Photos: Justin Chung
Interview: Leigh Patterson
What’s the first thing you do after you wake up?
Make coffee and stretch.
Do you have a go-to morning beverage and how do you make/take it?
Espresso with a little water. We prefer Ethiopian coffee, and I usually have two small cups before leaving the house. We use the Breville Barista Pro at home and the Moccamaster at the studio.
Do you have a favorite mug or drinking vessel? What’s the story behind it?
I have about 10 handmade mugs from friends, but I tend to use only three of them—all from Portland, OR.
Where do you usually drink your coffee or tea…and is there a best seat in the house?
Until recently, the best seat in the house was our couch, which overlooks the giant timber bamboo in the front yard. But the new daybed is getting a lot of use these days. Also on warm mornings, I’ll sometimes have my coffee out in the garden.
How did you find your way into this work? Can you trace it back to an early memory that hinted where you’d end up?
My parents were both art teachers, so our house was filled with supplies, everything from painting to found objects to crafts; we were surrounded by art making. They were encouraging with it, but never pressured us into anything. I hadn’t really thought about wood carving until I discovered J.B. Blunk’s work in 2011.
Is there a specific piece of furniture or an environment that shaped what “good” looked or felt like to you?
One of the common threads that shaped my practice was growing up around public art and viewing sculptures as objects to interact with. I always liked sculptures that felt inviting, timeless, and playful. Claremont still has some great public art.
There’s patience built into your process. Outside the studio, what’s a habit that reflects that slowness? In contrast, what’s a habit that undercuts it?
Being a dad is probably the furthest I’ve stretched my patience levels, but I really enjoy it, and definitely a better person because of it. Another form of patience I enjoy is growing food and gardening. In contrast, stepping on a skateboard gives me instant gratification. After skating for 25 years, it’s still the funnest thing in the world.
Your influences are interdisciplinary and wide-reaching. What’s been catching your eye lately?
1. Seeing people skate on sculptures by the artist Jim Miller-Melberg.
2. Arroyo Secco stone structures.
3. Looney Tunes backgrounds.
Do you listen to anything while you work? What have you been listening to lately?
I’ve been listening to the audiobook,Everything She Touched: The Life of Ruth Asawa.
Also on rotation: mix tapes from Mississippi Records in Portland, OR.
What’s one meaningful “ritual” you do daily?
I love to walk the gravel garden path at different times of day. There’s always something new to see. In the morning, it’s busy with bird chatter and sunlight scattering through the trees. At night, after a sauna, it’s quiet and still. It’s a good way to start and end the day.
Vince Skelly (@vince.skelly) is a sculptor working and living in Claremont, California.
