Evan Wollschlager

Evan Wollschlager, Baraboo, WI

“In my work, I prefer to use found metal, parts and gears from machinery, trims from manufacturing, stuff that’s bound for recycling. I respect forms which, were designed for another use, placing them together creating something new. Sometimes I make a creature, or plant, sometimes an abstract design. I enjoy viewer’s comments as they discover or identify a sculpture’s parts”.

I studied welding in vocational school to become a state certified welder. My first job using those skills was at the Badger munitions plant. When I welded things it was because it was needed. Art was something I appreciated but had never considered doing myself. When my daughter was a student choreographer at UW Milwaukee she asked me to create ballet stands for a modern dance. I guess she thought, “Dad can do anything”. The props had to be steel, look organic, be heavy to withstand pulling and tugging without the units falling over, yet be light enough to be moved on and off stage quickly by the young dancers. Talk about a challenge. That was the first time I created something that had to be artistic. A couple years ago friends built a fishpond and I wanted to give them the gift of a sculpture with cattails and reeds. That’s when I knew “I wanted to do metal sculpture and create for the pleasure of it.” My first abstract, Andromeda, was a freeform of steel and a rock from the Apple River. Later came Moon Rock a mix of cast and stainless, pipe trims, and Wisconsin fossilized coral. This summer two of my sculptures, Cricket and V-8 Bird were chosen to travel in the “2009 SCAA Encore Art!” touring exhibit.

I enjoy art museums, galleries, sculpture gardens, and art shows. I have purchased metal sculptures by artists who have become friends. I enjoy talking with them about types of metal and how to work with it. Looking at a discarded piece of metal, maybe a broken gear I see the beginning of a design. There’s a pile of steel parts and pieces in my back yard I call the “island of possibilities

Evan Wollschlager: Husband, Dad, Wisconsin Certified Welder, Vietnam Veteran, Business Owner, Art Lover and now I’m a Sculptor (who knew?)