In October, Don Porcella brought his pipe cleaner sculpture practice to Interact artists. What resulted were whimsical weavings, animal sculptures, and wearable pieces. Don’s art isn’t meant to be taken too seriously: “By creating paintings, sculpture, drawings, and installations from lowbrow materials, I seek to transform and elevate the materials, while simultaneously presenting a unique world that is shamelessly awkward and unabashedly comical.”
The simplicity of a pipe cleaner means that anything is possible—the colors, shapes, and textures of each artist’s creation were gradually revealed as the workshop went on, and each piece seemed to take on the maker’s personality. As Don says, “the material invites us in for a deeper understanding and allows everyone to enjoy the transformation of a common art making material.”
A few of the artists gave Don a look at their portfolios, describing their processes and answering his questions. “As a collector of their work, it was fun to get an up close and personal introduction to who they are and how they make.”