Award-winning local wire artist Ryan Kelley will host a class at the Marblehead Arts Association on Thursday, Oct. 10, from 7 to 9 p.m. In this workshop, Kelley will guide participants in creating wire trees of any style on a rock roughly the size of an adult’s closed fist.
An artist since childhood, Kelley was inspired by his parents to pursue his passion for the craft.
“My mom worked at a toy store when I was little and we always had Legos and building stuff,” Kelley said. “My dad was a contractor, so we were making stuff and everything, so I was always kind of artsy and hands-on.”
It wasn’t until high school that Kelley found himself in the art room for set periods of time and discovered how to make art using wires.
“It was just really fun to use the material because it was very similar to how manageable and fun it is to use those other building blocks and toys that I was used to,” Kelley said. “It was just me using my hands and making whatever I wanted.”
After graduating high school, Kelley became involved with the Newburyport Art Association, where he found inspiration from other artists. Over time, his work has evolved, and he has since taught his wire art to approximately 7,500 students in a relaxed, laid-back teaching style.
“I don’t want it to be a stuffy art class,” Kelley said. “I’m a very real guy, I try to be just lighthearted and fun and easy on the class, because it can be kind of stressful.”
Kelley’s wire tree art class at the Marblehead Arts Association will be a two-hour session focused on creating tree sculptures out of wires.
“My goal is to have people know what to make and not necessarily finish what they’re making,” Kelley said. “I make a joke that perfection takes time and also you’ve never done it before, so give yourself some patience and have fun and enjoy it.”
Kelley’s work can be seen in homes and businesses throughout the country and around the world. He is currently working on his next project, building Split Rock Studios in Byfield, Massachusetts. It will function not only as a future home for Kelley and his girlfriend but also as a space for artists to live and create.
“It’s not a typical artist space, which is usually like a loft in an area or some old drafty brick building,” Kelley said. “This is a place that looks really professional, it’s functional, it’s warm, it’s insulated, it’s networked with other artists around in the beautiful woods for inspiration.”
As Kelley continues on his art journey, he hopes to inspire others to express themselves in unique ways and ensure that the voices of artists are heard.
“Art is definitely not only a feeling, it’s a way of looking at things,” Kelley said. “Anything can be art and the whole point of art is that every single type of art, every single type of person, is going to have their own version and view of it.”
Kelley’s upcoming class in Marblehead is BYOB and provides all the tools and materials needed to create a wire tree sculpture, except for an adult closed-fist-sized rock. Tickets for members are $65, and tickets for non-members are $75. To register, visit https://marbleheadarts.org/wire-tree-art-class/.
