Mallets and forks up, Phoenix! Chow Bella and Roosevelt Row present the third annual Pie Social and Croquet Tournament on Saturday, November 3, from 2 to 6 p.m. on Roosevelt Row in downtown Phoenix. Chow Bella's profiling the all-star line up of pie-makers, and from now til Pie Social, we'll introduce the artists creating wickets for the Croquet Tournament, one by one. Up today: Kelly Wilton
Kelly Wilton is a sculptor born and raised in Tempe, where she's currently studying at Arizona State University.
She says her sculptures generally consist of found objects, which she finds during countless hours in local antique shops (an activity that contributes to her "hoarding" tendencies).
She spent six months studying sculpture at University of the Arts London, Camberwell University in the spring of 2011. While in London, she was in two exhibitions at the Biscuit Factory and The Rag Factory.
See Also: - Sculptor Jamie Quidachay on Marriage, Art, and Her Wicket Project for Downtown's Croquet Tournament- Get Ready for a Downtown Croquet Tournament During Chow Bella and Roosevelt Row's Annual Pie Social in November
Wilton's work has also shown in galleries in Phoenix and Scottsdale such as Art One, Bragg's Pie Factory and The Alwun House.
Wilton is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Fahrenheit 2150 and the Secretary for Sculpture Club where she will be participating in and curating shows.
After graduation she plans on taking a year off from school to further her skills in foundry and becoming a technician in a sculpture studio.
When you aren't sculpting you're probably...
When I'm not sculpting I'm probably still in the studio applying for residencies, thinking about what I'm going to be doing for my next sculpture or hanging out with my fellow sculptors who are also my best friends down at Casey Moore's talking about art, of course.
Three major inspirations or influences?
My three major inspirations are Chernobyl and similar abandoned places, and the artists Eva Hesse and Judy Pfaff.
Since the theme is Alice in Wonderland, if you could be any character in the World of Alice in Wonderland who would it be and why?
I would be the Cheshire Cat if I could be any Alice in Wonderland character. Who wouldn't want to be psychotic disappearing cat that gives ambiguous answers?
Most preferred materials or medium to work with when sculpting?
I love working with found objects, usually found at swap meets or an antique store that has the aesthetic of the late 18th century. There's something about finding that perfectly aged object that makes my heart skip a beat. Material wise give me a bucket of polyurethane plastic to work with any day. Being able to free form and work with something that changes state and give the growing, radioactive quality to my art is so much fun even when it can be stressful at times. Lastly but certainly not least, I am a complete metal head, foundry girl. If you don't get excited to pour 100 pounds of molten bronze into a mold, then you're missing out on life. It's the best adrenaline rush I've ever experience and the results that you can get from casting metal is like nothing else.
Favorite pie...
How can you ask someone what their favorite pie is? Every pie is my favorite! I will tell you though where the best place to get pie is. The Rock Springs Cafe in Black Canyon City, AZ has by far the best pies I have ever eaten, especially their Jack Daniels Pecan pie.
More profiles are coming soon, but in the meantime you can check out Chow Bella's lineup of Pie Social chefs. Stay tuned to Jackalope Ranch and Chow Bella for more info.
