EAST Interview: Chris Levack's Pollen Is Nothing to Sneeze At

When you were growing up, were there any public sculptures in Austin that first inspired you to pursue art?

Not really. What inspired me as a kid in Austin were places like Hamilton Pool, the Hill Country, the Capitol, Laguna Gloria, and folks' ranches. Maybe these were the kinds of settings I would later want to add sculpture to.

Much of your work is commissioned, but what do you enjoy creating for yourself and your family?

I made a big sculpture at our house that doubles as a time piece every New Year's eve. We slowly drop a disco ball from it, about 25ft. high, at midnight, Like Times Square. Our friends and neighbors pack into our front yard to help count down. It's a great party.

Other than that I like to build tree houses and skate ramps for my daughters. (editorial note: Dads who build skate ramps for their daughters are objectively awesome. We know from personal experience.)

Where do you get your ideas and inspiration?

Mostly from the natural world , organic plant life, microscopic phenomena, geology, fossils. I also get a lot of my inspiration from the Texas landscape, architecture and history.

What is your favorite material to work with? Is there one that you absolutely will not use?

My two favorite materials to work with are exterior grade woods like ipe, mesquite, and red cedar. My other favorite material is terra cotta. Both materials have seductive qualities and unique challenges to work with. Neither material can stand on its own when I am charged with a large scale job. The challenge then becomes how to integrate these beautiful materials into a skeleton or support structure, which is usually steel.

There is no material I will not at least consider for a project, but for me I need mediums that will endure the elements and look beautiful in the environment over a long period of time. That does limit me.

What excites you most about the Austin art scene?

Honestly, what I love the most about the art scene is the audience. We are a smart and open minded city, without a lot of pretense. I feel very lucky to be able to work with so many interesting and cool clients. It is great to be in an environment where my utilitarian aesthetic is appreciated.

Describe the project you are most proud of making.

That would have to be the Pollen Grain and Wigwam, my two recent sculptures at the Mueller Development. Inside the redevelopment sits an amazing park dedicated to Blackland Prairie reclamation. I just completed two sculptures out there. One is a giant model of a single pollen grain, blown up to a 14ft sphere. I made it out of hundreds of slices of refinery pipe. The piece will ultimately be complete when the planted vines grow up and take over the form, giving it 4 seasonal looks per year. It will be a living sculpture. Until then it still looks pretty cool.

Next to it is Wigwam, which is the center point of a large labyrinth. Wigwam is a steel and wooden structure that has some tee pee and sci-fi influences. Be sure to walk all the way to the center of the labyrinth and look up.

Not only was making these two sculptures a thrill, but to have them set in such a masterfully landscaped area (RVI of Austin did the landscape design) was over the top for me.

If you could only visit one other studio during E.A.S.T. which would it be and why?

Blue Genie on Springdale. They are always working on interesting work. Their strength is big commercial projects and they always seem to have fun with it. Going there will also expose you the work of AArC, a collaborative of the best architectural artisans in town, who have an exhibit there.