Today we’d like to introduce you to Lyle Adair.
Lyle, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I began sculpting copper in 1998 when I was in my late 20’s. At the time, I was in a job I didn’t much care for and began looking for an outlet. I found a gallery with an internationally known artist teaching classes and looking to take on an apprentice. I couldn’t afford the classes, so I applied for the apprenticeship. I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands but had never used a torch or worked with metal. I worked with him after work and on weekends, and it was a great stress reliever being able to burn the metal and beat on it with hammers and chisels. I worked with him for about nine months learning everything he was willing to teach me. As I progressed and helped him with several large projects, I landed one of my own doing a series of custom inlays and overlays for a house west of San Antonio. That project launched my full-time career in the arts, and I’ve been making sculptures ever since. I’ve exhibited in shows and galleries across Texas, the US, and internationally.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I use an oxygen-acetylene torch to heat up and melt copper sheet and wire. With the sheet, I’ll cool it down with water in order to handle it and will then beat on both sides of it with a series of hammers and chisels. Freestanding pieces are mostly created from copper wire that I will form into a frame and then melt the copper wire to it kind of like wax droppings from a candle. I will then grind the rough image smooth and polish it until it’s shiny again. I mostly gain my inspiration from the world around me. I like ideas which are reflected in the titles of pieces. I use a lot of imagery from nature, the books I read, and talking with friends. Many of my pieces will evoke different sentiments from someone’s life experiences, and I’m always interested in hearing what those are.
Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
Personally, I think art has been gaining more exposure in recent years, and more institutions and galleries have been open to showing more current art. With that being said, it is still very tough for an artist to thrive only relying on sales from their art. I think its important for cities to engage with artists on public projects from street art installations to pop up shows to large installations in city parks and office buildings. Cities could even offer low rent studio space for artists to work and show their art. I enjoy going out on weekends and viewing other artist’s shows as well. Public boards and forums are important modes of promoting individual artists and should be funded by cities as a way to encourage people to go and visit.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
The best place to view my art is on my website, www.copperbylyle.com. Currently, I’m showing in several locations in Austin. The big East Austin Studio Tour is coming up in November and I’ll have several pieces at the Link & Pin Art Gallery on East 6th St. I also have a piece in a traveling national show bringing attention to human trafficking. It will be at St. Michael Episcopal Church in Dallas from October 12th to the 21st.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.copperbylyle.com
- Email: lylead71@gmail.com
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