Interview with Joseph Dosio, Sculptor

Artist to Artist by © Rocío Heredia

Joseph Dosio has created several artworks including collages and paintings. Most of his power has focused on sculpture. Inspired by metals, Dosio creates fine art sculpture using the cast off, not wanted, not desired. He involves Society's rejected rubbish to symbolize a new language to express a renewed sense of core meaning. Dosio emerges as an outstanding American Artist whose innovative dialogue also transcends the barriers between the ignored and the beautiful.

Where did you grow up, and when you were a little boy, what did you wish to be?
I grew up in the State of New York. As a little boy I knew I was creative. At the age of twelve I remember being home alone and I decided to use my father's welder. I was actually welding my first piece of sculpture. I thought the outcome was great, my parents couldn't understand or relate to what I was doing. I have the piece today and it has been described by the public as being remarkable work done by a twelve year old. From that day on I knew what I had to do with my life.

What was it that originally inspired your enthusiasm in the Visual Arts? Do you remember the first time that you expressed that you have a mind to be a sculptor rather than other profession?
As a child I was put in special education classes with retarded children, since they did not know that I was dyslexic. I spent most of my time daydreaming and studying architectural parts of the room. At that time I was creating in my mind.

I understand that you are self taught. How do you conceive you not having a formal Art preparation has affected you as an artist?
I have mixed feelings about this because having an art education might have made it easier for me to be in the art world, but being self-taught has allowed me to be just me.

If someone has your gift of Art, should they go to Art School and why?
It's hard to say because in school one can learn lots of different techniques, learn art history, art appreciation, learn how to talk "art talk" and be in an art environment. It's so individual and for me art school wasn't even an option being dyslexic in the 1950's.

Which came first, your creation of sculpture or painting?
Sculpture.

Please define your style.
My sculpture style changes everyday.

I perceive that your handling of elements is quite puzzling and complex. What attracts you to find objects for your Art? Where do you find the elements you integrate in your project?
I travel to different junkyards, climb the piles of junk and search. I gravitate to certain pieces. I gather them and return to my studio and there they become part of my junk pile.

When did you begin to incorporate "the unwanted" in your artwork?
From the beginning. All my sculpture is made from discarded, unwanted pieces.

What inspires you? Can you introduce us to your creative process?
My inspiration comes from within. I start out in my studio early morning; it is my best time of the day. I start pulling scraps from my piles. I begin to play, like a child in a sandbox. And then the creation process just happens. It's a force of spirituality. This is the fun part of my creating. The next part is the most difficult for me, preparing the pieces for assemblage. By doing so, I weld, grind, sand, polish, drill, bolt and spray paint. I spend hours and hours and hours in dust, rust and fumes.

Do you match the materials to a specific idea?
No, first comes the materials, then the piece.

What do you find most fascinating about working in this medium?
I like working in metal because it is forgiving.

What is your favorite medium for your paintings and collages?
Vintage paper for my collages and acrylic paint for my paintings.

Who are some of the other artists who have influenced you?
Picasso, David Smith, Ellsworth Kelly, George Ricky, Calder and everyone and everything influences me, a tree, the flow of water, a bird flying, life. I am affected by the world.

Which challenges do you confront in your career?
Selling the work and finding the right representation.

In your artworks I can see a sensual wealth; Can you explain how your desires and sensibility are inflated in your work?
I create beauty from the unwanted. There's beauty in everything.

Which of your sculptures has given you the best gratification of your career and why?
They all mean a lot to me. They all have given me great satisfaction from the smallest to the largest, from the easiest to the most difficult. I get very excited when I finish a piece. Seeing what I've created excites me.

How did you get Casa/Vogue, Playboy, ArtForum and several worldwide publications to notice your work?
They saw it; they liked it and published it.

What did you experience from the critics about your interpretations?
So far I've enjoyed what the critics have said about my work but it really doesn't make a difference what they say, I love my work.

What does New York mean to you as an artist?
New York was good to me in my early years. I was inspired by the city, the galleries, the people, the slums, and the wealth. And now I don't go to the city that often. I like spending my time in my studio, alone.

Do you think that the Internet has positive and/or negative effects on Art?
I don't think the Internet is bad for art, but it is very easy to get lost and distracted from your original search. The Internet has been good for me. I built my Website last year and now I can have people just go to my Website and see my work. I think the Internet needs to be more organized.

How have you found that the Internet has played into the promotion of your Artwork?
By this interview, by getting people interested in my work. Invitations to show my work on their websites and to sell.

What is your most important ambition in life as an artist? What do you aspire?
To become famous before my life is over and to enjoy the profits from my hard labor and life-long struggles that I've been through.

What about your immediate plans for the future. Are you working on a new project now? If so, would you give us a preview?
I work everyday in my studio and have new pieces that will be completed and added to my Website and gallery space.

What are you feeling being guest artist of the month at BTDesign Art Gallery and exhibiting your work?
I am always honored to have the opportunity to show my work and to be supported as an artist.

Finally, If you could send one message to the emerging artists what would it be?
Just do it. One knows what one must do.

Visit his Website: http://www.jdosio.com/

Copyright Note: Interview © April 2002 Rocío Heredia. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction is forbidden. Originally published on BTDesign Art Gallery. Banners by Barbara Tampieri © BTDesign Art Gallery. All Rights Reserved. Throughout this website all artworks, images, text files, or other material is all copyrighted by Rocio Heredia and/or named authors, and may not be used elsewhere on the net, within other websites, or in print, without the written permission of the site owner and/or author. For express permission to copy articles, please contact us.