We were lucky to catch up with W.G. Rickel recently and have shared our conversation below.

W.G., thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

i dont have a most meaningful project, but i do think it is a practiced skill to FIND meaning in projects. a big part of what i do is solving problems for people, not just making art of my own design and desire.
even something as simple as a hand railing for a home can reach a whole new depth once you’ve found that special something to connect to- be it a material, a personal interest of yourself or the client, or even a little humor- there is always something to explore. humans are remarkable at finding patterns, and i think this translates to our ability to find meaning in everyday life and beyond.

W.G., 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?

ive had a creative mind probably since i was born. im fortunate to have been raised by parents and a wider family that supported that creative drive in ways big and small. music was my first true creative outlet and possibly remains my strongest to date, but studying art in college gave me the opportunity to gain material skills that allowed me to continue to work in a number of creative fields post-college and beyond. i studied glass and sculpture, focusing on sculptural objects made from cast aluminum and blown/cast glass elements. from there i worked at a couple glass studios and custom fabrication shops- both making glass objects and fabricating metal structures while also repairing and maintaining the highly specialized equipment. all this experience really helped me explore a desire to meld many disciples into a unified trajectory.
these days i do many things.
i make music videos, short films, large scale installation experiences, immersive soundscapes, custom fabrication with most any material from many kinds of metal to wood to plastics to foams, fabrics, and glass.
its kind of hard to pin down exactly what it is i do, because to a degree its always shifting hahah.

i dont think id say im “most proud” of this, but ive made a series of videos for instagram called “SOME THING with W.G. Rickel” that probably best showcases all my skills in one swoop. every morsel of it i’ve created form scratch- the theme and background music, filming, editing and special effects- not to mention its usually about something im building or problem solving so you get to see a whole host of fabrication skills as well. i also enjoying being in front of the camera so you hopefully get a few laughs from my antics… actually, maybe thats the thing im best at- making people laugh.
its at least my favorite thing to do.

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

i believe the most powerful tool against systems of oppression is a population of objective, critical tinkers. i also believe art is the sandbox where we learn to think deeply and critically about things we don’t quite understand.
it is a place to challenge one’s expectations about the world outside and inside themselves.
therefore, it is my life’s mission to help others learn to think critically, creatively, and openly.
if you’re left asking questions, we’re off to a good start!

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

vote with your dollar!! i know times are tough in a number of ways, especially financially, but the more we turn to big faceless internet companies for even the littlest objects that populate our lives, the more we support them- and the more we support them the less we support actual hardworking creative people in our own communities. cheap shouldn’t be a value.
convenience is dangerously one sided.
next time you need something- ANYTHING- look around a little harder, maybe you’ll find someone in your community trying to fulfill that very need.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wgrickel.info/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wgrickel/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wgrickel

Image Credits
All images captured by W.G. Rickel