Metal Sculpture
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I prefer to use found metal, parts and gears from machinery, trims from manufacturing, stuff that's bound for recycling. I respect forms which were designed for another use, combining them to create something new. Sometimes I make a creature or a plant; sometimes an abstract design. I enjoy viewer's comments as they discover or identify a sculpture's individual parts. I studied welding in vocational school to become a state-certified welder. My first job using those skills was at the Badger munitions plant. When I welded things it was because it was needed, whereas art was something I appreciated, but had never considered doing myself. When my daughter was a student choreographer at UW Milwaukee, she asked me to create ballet stands for a modern dance. I guess she thought, "Dad can do anything." The props had to be steel, look organic, be heavy to withstand pulling and tugging, yet be light enough to be moved on and off stage quickly by the young dancers. Talk about a challenge! A couple of years ago friends built a fishpond and I wanted to give them the gift of a sculpture with cattails and reeds. That's when I knew "I wanted to do metal sculpture and create for the pleasure of it." My first abstract, "Andromeda", was a freeform of steel and a rock from the Apple River. Later came "Moon Rock", a mix of cast and stainless metals, pipe trims and Wisconsin fossilized coral. Two of my sculptures, "Cricket" and "V-8 Bird" were chosen to travel in the "2009 SCAA Encore Art" exhibit. I enjoy art museums, galleries, sculpture gardens and art shows. I have purchased metal sculptures by artists who have since become friends. I enjoy talking with them about types of metal and how to work with it. When I look at a discarded piece of metal, like a broken gear, I see the beginning of a design. There is a pile of steel parts and pieces in my back yard which I call "the island of possibilities." Evan Wollschlager: husband, dad, Wisconsin certified welder, Vietnam veteran, business owner, art lover and now a sculptor (who knew?).
Photos of artwork:
"Evan's
Cattails"
"Andromeda"
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