Charles Gadeken
Charles Gadeken is a sculptural artist working in the Bay Area for over 20 years, dedicated to increasing artistic community and public awareness of art. Skilled in the numerous ways to manipulate metals, he makes copper, bronze, and steel pieces of various sizes and functionality, from tabletop fire flowers to 50ft tall LED trees. Charles focuses on engaging the imagination through his art, depicting natural objects in a fantastic way. He often incorporates technology in various effects (LEDs, flames, hydraulics, electricity) to increase the visual and physical impact of art. Many of his pieces are interactive, encouraging spectators to become participants in the artistic experience. He runs a communal art space, the Box Shop, in San Francisco to encourage the arts community in this increasingly expensive city that displaces working artists. Charles has inspired hundreds of people to participate in making art and personally trained these volunteers, while creating and installing numerous works of art for private collections and public art for various commissions.