These Notes from AskART represent the beginning of a possible future biography for this artist. Please click here if you wish to help in its development:
| | A metal sculptor of abstract birds, he was formerly a truck driver in Wisconsin and returned to college and got an art degree. He was especially taken with welding. | |
Biography from Conservation Design Inc:
| "I sculpt because I enjoy the challenge of manipulating space, I choose birds as my subject matter because they fascinate me to no end."
Using birds as a point of departure, Don explores the relationship of positive and negative space and manipulates this interplay in mixed metals to give the impression of life and movement. His work, although somewhat abstract, is based on anatomical accuracy, "I feel you should have an intimate understanding of your subject matter before you attempt to abstract it. This allows you to select which characteristics to emphasize, or de-emphasize, in order to create a certain feeling in the piece".
BACKGROUND
After completing his BFA in sculpture (1993-1995) and a summer print-making workshop in Florence, Italy (1995), Don began sculpting part-time while embarking on the establishment of Vanguard Sculpture Services, a full service sculpture foundry (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) where he specialized in the casting of monumental bronze sculpture. In 1997, Don began to focus on the development of his art work and in 2001 left the foundry business to pursue sculpting and exhibitions full-time. While making this transition, Don taught an introductory welding class at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which he taught from 2000 to 2002.
In addition to his professional experience as a Sculptor, Artisan, and Teacher, Don has volunteered with several organizations that have given him unique, hands-on experience with birds, including volunteering with the Wisconsin Peregrine Society (1992 - 2002, banding young falcons) and The Milwaukee Public Museum (1992) as a taxidermist.
In the past decade, Don has exhibited his work across the United States, including the "Bird's in Art" Exhibition at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin (1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006-2010) and the Society of Animal Artists Exhibition 2000 and 2010.
EDUCATION
1995 Monoprint Workshop, Santa Reparata Studio - Florence, Italy
1993 - 1995 BFA, Sculptor Major - University Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1990 - 1992 Biology/Physiology Major - University Waukesha Wisconsin
1992 Biological Illustration, Pigeon Lake Field Station - Wisconsin
Support for Conservation:
I have chosen the Papua Bird Club as a partner in my conservation effort as they are truly a "grass-roots" organization. 100% of the funds donated go directly to cover educational infrastructure and scholarship expenses in small communities located in ecologically sensitive areas of West Papua, Indonesia. I feel that through education one develops a sense of appreciation, which I believe is the cornerstone of conservation.
Collections:
2002 - Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
"Promise of a New Day"-Common Grackle-Welded Bronze
Birds in Art 2004
Publications:
Trends in Wildlife Art: Who's Hot and What's What (2003)
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Published by: Wildlife Art
Blurring of the Line (2003)
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Published by: Wildlife Art
3-D Diviners (2002)
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Published by: Wildlife Art
Organization Membership:
2004 - North American Falconers Association
2000 - Society of Animal Artists
Signature Member of: Artists for Conservation(tm)
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