On July 18, 2023, 2022 LRAC Fellow Chris Walla, a sculptor from Moorhead, shared the experiences from his Fellowship year.
The role of art in reflecting and responding to social issues and culture is explored in the work of Chris Walla, 2021 LRAC Fellow. A native of Los Angeles and currently Professor of Sculpture at Minnesota State University-Moorhead, Walla used his fellowship support to create a series of mixed media sculptural pieces focused on representations of language and meaningful text.
His fellowship funding allowed him to expand his vision and technique, creating works with more substantial use of materials while incorporating visual elements in new ways.
Reflecting on this creative period, Walla explained, “The format of my work did not change radically; however, I made the decision early on to create pieces that had a different sense of density. I also wanted to play with the incorporation of color and pattern into the text. This resulted in much more labor and material.”
Combining wood, metal mesh, ball chains and other materials, his works are suspended from oblong shapes that are a nod to technologies that now shape much of our communications. “This form acts as a physical, static support for the piece and references word or thought bubbles, more specifically the bubbles we see on our phones when we receive text messages,” Walla said. The movement permitted by the suspending chains creates a dynamic energy and feeling of constant transformation to the pieces.
Inspiration from Culture and Current Events
“The content of my work is influenced by current events and a contemplation of where we are going as a society and culture,” Walla added. “I am often processing an issue, so my work is a contemplation of what is happening in the world. I am thinking about politics, culture, justice, and the laws of physics. There is a simplicity and beauty that I find poetic and reassuring in the laws of physics.”
Exploring themes ranging from the Ukraine-Russia conflict to the polarization of viewpoints, Walla uses words like “glory” and “gaslight” to represent universal concepts. His work, “I dissent” features the word NOPE in colors of red, white and blue, offering a commentary on recent Supreme Court decisions. The collection also includes lighter subjects, such as “Delight,” with the interplay of the words “ooh” and “yes” bringing a sense of excitement.
Subject and Form in Partnership
Walla described the process of envisioning a new work as a melding of subject and substance. “When I conceive of the text I am going to use, I am often thinking about the title in relationship to the form. Is there a poetic interplay between the two? Will it charge the meaning of the work? Will it lead the viewer to make some kind of connection to meaning?” he noted.
One of his larger and more intricate pieces, “Meanwhile,” uses a cascade of the words “Again & Again & Again” as a response to more than 90 mass shootings that happened during the period of working on it.
Art and Activism
In addition to his Fellowship activities, Walla also shared a June 2023 collaboration with friend and fellow artist Amanda Browder on an installation at the Nordstrom men’s store on 58th and Broadway in Manhattan, NYC for Pride Month. Over the course of the project, Walla and Browder completed two public sewing days in the store, silk screened fifty-two 60” x 60” large scale bandanas, and printed over 100 individual small bandanas for sale.
“This was a huge project done in a short amount of time,” he commented. “It was an incredibly gratifying experience. Nordstrom was very happy with the installation. The event was written up in Vogue, Forbes and Out Magazine.”
Walla concluded, “I would like to express my gratitude to the LRAC Board for granting me the opportunity for the fellowship. It has been an exceptional and incredibly productive year for me.”
Lake Region Arts Council’s Fellowship Grant program provides deserving artists with significant financial support that enables them to further their work and their contribution to their communities. It is intended to recognize, reward and encourage outstanding individual artists in the region. The Fellowship program provides one, $5,000 award each year in June. The next Fellowship, to be awarded in June, 2024, will be in the Music and Visual Arts disciplines. Contact the LRAC office for questions or program details.
