William Skiles: An Imagination Run Wild I could make my sculptures out of tin cans,' explains Skiles. "They have that 'trash art' feel about them. But it doesn't look like trash because I do it really well." People often think that uses found objects on his sculptures, but he actually creates each and every piece from scratch, including the pairs of shoes and his popular flaming hearts. People think I purchase objects somewhere else and stick them on my art. But I don't; and I do it intentionally because we all have a tendency to look at things and not see them. So, I figure, why not disguise things to begin with? And then only a select few people will really get it." Skiles has a few outrageous ideas bouncing around in his head that he hopes to bring to sometime soon. For example, he'd like to build a large shoe with wheels on it. "A stietto shoe with two wheels up front and a single wheel on the heel, something a Martian might wear," says Skiles, "Inside the shoe there would be a nice padded driver's seat with a big steering wheel. Wouldn't that be fabulous? The shoe itself is not just a shoe," notes Skiles, "It's the fact that shoes, especially women's shoes, have a utility about them that is almost cartoonish, which allows them to take on personalities. To me, shoes are very sexy, but not sexual, and the idea of this beautiful, but oddly shaped shoe, designed, perhaps, for a Martian is both irresistible and amusing. I've done one already where the shoe's toe spreads out like a pod but has a graceful high heel, so it looks like it came from another planet. There's a joke," he concludes, "but I'm not sure what it is." Skiles is also an accomplished jeweler. "I've been a jeweler my whole life, I started when I was 18 in my parents' garage, with a propane torch and some solder," he recalls. These days, Skiles and his partner and wife, Lisa Stotska, have a jewelry line - Got All Your Marbles - that helps to fund his sculptures. The line, which features handcrafted silver, bronze and gold pendants, earrings and rings with interchangeable marbles, was created in 1999 when Skiles took it upon himself to design a jewelry line that was both fashionable and affordable (prices range from $19 to $160). It has taken off both here and abroad. To see more of William Skiles's work, drop by Studio 220 at 220 E. Congress St. (call 624-2283 for hours), or visit www.gotallyourmarbles.com. Lorraine A DarConte is a local freelance writer. Comments for publication should be addressed to letters@desertleaf.com |