About Bill McKenney & Vintage Robots
My History:
I grew up in a New England commercial fishing family. I became handy at all sorts of things: carpentry, electrical work, and fixing engines. Our old boat would sometimes break down in the middle of the ocean. Calling for help was too expensive an option to stay in business. I learned to use just about anything as a fix. After a while, we joked I could fix anything with just a stick and a string!
I guess this all got me started on a lifelong habit of making do with what was at hand. When I got married, my wife and I built our Maine homestead almost entirely out of vintage pieces, reclaimed hardware, and salvaged wood from barns.
In 2012, my family and I moved to St. Louis to take care of a family member. I started going to flea markets and yard sales. I was amazed at what people discarded. I began to wonder what could be done with all the great old stuff I was seeing, started experimenting and the next thing you know, I was making art! Up until that point, I had never thought of myself as an artist, but my ability to creatively repurpose things and my quirky sense of humor made it almost inevitable.
My Process:
In making my art, I love gathering the odd bits and pieces that have patina, shape, and charisma. Some pieces just speak to me. Pulling it all together is often a puzzle, as I weld, bolt, and glue things!
When I am creating my art there is often a magical moment when the old pieces tell me what they want to be. It is always a surprise that can’t be forced or controlled. There are everyday moments of struggle and humor that I look for in my art, the ones that make us human. Things such as the guy who takes a shower preparing for his big date or the tiny canoeist who intrepidly ventures down the river alone. It could be my neighbor’s sassy cat who tortures the dog next door or a girl hugging her heart and fearing to lose it or to never give it away. These are the kind of stories I want to tell through my art.
Awards and Accolades:
Though I have only been an artist a few years, I was honored to be featured on PBS’s tv show, Arts America, and to win a 2nd place award at the 2013 Summit Art Festival and a Top 10 award at Mosaics. I was also a featured artist at the Third Degree Glass Gallery in August 2014. I am grateful to all the people along the way who have encouraged me and opened doors. I am always glad when I see the joy and humor that my art brings to people.