Building BIG Art

So you’ve got a big idea—literally. Maybe it spins, maybe it lights up, maybe people can climb on it (whether they’re supposed to or not). But how do you take that wild concept and turn it into a real, physical thing that thousands of strangers can push, pull, or swing on without it immediately collapsing? In this seminar, I’ll share my totally non-chaotic (okay, very chaotic) process of designing and building large-scale interactive sculptures. We’ll talk about woodworking, fabrication, and problem-solving on the fly when things don’t go as planned (which they never do). 

I’ll also cover the fine art of getting your work into festivals, securing funding, and convincing people that hauling a 16-foot kinetic sculpture across the country in a questionable truck is a great idea. If you love big art, ridiculous challenges, or just want to hear some absurd stories about what happens when you let the public interact with your creations, this is the seminar for you!

This seminar will be a lively, interactive discussion—part storytelling, part practical advice, with plenty of room for questions and laughs along the way. 

How It’ll Flow: 

1. Big Art, Big Ideas – I’ll kick things off by sharing my journey as a large-scale sculptural artist, complete with behind-the-scenes stories, questionable decisions, and lessons learned from years of building interactive installations for major festivals. 

2. The Creative Process (a.k.a. Organized Chaos) – I’ll break down how I take a wild idea and turn it into a real, functional piece of interactive art—covering concept development, material selection, and problem-solving when things inevitably go wrong. 

3. Making It Happen – We’ll dive into the nuts and bolts of funding, fabrication, logistics, and convincing people that transporting a 16-foot kinetic sculpture in a barely-roadworthy truck is a good idea. 

4. Public Shenanigans & Lessons Learned – Because when you let thousands of strangers interact with your art, things get weird. I’ll share some of my funniest, most unexpected, and occasionally disastrous experiences. 

5. Q&A and Open Discussion – This is where things get fun—attendees can ask questions, pitch ideas, or even workshop their own big art dreams. Expect an informal, engaging exchange where I’ll share honest insights and advice. 

Expectations: This isn’t a lecture—it’s a conversation. Expect humor, real-world wisdom, and practical takeaways, whether you’re an aspiring large-scale artist or just curious about how these giant interactive works come to life!

Also check out other Arts events in New York, Workshops in New York, Festivals in New York.