We were lucky to catch up with Exer Thurston recently and have shared our conversation below.

Exer, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I live a very transient life, moving from opportunity to opportunity across the country several times a year. I certainly wonder about what my life would look like if I had a regular job. I do sometimes long for the stability an office job would provide, staying in the same city and building a life in a settled geographic location. Moving around can be difficult, and there are periods of my life where I have been incredibly lonely. However, being able to move house at a drop of the hat has let me take some really incredible opportunities. I’ve made wonderful friends across the country and the world and have seen so many beautiful places. I love having a studio practice and making work feels crucial to my wellbeing. I really can’t imagine doing anything else.

Exer, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Exer Thurston and I use they/them pronouns. I’m sculptor working mainly with glass casting. I also work in other media including metals, fiber, found object, and paper. I spent several years performing as a puppeteer and working as a farmhand before completing my undergraduate degree at the Ohio State University. I studied in a variety of fields and landed on art as a means of interdisciplinary research. My work explores material phenomena and the presence of objects. I have great interest in linguistics and the taxonomy used to understand language. Sorting and categorizing have been major questions in my practice of late. I have an intensive studio practice, often spending whole days deep in the studio. I make something then make a response to it until I find something interesting, chasing the rabbit endlessly. Work is very rewarding for me and I am grateful to be able to engage with my practice so intensely.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Honestly, my favorite part of being an artist is getting to play professionally. I have more fun at work than anyone I know. I often get asked if I have any hobbies and my truthful answer is no; my work fulfills me. My best days are the ones where I’m knee-deep in the studio, spending all my waking hours with my work. I have always liked playing with materials. My mom tells a story about trying to clean something in my room when I was small and realizing, with some horror and some fascination, that the object she had grabbed was tied to no less than 20 other objects. I love that I get to keep playing like that every day, coming into the studio to unravel ribbon, mix plaster, carve wax, model clay, and blow glass. I remember coming home one day while working on my undergraduate thesis after a 20 hour run in the studio. When I relayed this information to a friend, they replied “good for you!” and yeah, honestly, good for me. Getting to be in the studio like that is so rewarding. I love getting to make work like that.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I really just feel that I have to create, so I suppose my goal is finding a way to make work. It can be difficult to sustain yourself on a studio practice alone, so I have been looking for a way to support my practice that still gives me space to work intensively. Since finishing undergrad I have been participating in various assistantships across the country. These opportunities have exposed me to a lot of new artists and ways of supporting myself. I am still looking for the right balance but feel that I am on a good track.

Contact Info:

• Website: exerthurston.com
• Instagram: baybey.baybey