Meet Alexander Perrine of Bodies of Waste in Barnum

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexander Perrine.

Alexander, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The gravity of the art of the world has pulled me in since I can remember. Being the child of two parents who are makers and craftspeople is integral to my artistic process. I learned from them how to create. Watching them work taught me how to work with my hands, how to refine a specific skill-set and how to work with, and appreciate the value of the community around me.

The first time I saw one of Vincent Van Gogh’s self-portraits in my kindergarten art class set me on the path to be an artist. I am still drawn to his beautiful paintings and wish to contribute to the world around me through my own art. My mother worked at the Newport Art Museum in Newport, Rhode Island in the late 90’s. I was exposed to countless artists and art moments at the museum. The largest standout for me was Tom Deininger. He was working on an artist residency at the museum, where he was assembling large portraits with trash and hot glue. His art and process drew me in. I was around him often enough that he put me to work, organizing his trash into color piles. These influences are part of my artistic foundation.

In College, at the University of Southern Maine, I took sculpture courses with Sculptor/Professor Duncan Hewitt. Through his teaching, I grew a strong passion for sculpture. His voice is often in my head as I work through sculptures to this day. In my final year of college, in his class, I began my current sculpture series which I titled Bodies of Waste. This series focuses on assembling sculptures of human figures out of discarded trash and materials. Through the series, Bodies of Waste, I have sought to engage the topic of humanity’s effect on the natural world, and provoke discussion about trash, recycling, repurposing, and the impact we have on the environment.

This has led to having exhibited my work in parts of New England, Colorado and recently in Tokyo. It also led to me becoming the Project Manager for a public art project in my Denver neighborhood which I titled: Los Osos de Barnum Reciclan (The Barnum Bears Recycle). It is supported by a P.S. You Are Here grant through Denver Arts & Venues. It will be a life-size sculpture of a bear made of materials donated by members of our neighborhood and installed at the local library. It has already involved hundreds of members of this neighborhood, including the local elementary students, library employees, a local community group and more. It is my dream and hopes to continue engaging as many people and communities as possible through my artistic process.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I have encountered a number of roadblocks along the way. Life is full of opportunities to lose momentum as an artist. I’ve struggled with financial difficulty, lack of a workspace, depression, heartbreak, personal loss and plenty of no’s which all led to me allowing my progress as an artist to slow or even come to a halt. I had a sculpture stolen which I had spent over one hundred hours on. This led to a long break from my artwork and withdrawal into myself. I was pretty upset. These moments have mostly taught me that to reach my potential as a human and an artist, I cannot stop moving forward. Life experiences can all become emotional anchors or used as fuel for my artistic process or.

My largest challenge is learning how I want to share my art with the public. Through many conversations and opportunities, I am learning that the more people I involve in my process the better. Creating art is something I truly enjoy but, sharing this passion with the people around me is quickly turning into an equally important part of my process. The more I seek to ask others for help and engage local communities in my artwork to more feel, I am moving towards a place of happiness and success.

We’d love to hear more about your art.
I am a sculptor. My focus is on Bodies of Waste, a series of sculptures created using discarded and found objects and most often based on the human figure. I most often find my materials in the streets and alleys of my Denver neighborhood, which I then weave, twist, tie, bend, and wrap together to create my works. I draw the inspiration for many of the figures in Bodies from Classical Antiquity. By evoking these figures in forms made of trash, I create a dichotomy between beauty and excessive waste.

The best part of this project has been my interaction with other people. I love creating my sculptures but, sharing my work and energy with different communities is a truly rewarding experience. Finding people who value a sense of community and who enjoy engaging global environmental issues through art brings me joy. I would measure my success through the many people and communities with whom I am able to share my art and passion with.

There are many artists worldwide working with discarded objects and I believe we are all using this medium to encourage a global and environmental awareness. It is a group I am happy to be a part of. What sets me apart is all my personal influences and experiences. My signature is contained in the aesthetic of my sculptures. Many artists, craft-persons and humans and creatures have been wonderful sources of inspiration for my art. I have always sought to weave these influences into my work.

Contact Info:

• Website: Bodiesofwaste.com
• Email: bodiesofwaste@gmail.com
• Instagram: @alexanderperrine

Image Credit:
Ryan Longnecker
Jimi Brosius
Joel Clark

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