Audio By Carbonatix
19. Mitch Fry
Mitch Fry says he’s recently been released into being a sculptor. He was raised in a Chicago suburb and his father was a commercial artist. He came to Arizona and graduated from ASU’s fine art program. He says his sculpting style is constructing aesthetic larger things out of multitudes of smaller, mostly re-purposed things.
“When I look at stuff that goes by our daily lives into waste, I can’t help but see sculptural materials, whether packaging or phone books,” Fry writes. “Not altogether because waste is wrong, but mostly because my I am an artist and this stuff is intriguing and cheap or free.”
Ok, Fry writes, off the soap box. He’s married and has three sons. You might be able to catch him rolling out his next big project down Jackson Street in Phoenix (really, it rolls).
When news happens, Phoenix New Times is there —
Your support strengthens our coverage.
We’re aiming to raise $30,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to you. If New Times matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.
Read more about Fry and his work after the jump …
1. List five things on your inspiration wall (real or imagined):
– Materials: I have a sculpture made from shiny dimes and clothespins. A pile of dried banana peels is building in my studio, I’m just waiting for concept glue … No strings are “too short to save.”
– Music: I’m an old Rock ‘n’ Roller. If I could make a sculpture of “Cortez the Killer” or “Angel of Montgomery,” that would be something.
– The Ocean: Every wave on the shore is rebirth, every storm is re-boot, the wind coming off it is a healer’s hand and being inside of that is flying.
– Dreams: I woke up yesterday after dreaming I was at a machine stamping big flat washers out of orange Popsicles for a sculpture. I have to find something to do with that!
– Grand Success Stories: Reminders that there is no such thing as, “you can’t get there from here”.
2. What was your last big project?
In May, the Contemporary Forum displayed my spheres at the Phoenix Art Museum. (Thank you to the nice people there.)
3. What’s your next big project?
I have a show at Bonner David Gallery on October 21 with my new pieces.
4. Why do you do what you do?
Basically, I’m put together this way and just gave up to it.
I’ve done many things and avoided being declared an artist — not to disparage artists, but I was brought up in the “proud American tradition” that the world needs many things, but another artist was not high on the success list. While I was busy trying to be “productive,” that other voice inside of me was busier. It took a long time, but beauty and wonder won out.
5. What’s something you want Phoenix to know about you?
I want people to know the sculptures, and that you, yourself drop out of the equation; you’re not important. The tip of your psyche is riding out on the art. Whether you keep dead people in your freezer, or used to be a cheerleader, your real vulnerability is already out there for all to see.
And if you’re game, what’s something you don’t want Phoenix to know about you?
One of those things is actually true.
The Creatives, so far:
100. Fausto Fernandez
99. Brian Boner
98. Carol Panaro-Smith
97. Jane Reddin
96. Adam Dumper
95. Mayme Kratz
94. Daniel Tantalean
93. Yuri Artibise
92. Lisa Starry
91. Paul Hoeprich
90. Betsy Schneider
89. Mary Shindell
88: Gabriel Utasi
87: Tiffany Egbert
86. Angela Cazel Jahn
85. Dayvid LeMmon
84. Beatrice Moore
83. Michelle J. Martinez
82. Carrie Bloomston
81. Paul Porter
80. Rachel Bess
79. Karolina Sussland
78. Aaron Abbott
77. Mary Lucking
76. Erin Sotak
75. Greg Esser
74. Matthew Mosher
73. Mark Klett
72. Tony Carrillo
71. Paul Morris
70. Joe Pagac
69. Alison King
68. JJ Horner
67. Kim Porter
66. Marco Rosichelli
65. Heather Hales
64. Amy Lamp
63. Kevin Vaughan-Brubaker
62. Lindy Drew
61. Robbie Pfeffer
60. Neil Borowicz
59. Lynn Fisher
58. Tanner Woodford
57. David Tinapple
56. Casebeer
55. Tom Leveen
54. Patti Parsons
53. Tedd McDonah
52. Mike Maas
51. Chris Todd
50. Monica Aissa Martinez
49. Stefan Shepherd
48. Jenny Poon
47. Matt Moore
46. Andrea Hanley
45. Julie Hampton
44. Ted Decker
43. Saskia Jorda
42. Michael Bergfalk
41. Scott Baxter
40. Carrie Marill
39. Kobina Banning
38. Suzanne Falk
37. Jon Haddock
36. Kade Twist
35. Cindy Dach
34. John Wagner
33. Roy Wasson Valle
32. Sue Chenoweth
31. Patricia Colleen Murphy
30. David Quan
29. Lesli Yazzie
28. Nathan Feller
27. Cassandra Coblentz
26. Matt Dickson
25. Tara Logsdon
24. Gennaro Garcia
23. Tiphanie Brooke
22. Dan Semenchuk
21. James Angel
20. Tessa Windt
