Imagillaboration Collaborative Sculpture Project

Alair Wells, Seattle Washington

Alair Wells was born in Dallas, TX, in 1975. She studied art at The Glassell School of Art in Houston, TX, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, The Kansas City Art Institute, and The Atlanta College of Art, where she received her B.F.A. in Sculpture in 1998. Wells received her M.F.A. in Sculpture from Louisiana State University in 2003.

Upon completion of graduate school, Wells began working with her mentor, sculptor Coral Lambert, as an assistant. Together they traveled to various states participating in iron casting workshops and working annually with the non-profit visual arts collective, Common Language . In the summer of 2004, Wells built her first cupolette, Aurora , with the help and supervision of Lambert. Aurora was built for Common Language and has since been run by the collective. She has also worked as a studio assistant for sculptor Jim Brenner of Chicago Sculpture Works, and for Irish-born performance and installation artist, Malcolm McClay.

In the fall of 2005, Wells went on to teach Sculpture at Binghamton University in Binghamton, NY, where she organized her first iron casting event “Xena Roars!” Wells relocated to Seattle, WA in the spring of 2006 and currently works full time at Ballard Ornamental IronWorks as a metal fabricator/blacksmith.

Wells' work generally employs a combination of cast iron/forged steel elements with organic, found objects and man-made materials. Conceptually, her work explores figure/structure relationships with a focus on gender and identity issues.

	GROUP 8 FACILITATOR PROJECT COORDINATOR Michael Cottrell, Jacksonville Florida Website Group 8 is a special group comprised of people who live in areas that are too isolated to participate in a regular group. Group 8 members will be exchanging very small work by mail.
	Wade Brady, Carbondale Illinois
	Dana O' Donnell Longmont Colorado & Puerto Vallarta Mexico
	Suzanne Morlock, Jackson Hole Wyoming Website
	George Rousis, Kansas City Missouri I love to move metal. Using the traditions of blacksmithing as a stepping off point, my organic aesthetic enlivens the fluid movement of the functional and sculptural artwork I create. Via the fire metal becomes an almost fluid substance influenced easily by the strike of a hammer, snap of the wrist or twist of the body, thus allowing the potential of the material to grow, move and be free. I will work with you to create custom pieces designed to suit your needs, from architectural iron to one-of-a-kind furniture to wedding bands.
	Jason "Spike" Khoury, Henderson Nevada
	Alair Wells, Seattle Washington Alair Wells was born in Dallas, TX, in 1975. She studied art at The Glassell School of Art in Houston, TX, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, The Kansas City Art Institute, and The Atlanta College of Art, where she received her B.F.A. in Sculpture in 1998. Wells received her M.F.A. in Sculpture from Louisiana State University in 2003. Upon completion of graduate school, Wells began working with her mentor, sculptor Coral Lambert, as an assistant. Together they traveled to various states participating in iron casting workshops and working annually with the non-profit visual arts collective, Common Language . In the summer of 2004, Wells built her first cupolette, Aurora , with the help and supervision of Lambert. Aurora was built for Common Language and has since been run by the collective. She has also worked as a studio assistant for sculptor Jim Brenner of Chicago Sculpture Works, and for Irish-born performance and installation artist, Malcolm McClay. In the fall of 2005, Wells went on to teach Sculpture at Binghamton University in Binghamton, NY, where she organized her first iron casting event “Xena Roars!” Wells relocated to Seattle, WA in the spring of 2006 and currently works full time at Ballard Ornamental IronWorks as a metal fabricator/blacksmith. Wells' work generally employs a combination of cast iron/forged steel elements with organic, found objects and man-made materials. Conceptually, her work explores figure/structure relationships with a focus on gender and identity issues.
	Patrick Garley, Palmer Alaska Born and raised in New Mexico. I took my first sculpture and casting class at the local college in Tucumcari. After one class I knew I had found what I wanted to do from then on. I studied all phases of producing cast sculptures including monumental size pieces. In 1999 my wife Sandra and I followed through on our dream of coming to Alaska. Part of my dream was to have my a studio where I could produce my own pieces.In my studio I create the original model and take it through all the steps of producing the finished piece, mold making , casting waxes, investing, burnout, actual metal casting, chasing to final patina are done in my studio in Palmer Alaska. I work in cast bronze and aluminum. I also forge and fabricate steel. My art pieces are usually based on wild life and nature.