Ryon Gesink

Education

2000-2001

City College, San Francisco, CA

1993-1994

Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

1990-1991

Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Kalamazoo, MI

Employment

2010

Marta Thoma (Public Art Project) Project Manager/Crew Leader Goodyear, AZ
Sculpture fabrication, installation, project management and team leading for very large-scale 2 part outdoor public sculptural installation designed by Marta Thoma for the City of Goodyear in Arizona. Artwork title “Water Sourc & Gila Shade”
http://www.publicartgreenart.com/commissions.html

Marta Thoma (Public Art Project) Crew Leader/Fabrication/Installation Blaine, WA
Sculpture fabrication, installation, project management and team leading for very large-scale suspended outdoor public sculpture designed by Marta Thoma for the City of Blaine in Washington. Artwork title “Journey of a Waterdrop”
http://citizenwire.com/2010/08/27/ctw2612_042224.php (CitizenWire article, 08/27/10)

2005-Present

Self-Employed Metal Artist/Welder/Fabricator Oakland, CA
Design and fabrication of various sculptural projects including green tech alternative energy devices and infrastructure, signage, functional and decorative metal arts.

Clients include: All Power Labs (Berkeley, CA), Art Across America! (Hawaii), Alameda Theatre (Alameda, CA), Keith Hennessy-Choreographer/Performance Artist (San Francisco, CA), Kinetic Steamworks (Oakland, CA), Walnut Creek Wildlife Museum (Walnut Creek, CA) Orion Fredericks-Artist (Oakland, CA)

2003-2005

Archie Held/Center Star StudiosStudio Assistant Richmond, CA
Fabricator on large-scale stainless steel and bronze water sculpture. Many of these were public art pieces. Also participated in installations

2006-2007

Ferrous Studios Inc. Metal Artist Richmond, CA
Steel and stainless steel fabrication and installation, including sculpture, furniture, gates, rails, and fire features.

2001-2010

The Shipyard Art Space Design/Construction/Events Manager Berkeley, CA
Worked in a number of capacities assisting with the build-out of this DIY industrial art space, from directing/managing art and performance events to construction and alt energy technology fabrication and installation, plus as-needed trucking, painting, fork lifting, etc.

Commissions (Selected)

2010

Private Residence Lizard Reaching For the Sun Bay Area, CA
Designed and built headboard for a client’s bed featuring a stylized sculpture of her pet lizard and a faux bronze finish.

2010

Sins Invalid Theatre Group Time Machine San Francisco, CA
A stainless steel “Time Machine” built for a 2011 production at Theater Artaud. The design was created in collaboration with the client and made fully collapsible and lightweight, complete with a clock that runs backwards.

2009

Zachary Rukstela – Kinetic SteamworksSteamTrike Oakland, CA
Designed and built custom steel “trike” art vehicle and smokestack for a steam boiler.

2009

Keith Hennessy Aerialist Cage Structure for Theatre San Francisco, CA
Designed and custom built 7ftx3ftx3ft steel structure for the theatrical production “Delinquent”

2007

Private Residence Gargoyle Oakland, CA
Designed and built a menacing imp to guard the front door of the client’s warehouse. Keeping in mind the nature of the space, the gargoyle is industrial, using chains, hooks a pipe wrench and saw blade in its construction.

2007

Sean Orlando/Collaboration Steampunk Treehouse Oakland, CA
Ambitious team project headed by Sean Orlando. I applied various patina chemicals to the exterior walls to create an aged, faux rusty look like you might find on very old steel ships and ironwork.

2005-2006

Travelling Stage Show “Art Deco” Solar Stage Façade Toured United States
Designed and built a modular and collapsible ornamental steel façade to enhance and adorn a travelling stage show featuring Vaudeville style acts while promoting alternative energy. The project went on to tour various music festivals around the US.

Exhibitions (Selected)

2001-2010 Multiple Exhibitions, NIMBY Space, Oakland, CA

2001-2010 Multiple Exhibitions, The Shipyard Art Space, Berkeley, CA

2008-2009 9th Annual Fire Arts Festival, The Crucible, Oakland CA

2001 DadaFest, San Francisco, CA

2000-2005 Burning Man Arts Festival, Black Rock Desert, NV

Bibliography

Nash, Leo A., Burning Man: Art in the Desert book cover features Ryon Gesink:
http://www.amazon.com/Burning-Man-Desert-Leo-Nash/dp/0810992906
http://www.edelmangallery.com/nashshow2007.htm
http://www.aleonash.com/NewBlog/

Gizmowatch article about Ryon Gesink artwork:
http://www.gizmowatch.com/entry/playasphere-is-a-weird-flame-spitting-desert-crawling-machine/

KTVU article about Ryon Gesink band The Turks:
http://www.ktvu.com/entertainment/21609584/detail.html

Based in Oakland, CA, I work as a large scale kinetic sculptor in fire and steel and custom fabricator with over ten years experience doing sculptural work incorporating fire performance. I work to expand on the notion of technology as an extension of man's mind/body etc. through matter. I’ve recently served as project manager and crew leader on the construction and installation of a client’s large outdoor public art piece in Arizona, commissioned by the City of Goodyear.