Knoxville Artist Zophia Kneiss: Building Dreams and Burning Art

Zophia Kneiss: Building Dreams
and Burning Art

The teeth of a T-Rex sculpture created by Knoxville artist Zophia Kneiss

This interview with Knoxville artist Zophia Kneiss - Welder, Fabricator, Farrier, Blacksmith, Sculptor and Functional Artist - shares the story of how she became a burning art creator, what brought her to Knoxville, who her favorite Knoxville artists are, and more.

KBC: How did you get started creating your burning art?

Zophia Kneiss: I learned how to weld from my father and taking an art welding class in college. I loved the medium and decided to move on to a technical welding class in Atlanta. I have always dreamed of doing large public art sculpture in which I would need to develop this skill thoroughly.

I have built “Burning Art” from my dreams. It has come a long way from the semi-sheltered studio in Fourth Ward of Atlanta. It really makes me appreciate the rain proof haven I have here in the hills of Tennessee. Burning Art is about appreciating and fostering the inner child in all of us. My goal is to build art that you can play on.

Huge installation-landscape sculptures, that foster imagination, to play on. It is important that my art is not the art one glances at from outside ropes and barriers but that which one engulfs themselves with the senses. Including jungle gyms and slides incorporate in themes that have playful lessons.

I first learned welding from my dad at a young age. I remember going to alternative punk concerts at Griffith Sculpture Park near where I grew up on the outskirts of Buffalo, NY. There was amazing art that you could play on there.

I took my first metal art class from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. I went there to study ecology, which I used to enter the Peace Corps. I lived in the cloud forest jungle of Kabayan, Benguet for three years teaching environmental education, youth development and sustainable livelihoods where there were still villages with out roads or electricity.

This experience affected me and my art deeply on a spiritual and environmental level. I came back and moved Atlanta for a few years where I got certified in various welding processes from Dekalb, Tech.

KBC: I'd love to hear the story of the amazing T-Rex sculpture you made for a client.

Zophia Kneiss: “Kayuga” is the name of the sculpture I completed for Bristol Galvanizing. The T-rex project was specific to Bristol Galvanizing, whose motto is “Don’t let your steel become extinct.” She is 10’ high and 18’ long measured from the top of her mounting platform. She weighed about 2 tons before galvanizing.

As befit the project, I studied the skeletal structure of the T-Rex and tried to make the piece as biologically correct as was feasible. Kayuga was actually balanced enough to stand by herself. She was walked to the front of my studio to news cameras and the truck of her new owner. It must have been quite a scene seeing this large sculpture standing on a trailer speeding down the road.

Kayuga was hot dip-galvanized and won the American Galvanizing Association's "Artistic" award for 2007.

KBC: Do you show your art in any Knoxville galleries?

Zophia Kneiss: I am a member of the foothills craft guild, the Arts and Cultural Alliance (in the emporium) and A1 lab arts. I often show with them. I also have periodic work at the world grotto and other local galleries.

Currently I am showing some pieces at the Emporium on Gay street downtown. I am working on some fall shows. Including a woman based show contributed and directed by local women's artists to develop women in the arts community and bring to light a global concern we think is valuable. This is in the planning stage.

KBC: Who are your favorite Knoxville artists?

Zophia Kneiss: My favorite Knoxville artists are Tovah, from Tovah Love Photography, Annie Fletcher (a painter), Shelly O'Bar (a photographer) and Katie M. Gamble at Lady of the Earth dot com. Also, music by Dixie Dirt.

KBC: How did you become part of the Knoxville art scene?

Zophia Kneiss: I came here from Atlanta to beat the Hotlanta traffic, over-priced housing and general city discomfort to enjoy the serene atmosphere of Eastern Tennessee. I live not far from Lake Norris and try to take my dogs swimming everyday.

I came to Atlanta after a three year Peace Corps service in the Philippines where I dealt with environmental concerns in Mount Pulag national park in the tribal highlands. What I learned there has shaped my artistic vision; I believe the artist should be a active member in their local communities and beyond.

KBC: Do you have anything else you'd like to share with our Knoxville art scene readers?

Zophia Kneiss: I see my whole life as an artistic process, I strive to make it colorful and delicious. I try to advance my knowledge of metal every year, from blacksmithing classes and farrier certification to drawing technology and visiting sculptural wonders of out earth.

Each piece I build is a "one-of-a-kind", and I think that is important. To keep the integrity of my work intact - from small to large.

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Zophia Kneiss: Building Dreamsand Burning Art

Zophia Kneiss: Building Dreams
and Burning Art