe that Art Education is essential to a student becoming a well rounded, functioning member of society.
Art is a universal language in that it uses form and image to communicate ideas, emotions and meanings, rather than words. And that’s the short of my philosophy on art Ed.
Q: What do you hope your art contributes to society?
A: Wow what a question. I can’t say I’ve ever really thought of it. I guess I hope it makes some sort of impact on people and that they leave feeling something.
Even if they completely hate it … it would be better than them not taking anything away from the piece.
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