We recently connected with Alice Wilson and have shared our conversation below.

Alice, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

As far as performing it was 1999. I was playing a nurse in a traveling children’s musical called Zink the Zebra with a theatre company called Circle Stage. My first $100.00 check was like finding a Golden Ticket.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

“How did you get into this?” is the question I’m asked most often regarding two of the creative things I do: figure modeling and performing as a living statue. They both go back to my roots in theatre. I can’t remember a time in my life I wasn’t performing, beginning with plays, singing, and reciting poetry in church and school. My Indiana hometown held an annual Easter Pageant and to this day still boasts a thriving community theatre, Marion Civic Theatre. I was involved in both throughout middle and high school. I came to Milwaukee in 1994 to attend the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Performance in 2004. Just before graduating I modeled in a sketch class for costume majors. Once I graduated I began working as a figure model for drawing, painting, and sculpting classes. I still model, nearly 20 years later. All the practice I’ve had holding still for that lent itself to the same for being a living statue performer which I began doing in 2015.

For clients having an event and in need of entertainment I offer a vast array of unique walk around and living statue characters. In this capacity I’ve solved all sort of problems from handing out treasure hunt clues to being an alternative for a flower girl at a wedding.

For artists in need of an experienced, professional & creative model who’s very good at holding poses look no further.

I’m most proud of having worked twice internationally. I performed in the world’s largest arts festival, the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019. For two weeks in August of 2023 I did an artist residency at Chateau Orquevaux in Orquevaux, France, considered one of the most beautiful and competitive artist residencies in the world, with only a 20% acceptance rate. During my residency I created an all new living statue costume, made nearly a dozen multimedia collages, modeled for a photographer and for figure painters collectively and privately.

What I’d like people to remember and take away from this is that I am a multidisciplinary artist. I act and make visual art as well as perform living statue characters.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

About 15 years ago I booked my sketch comedy troupe a show in Chicago. We were silent movie themed so very unique and had been booking lots of shows locally and were getting a lot of positive feedback and a fair amount of local publicity. Welp, nobody not a single person came to our show in Chicago. We treated it like a dress rehearsal and did it for the sound & tech guy. I had to dust off my embarrassment big time and move forward big time!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

To not become homeless.

In all seriousness, I really strive to keep improving as a performer, artist, and human being. I have a few specific goals I’m working towards, first is a one woman stage show. An art show about shoes (specifics would have to be a whole other interview), a novel, and a screenplay are other irons I’ve got in the fire. Oooh, and I’ve been studying French for several months.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @gingerwhimsyMKE
• Facebook: Alice Wilson

Image Credits
Scott Hawthorn Daniel Hawthorn Hannah Buckels