* = Innovators and Pioneers in the Field of Contemporary Wire Sculpture
*Alexander Calder stands alones as the first great innovative wire sculpture innovator of the 20th century. Between 1926 and 1930 he bent and twisted wires to created his kinetic, mixed-media wire sculpture Circus. He continued to create single-strand drawings in 3 dimensions for decades after. His work is notewothy for revolutionizing the field of modern sculpture with wire works that blend movement, balance, open space, and incredible economy of line. While other wire sculptors' works may be mistaken for Calder's, the reverse is not the case.
Bruce Campbell creates static and kinetic sculptures of wire animals, insects and machines, often incorporating mixed-media elements.
Danny Caruso immerses himself in New Orleans atmosphere and music. He taught himself wire sculpture entirely by trial and error, refusing to be confined by artistic rules or boundaries. His single-strand wire portraits depict as diverse a slice of humanity as Marilyn Monroe, Rodney Dangerfield, Bob Marley and Dr. John.
Kelly Courtney has over ten years experience forming single strands of copper wire into "fluidikons" and the occasional mixed-media wire collage. He lives in the Chicago area.
Jonathon Daniel of North Carolina, US, was born in Zimbabwe and grew up on a farm 3 miles from town. Raised in poverty, he inherited a positive spirit from his father, who helped Jonathon make toys from scraps. On errands to town, Jonathon fell in love with "beasts of the road", automobiles and motorcycles, and started creating them in wire. His observant eye and love of things mechanical comes across loud and clear in his very complex and accurate wire vehicles. Jonathon now lives in North Carolina, working as a Youth Minister and actively helping widows and orphans in Zimbabwe.
Betty the Crow, born and raised in captivity, taught herself to bend straight pieces of wire into hooks which she uses to extract food from recessed, otherwise inaccessible areas. During one session Betty created a series of nine hooks, each uniquely different from the others - an exploration of function and form combined.
Deane, of Twisted Copper, makes strong, spare, linear wire sculptures of real and fantasy figures.
Kate de Jude creates
highly charged, controversial wire sculptures using a specialized technique of manipulating wire she developed over the course of many years. The wire, traditionally a masculine medium, combined with the traditional feminine techniques of weaving and sewing, creates balance of energy and tension. Overseas travel enhanced the learning process and introduced colour into Kate's work.
Tina DeWeese creates deft, spare and minimalist wire sculptures of horses and other animals.
Nxolisi Dhladhla recycles confiscated wire snares, once used by African poachers to trap and kill wildlife, into realistic sculptures of the very animals they were intended to harm. This symbolic transformation serves to help restore endangered species.
Glenn Donovan started experimenting with wire in 1973. His small, instense studies convey a strong sense of whimsy and motion.
Barry Dukes transforms recycled electrical and other recycled wires (such as from coils out of appliances & electronic equipment), wires from hardward stores (which come on small 3" to 4" spools) and craft wires from the craft shops (which come on spools, nearly the size of thread) into Little Wire People.
*Arlene Fisch has been a leader in the wire jewelry movement for more than forty years. Her ground-breaking book "Textile Techniques in Metal" started an entire wave of wire jewelers. "Elegant Fantasy, the Jewelry of Arline Fisch", is based on an exhibit of her work by the San Diego Historical Society. She is considered by many to be a Living Treasure of California, and continues to conduct wire jewelry workshops.
*John Flavius, a multiple award-winning wire sculptor often partnered with Alfred Weekes, has works in the Barbados National Collection. His creations are represented in public and private collections in the Caribbean, Europe and North America.
Tim Flynn Has created his own whimsical wire circus, and other sculptural wire amusements.
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