It's not often you come across a small town metallurgist with a penchant for the Fluxus movement. But that's this week's guest, the wildly interesting and incredibly skilled Ben Jennings. Hailing from Wisconsin Rapids, WI, Ben has played in many physical mediums like ceramics and jewelry-making before landing on the complex and challenging medium of metal casting. He calls his art his "condition", a state of mind and being that he can't escape - or stray from- no matter how hard he's tried. Like so many artists whose names aren't ones you know in your household, Ben works a day job for the local municipality where he's been inspired by the GIS work in his day to day. 

From his artist statement, his art explores the interpretation of mapping systems through cast metal sculpture. This interpretation can be seen within maps and geospatial layers of lines, features and symbols which create unique identity. On a day to day basis he works with mapping systems to maintain data for the collections system for the city of Wisconsin Rapids.  Within Geographical Imaging System (GIS) software he is able to organize and do an accurate inventory of infrastructure maintenance though layers of collected data. His work is an evolving quest to strip down the complexities of GIS within the constraints of industrial grade foundry materials as expressed through sculpture. This process allows him to focus on the aesthetics surrounding these beautiful systems. His practice has allowed him to translate information through the transformation of 2D images into 3D sculpture by direct carving and in a sense, drawing with power tools. The dichotomy between natural and manmade space is a constant theme throughout his work. 

Ben has over 15 years of mold making experience and casting metals such as bronze, aluminum, and iron. Art is the condition that defines who he is and like so many of the unusual creatures we talk to, the thing he keeps coming back to. We talk to him about his former installations - including one that attracted national news for it's unusual materials - and what it means to him to bring his daughter into his studio to learn some metal casting skills. This is a conversation about permanency and legacy that you don't want to miss. Let's dig into our latest Unusual Creature and a brand new medium to explore. Ben Jennings, ladies, gentlemen and non-binary humans. Dig in.