David Mikitka

I have been involved with art in one fashion or another my entire life. I grew up in a family environment where we created things by hand, utilized whatever materials were available, found solutions to problems, and developed better ways of getting projects done. Recycling found things and working with simple and natural materials was routine, since we didn’t have much and certainly couldn’t afford to pay someone else to do things we could do ourselves. In high school, I began welding steel sculpture and one of my pieces was honored with a Scholastic Arts Awards Blue Ribbon for the State of Arizona. But even though I ultimately went on to pursue a non-art career, I never strayed far from that creative world. I work alone using a forge, forge tools, and gas burner I made myself. I have no formal training in the arts and no background in engineering or materials utilization, which I consider to be an advantage. I have been told more than once that my casting methods would never work…even though they obviously had. If I had been taught the correct way to cast metal, I would never have stumbled upon my unique style. Everything I do is based on having a vision of what I want then figuring out how to get there. Occasionally I get it right the first time, but more often I learn a valuable lesson that helps focus and refine my vision. My sculpture takes me on a continuing journey of exploration that at times focuses on one body of work then randomly lurches off in a new and unexpected direction. I still don’t know where this will all end up.