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Students take different subjects: math, science, English, social studies, gym, music, and art. Growing up, the mindset can be to keep these classes separate. Humans like to create categories because our brains like order, often little thought given to the benefits and opportunities for cross over. At the cross section of science and art is Alex Gardner, an engineer who makes art or an artist who utilizes engineering?
From engineer to full-time artist
Alex Gardner has lived in Toledo for 20 years and loved it. While working as an engineer, Gardner has dabbled in artistic spaces, creating art with a 20 by 20 inch laser bed. Using engineer software the laser to cut designs into different materials, he decided to jump in with both feet. Now working out of his garage using a four foot by eight foot laser, that weighs as much as a car, he opened Ignatian Studios in 2020 leaving engineering to pursue art full time.
Finding style through geometry and history
When asked about his art Gardner said it has been a process, “I’ve explored a lot of styles, but my favorite are geometric shapes.” Gardner that stand out are the intricate and hypnotic wood carvings.“I have a love of patterns from history: middle east, Celtic, and even pacific island designs. I’m inspired by blending architectural precision with historic geometric design.” Even though he has an established style Gardner is looking to get more unorganized in his next phase, “Because I’m doing it for fun, and not a full time job anymore, I can be weirder and more creative.”
The connection between artist and audience
One of Gardener’s joys is setting up a booth at art shows. He loves to see people view his work, stop in their tracks and utter a stunned “Wow”. Gardner enjoys physically handing over his work to people and seeing their reaction to how solid and heavy his pieces are, considering how delicate they look. “When someone connects with something you make, it’s something special.”
Alex is endlessly passionate about the process of creating. “Creativity exists in everybody. I’ve seen people create programs in excel that are just beautiful.”
He encouraged people to consider what, to them, is creative because art can pop up in the most surprising places, like in artistic engineering or maybe in an engineering artist.
Find Gardner’s work on Instagram at ignitionstudiosllc.
