LYLE ESTILL
Artist Statement/Biography
Lyle Estill is a self-taught scrap metal sculptor who lives in the woods of Chatham County, NC. His whimsical creatures are inspired by both the natural world, and by the trash which inhabits it. Best known for his life sized metal chess sets, he scours the region for enough similar found objects to painstakingly produce four of a kind, or sixteen of a kind to ensure playability. He has been strongly influenced by Andreas Drenters, of his native Canada, and by outsider artist Clyde Jones.
A father of four, Estill frequently approaches his work from a child’s perspective, and relies heavily on his children for inspiration and criticism. His imaginative and curious sculptures have been widely exhibited at garden art venues throughout North Carolina.
"I create work for the popular audience. The look of delight on a child’s face, the extended pause of a passerby, the flash of recognition in a viewer’s eye, these are the moments that bind me to sculpture."
Estill was born in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada in 1962. He received a B.A. in History from The University of Guelph in 1990.
PUBLIC INSTALLATIONS
Angels vs. Aliens, chess set, American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore, MD.
Bug Set, chess set, Museum of Life and Science, Durham, NC.
Bio-diversity Set, chess set, NC Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, NC.
Wildflowers, Haywood Community Health Center.
Stainless Set, chess set, The Angels Nest Labyrinth & Sanctuary, Oxford, NC.
Copper Panels w/ illustrations, The Wake Forest Health Club, Wake Forest, NC.
Fearrington Set, chess set, Fearrington Village, Pittsboro, NC.
Morning Glory, General Store Café, Pittsboro, NC.
AWARDS
09/2001, NCAE Purchase Award, 16th Annual Sculpture Celebration, Lenoir, NC.
04/2001, Kid's Choice Award, Sculpture on the Green, Chapel Hill, NC.
04/2001, People's Choice Award, Sculpture on the Green, Chapel Hill, NC.
09/9 2000, NCAE Purchase Award, 15th Annual Sculpture Celebration, Lenoir, NC.
04/2000, People’s Choice Award, 1st Annual Sculpture Show, Chapel Hill, NC.
September 1999, Purchase Award, 14th Annual Sculpture Celebration, Lenior, NC.
August 5, 1999, Best Chess Set, Microsoft Gaming Zone, Redmond WA.
August 8, 1998, Honorable Mention, 13th Annual Sculpture Celebration, Lenoir, NC.
May 8, 1998, People’s Choice Award, Sandhills Community College, Pinehurst, NC.
FESTIVALS+APPEARANCES
Centerfest, Travel Set, Durham, NC, 2001
Eno River Festival, Travel Set, Durham, NC 2001
Apple Chill, Moncure Boy’s Choir, Chapel Hill, NC, 2000
Artsplosure, Travel Set, Raleigh, NC, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
Haw River Festival, Travel Set, Bynum, NC, 2000
Eno River Festival, Travel Set, Durham, NC, 2000
Cape Fear Academy, Travel Set, Wilmington, NC, 2000
Harvest Festival, Travel Set, Oxford, NC, 2000
First Frost Arts Walk, Travel Set and Bugs, Morganton, NC, 2000
|
