Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg Volker.
Hi Greg, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Stuttgart, Germany. Both parents were from Minneapolis and they moved back when I was 2 years old. I grew up in St. Louis Park. Received a BFA from the University of Minnesota. Then attended San Francisco Art Institute for my MFA. While living in the Bay Area I began writing songs and playing in bands as well as making and showing my artwork all over the SF bay area.
My family has a connection to the arts community in the twin cities. My grandfather Ted Ptashne was the concertmaster for the Minnesota Orchestra and my grandmother, Ida Ptashne’s family were active supporters of the arts.
I am a sculptor working in ceramic, bronze, iron, wood, and many other materials.
“In my work, I start with the basic human form which may or may not represent me personally. Then I apply whatever the idea for that piece is about to that form by whatever means or material is appropriate for expressing that story, emotion, impact, or issue. Pieces can be political, and narrative and some are simple gestures. I use this format to discuss personal ideas as well as bigger scoping issues that apply to larger groups that include me.
Still using my basic ambiguous human form as a start, my new work is incorporating time as another material. In “Potential For Growth” trees will be growing inside the human form made from different materials. The growth of the tree will have different effects on the tree and its forms. Sometimes the tree will break the figure as it grows and sometimes the tree will be forced to change its growth to facilitate the figure it is growing through.”
My music is a combination of folk/Americana/psychedelia and it ranges from solo acoustic with harmonica to a full electric band. His influences include Neil Young, The Jayhawks, Gillian Welsh, Son Volt, and many others.
I am also a member of “Art to Change the World”. A non-profit arts organization based in NE Minneapolis trying to effect change through the arts.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life in the arts is never a smooth road. I’ve had ups and downs like everyone else, Divorce, cancer. I am so glad to have moved back to Minneapolis.
California has become too difficult a place to afford to live and pursue a life in the arts. Minnesota combines affordability and quality of life with a very active and high-quality arts and music community.
It’s great to be home!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’ve done quite a lot of different things in my career as a musician and artist. Being part of the music scene in San Francisco in the ’90s was a blast. There was so much good music being played there at the time and there was still a vibrant scene in the city before the cost of living got too high. It was the last of “old San Francisco” and I feel lucky to have been there. We played clubs like Slim’s, Paradise Lounge, Hotel Utah, and The Sweetwater in Marin. Starry Plough, The Freight and Salvage, and even a Rock the Vote show in People’s Park in Berkeley.
On the visual arts side, I showed in the Solomon/Dubnick Gallery in Sacramento owned by Russ Solomon of Tower Records. I taught classes here and there at SFAI, Sonoma State, and the Sonoma Valley Community Center. I also worked installing large-scale works for other artists including, John Roloff and I worked on a project for Andy Goldsworthy at the Runnymead Sculpture Ranch in Woodside, CA. He brought his small production potter father-in-law over from northern England where we mined native clay from the hillside, refined the clay for him to use to build his concentric circle pods and I build a kiln on site and we fired them there. The pieces were then installed back into the hillside and down the hill. It was a great experience!
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Persistence! Keep banging away at it!
I had a long spell while I lived in Sonoma, CA where my creative life was minimal. Getting those creative muscles working again has been a challenge but I just keep getting up and working hard and it is starting to really feel like I’m back in the groove these days.
Contact Info:
- Website: gregvolkerarts.com, gregvolkermusic.com, arttochangetheworld.org
- Instagram: @gregvolkerarts, @gregvolkermusic
- Facebook: Greg Volker Arts, Greg Volker Music
- Linkedin: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2TgcLDyKgeU6AcNJKaVpob?si=HyY3ZBlGQk-ig9ovKhgJCQ
Image Credits
Lisa Roy
