Art in Public Places / Parks / Sculptures / Wire mesh sculptures

The Inner Spirit Collection: Enchanting Wire Mesh Sculptures

This extraordinary project started in 2007, when Derek Kinzett began sculpting fairies and sprites with his signature style. Indicative of his aesthetic are soft and elegant bodily forms that capture light in a unique way. This is due to the interesting material from which his work, including “The Inner Spirit Collection”, is sculpted. These memorable wire mesh sculptures have been commissioned around theworld because of their transcendent beauty.

Seemingly flying, the gentle Woodland Spirit epitomizes Derek Kinzett’s impossibly ethereal wire mesh sculptures.

True artists are constantly contemplating not only their subject matter and what it references or symbolizes, but also the nature of the medium in which they work itself. In this case, galvanized wire mesh, commonly referred to as “chicken wire”.

“I was interested in the effect natural light and shadow had on the surface of the material and after further experimentation with sculpting the human body as a hollow form, I found that by allowing natural light to travel through the sculpture, I could accentuate facial features, hair and muscle tone, which in turn produced an ethereal and spiritual visual impact to each finished piece.”

A key characteristic of this series is its spiritual ambiance, and the material used in the wire mesh sculptures has a lot to do with this. Art in public places should be crafted with an awareness of how it interacts with its surroundings, a consideration obviously intensely studied by Kinzett.

Spirit into the Sun shows us exactly how dynamically the forms of Kinzett’s wire mesh sculptures interact with the sunlight.

As is usually the case with iconic artwork, it is quite difficult to describe without seeing in person. This is especially true of “The Inner Spirit Collection”. When contemplating the figures, many notice the layers and layers of wire that reflect back the sun’s rays, contrasting the thinner sections of the sculptures, such as the wings. This play with opaque and transparent is a visually extraordinary feat. Also, the impressive range of poses adds to the beauty of these pieces when viewed as a series. Woodland spirit is suspended, while Mother Sprite is seated. Kinzett emulates the endlessness of real-life bodily movement, though in a fantasy setting. The figures and their expressions are nearly tangible, yet remain in a spiritual realm, not too far from the furthest reaches of reality.

The bright color of Mother Sprite sets her apart from the other examples.

Art in public places must withstand the tests of time, making durability of great concern to Kinzett.
Many of the pieces from his “Inner Spirit Collection” are displayed outdoors, which is why he uses galvanized metal and sprays each piece with a rust-preventing zinc spray. Those who commission his work know they will receive a priceless never-before-seen art piece that will not only charm, but endure.

With Free Spirit, the artist shows off his technical abilities. Notice how each small part of the body is actively engaged in the composition.

The process itself is meditative, taking up to 120 hours to create each wire mesh sculpture. Kinzett’s deep dedication to the project is exactly what instills it with a touch of spirituality. Viewers of his art will pick up on the same kind of reverence for sublime beauty with which the artist originally created. Almost everyone would agree, it is nearly impossible to avoid feeling a bit of magic when standing next to these extraordinary figures.