What was your early sculpture like? what materials did you work with back then?
I almost feel the tree forts I made were my earliest sculpture. They were really wild and purposely wacky. I built forts on stilts, dammed up the creek near my house, and made walkways that led to other forts in the trees—crazy fort complexes at the early age of 12. Later in life, my sculptures were customized taxidermy fish and crazy shaped bicycles done up in bondo, fiberglass, and glittery paint.
Who were your earliest sculpture influences, and how did that work shape yours?
I was into making stuff I wanted, but could not afford. I suppose my early influence was the whole California custom culture hot rod thing. I just made weird fish and bikes since I couldn’t afford to make cars. Later in life, I started making octopus-shaped chandeliers because I wanted to decorate my dining room with them. Now I make money doing that.
Who are your favorite sculptors?
Gian Lorenzo Bernini, God, little kids who make things with mashed potatoes.
Why are you so into sculpture as an art?
I don’t even know how to describe what I do as art so much because I need them to be functional first. I feel as if calling something art is egotistical for some reason. I make things to hopefully make other people happy or inspired, I’m not trying be important or anything—just trying to make cool looking things. If saying that keeps me from getting into museums, who cares? I only go to museums to see old stuff and to buy books. Just kidding. My art is deep and profound, and people better take me seriously, or my ego will get bruised, and then I’ll really need to start profoundly expressing myself.
Do you look at industrial design, crafts or anything else for inspiration in your sculpture?
I started The Society of Militant Ornamentalists as a way to combat the damage the whole Modernist movement has had on contemporary architecture.
Everyone knows how much of a 3-D guy you are, but what are some of your non-sculpture influences?
Silk screen prints, talking birds, the color green.
