Kelly O'Dell Works

Bio

When she was a year old, in 1974, Kelly O’Dell’s family moved from Seattle to the Big Island of Hawai’i.  Growing up in one of the most culturally and biologically diverse regions in the world, her upbringing was in a volcanic paradise struggling with a legacy of colonialism. Her childhood steeped in an endless summer, she swam with glass-bottom boats and dove for coins tossed by their tourists. Kelly’s parents had an art studio in Kealakekua-Kona, and made their living using stained glass, blown glass, and pressed flowers.  With interests in Oceanography, Astronomy and Math, Kelly chose Glass as her primary focus at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. The program offered her many opportunities to study and work at Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, WA, and she eventually relocated there as a member of the William Morris Winter Crew.  Influenced by this talented team of artists and by her island upbringing, O’Dell’s work mainly examines species extinction and conservation, and human impact on the natural world. She has recently returned to island life, residing on Lopez Island, WA with her husband Raven Skyriver and their son Wren.

Artist Statement

My upbringing happened in the Hawaiian Islands. I grew up on the Big Island, home of active volcanoes. Coming from a place so diverse in culture & climate, teeming with flora, fauna, and really great food, I noticed the difference as soon as I left it at 25.  That difference made me feel the responsibility to honor what is lost, or extinct, not just with plants and animals, but with culture and climate too.  It is fascinating and devastating that our existence has so much impact on the delicate balance of life, our own species included. Through sculpture, my work explores themes of “Memento Mori,” as well as extinction, preservation, and origin. The Ammonite, an intelligent coiled-up cephalopod, became extinct 65 Million years ago, leaving impressions in its habitat to fossilize. We learn from the past to be responsible in our future. I hope my artwork could serve as a reminder, or "Memento," of this. 

In my creative process, I am often inspired by a non-fiction book I’m getting into, a curious detail in nature, or a podcast about science or spirituality. That leads to research, eventually taking the time to really dive in. Most ideas make it to my sketchbook, which I keep close. I’ll return to those ideas later, after they’ve passed the test of some time. I need to be sure before I start a fresh project that I will be challenged with a new sort of problem-solving, which I really love most about making artwork. The process of glassmaking is hot, fluid, demanding, and not without help!  In the glass shop, my favorite part about making artwork is working with friends.  Glass is special in that it usually requires skilled teamwork, and we all sort of know the same language in the shop. Working with a team, it is possible to accomplish some pretty crazy challenges. While we help each other make artwork, we push each other, and the limits of what glass can do. We cross paths regularly, and so we become community. We raise each other’s kids, we bbq together, we camp at the beach, we travel to faraway places together, and we gravitate to one another in socially awkward situations.  I feel very lucky to be part of this vibrant community.