Having an art piece in Wayne's annual Sculpture Walk is not a new adventure for Kirk Seese of Lutherville, Maryland.
On the weekend of Aug. 5, Seese stopped in Wayne to pick up his sculpture named "The Feather," which has called Wayne its home for the past two years, and install a new creation entitled, "Magnify."
Throughout the year, almost every other month Seese admits, the artist spends anywhere between one to three weeks driving across the country. During these trips, he picks up sculptures from outdoor tours such as Wayne's, drops new ones off and occasionally paints murals.
This, Seese said, takes much coordinating to optimize his cross-country driving.
As a child, both sides of Seese's family produced visual art, though not for profit.
He remembered a time at the early age of four when his passion for art blossomed.
"My mom was painting a mural in our playroom of animals and cartoon characters," Seese said. "When she left to go to the bathroom, I started creating billowing clouds above the characters. That has now became a family story she always tells."
Following this path, Seese attended the Maryland Institute of Art. The artists mainly focused on murals during this time, working with AmeriCorps, an organization focused on national service and volunteerism.
He headed urban arts projects in Baltimore which brought local artists and volunteers together to beautify neighborhoods and schools. Fifteen murals were created throughout that year under his direction.
Seese also taught art and designed scenic art for films.
In 2007, he began creating murals full-time until 2015 where a position with a climbing gym company called ClimbZone, sparked his interest in sculpting.
For four years, Seese transformed his 2D murals into 3D creations. Using a CNC machine and either hand-painting or a large printer, Seese created themed climbing walls. Climbers could summit Mt. Everest or scale the Lincoln Memorial without leaving their city.
Wanting a change, in 2019, the artist began creating sculptures for commissions. He found websites where businesses and communities created calls for sculptures and murals that artists could submit their work to.
"This was when my art took a 180," Seese said. "I wanted to try abstract pieces, creating art for art's sake. I now make things I want to see in the world."
With "Magnify," the sculptor focused on making a piece people would gravitate toward and find their own meaning in.
The colorful sculpture was deliberately made of steel and a strong, clear polycarbonate to withstand the elements and interactions with viewers. Unlike many other sculptures, Magnify rotates, turns and flips when moved by viewers or by the weather. As it turns, the light moves through the colored lens to create a stained-glass reflection.
"This is what really draws me toward public art," Seese said. "I would much rather have people interact with the piece than just stand back. The materials I use are strong and sturdy for that exact reason."
Seese has a dream of showcasing his art in all 50 states. So far, he has done so in 36 of them. He checked Nebraska off his list with the Wayne Sculpture Walk.
To see more of his work, visit alienartifactstudios.com or follow his instagram with the same name.
