3 Questions

with Don Kennel

How cool was it when the aptly titled Blue Gorilla magically appeared in the Railyard Park last winter? It was sad when the majestic ape made its way to the Philadelphia Zoo, where it currently resides, but it was still a fantastic project from local sculptor Don Kennel, who also built the massive coyote that now lives in the park. With his new show, Truth and Beauty, at Janine Contemporary (328 S Guadalupe St., 989-9330), Kennel continues his work exploring the fauna that surrounds us.

What led you to this particular body of work?
I have been making these bird forms for several years now, and they continue to be these very improvisational creations that, for me, keep getting better and better. Birds have a very deep symbolic resonance for most people, and I like the way that my audience can bring their own experiences and history to these forms. The birds are also very dynamic shapes and seem endless in their possibilities.

You use a fair amount of found materials in your work. Why is that?
We live in a throwaway culture that leaves a trail of abundance in its wake. As an artist interested in environmental and social issues, this repurposing of material often adds layers of meaning to my work. This practice began for very practical reasons, [but] over time it became more of an ethic and a way to generate meaning.

What is it about sculpture, specifically metal, that speaks to you?
I've always admired the immediacy of musicians, and as unlikely as it may seem, working with metal can be very fluid and spontaneous. I can use it to draw in three dimensions, and it is easy to change things. Metal also allows for terrific scale, and as someone interested in public space, art scale can be very useful. It equates often to "social" speech.

Letters to the Editor

Mail letters to PO Box 4910 Santa Fe, NM 87502 or email them to editor[at]sfreporter.com. Letters (no more than 200 words) should refer to specific articles in the Reporter. Letters will be edited for space and clarity.

We also welcome you to follow SFR on social media (on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and comment there. You can also email specific staff members from our contact page.