Artist Pop-Up:
Robot Sculpture Building with Matt Swenson
Fri, Nov 27, 1-8 pm
Matt Swenson — robot sculptor and founder of Djonk Americana (say "yonk") — and his merry band of misfit, repurposed robots will be jetting into Red Wing for the 25th annual Holiday Stroll on Friday, November 27. Matt will be hanging out from 1-8 pm at Red Wing Arts, where he's November's featured artist.
His robots are already on display and for sale at Red Wing Arts, with new sculptures landing at the beginning of November — so you don't have to wait until the Stroll to meet the misfits.
Once you've seen one of Matt's robots, you're bound to ask — everyone does — "What's it like inside that dude's head? He sure sees the world in a unique way." The Holiday Stroll is the perfect opportunity to find out firsthand just how his creative cogs turn. Matt will also bring a stash of robot body parts (AKA "old junk") from his art studio's parts morgue that you can sift through and take a crack at cobbling together your own repurposed robot sculpture. Better yet, bring an old piece of junk, a bit of family history, or a special find, and see how Matt would repurpose it into a robot sculpture.
If you've never thought of yourself as "creative" or an "artist," come by and chat with Matt — he'd love to help you uncover your creative calling. Because, as Matt believes, there is something creative inside all of us just waiting to be set free.
About Matt Swenson
Matt Swenson, founder of Djonk Americana (say "yonk"), is a self-proclaimed "odd dude." He loves old things — from true junk you'd find dumpster diving and on the side of the road to vintage advertising tins, toys, and household items to unique finds at estate sales, garage sales, and sometimes antique shops. "I use junk as my sculpting medium because I've always loved the style of old things," says Matt. "A lot of what I find, by most collectors' standards, truly is junk. It doesn't work, it's missing a part, or it has a lot of dings. But I love the character that comes with the patina, holes, and rust." It's what he does with the junk that transforms ordinary castoffs into engaging creatures, also known as "Upcycled Americana Sculptures." The results feel fully Jetsons — both futuristic and nostalgic at the same time. Matt brings an extraordinary ability to take something gathering dust in an attic or rusting in the garage and transform it into what appears to be a living, breathing robot.
The rise of the robots began for Matt one day when inspiration hit him at a local art show. He headed home and immediately began combing through his old stuff (which went back three generations) and built his first creation ("Nash"). Before his eyes, new life was brought to old junk and his creative purpose was born. It wasn't long before people started to bring their own finds to Matt's Djonk art studio, hoping to have him robotize their item (Delta Air Lines came calling, too). What do you do with grandpa's old electric razor? Or grandma's Instamatic? Or an old drive-in speaker? Or a thread spool? Turn it into a character that stirs the imagination and becomes a keepsake in its own right. According to Matt, much of his unique vision is simply a matter of how he's wired. He also owes a huge debt to his father, who was a saver and eclectic artist in his own right. "Plus, I'm a lifelong tinkerer. And with Ax-Man Surplus nearby — as well as weekly estate sales, garage sales, and people trying to discard their 'useless' stuff — the opportunities to uncover gems are endless."
Matt's work is prominently displayed as part of a commissioned exhibit in the Delta Sky Club in Concourse T at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. His work has been featured in local newspapers and city magazines, as well as homes all over the world, yes, world. Matt has also been part of special exhibits at local hospitals, shopping malls, restaurants, lifestyle centers, and galleries, as well as earned entrance into local juried art shows. One of Matt's sculptures even earned an "Honorable Mention" at the Hopkins Center for the Arts juried show.
Though born and raised in Minneapolis, he has also called Wisconsin and Colorado home. When Matt's not dreaming of new junk assembly ideas, he loves to read, as well as hit the single-track trails on his mountain bike. You can find Matt on Instagram @djonkamericana.