Artist Profile: Tim Shockley

Artist Profile: TIM SHOCKLEY

Organic Surrealism in the Desert

written by Denise Tanguay

If you have cruised the luxurious shopping area of El Paseo Drive in Palm Desert, you may have noticed some intriguing artworks along the road. Every two years, artists can apply to install pieces there as part of the city’s public art program. Tim Shockley is one of these artists, and his sculpture Taming the Wild West II is on exhibit on El Paseo through November. But don’t worry if you haven’t seen it yet—you’ve got time. The city has purchased the piece for its permanent collection and will relocate it to the corner of Portola and Haystack roads near the Living Desert Reserve— one of Shockley’s favorite places and his hometown source of inspiration.

Part of Shockley’s “Taming the Wild West” series, the sculpture features steel and powder-coated barbed wire tumbleweeds enclosed in large cages and stacked on top of each other. The tumbleweeds look organic, although they are completely (and very carefully) made by Shockley, who calls his work “organic surrealism.”

The term, says the sculptor, “speaks to our mindset of trying to control nature, which finds a way to break free but we’re always trying to contain it. Putting tumbleweeds in a cage tweaks the idea of what a tumbleweed should be doing.”

Shockley has always been influenced by organic creatures and surroundings. He grew up in Palm Desert and Laguna, in the latter of which he spent time with his grandfather smashing snails in the garden to keep them from devouring the plants. Later he immortalized the creatures in bronze as part of his “Small Reminders” series.

“Growing up in the desert and near the ocean gives my work an organic infusion,” says Shockley, who is an expert at tweaking the perspective of ordinary objects. “My past knowledge and memories help me pose things into organic shapes.”

Shockley’s most recent works have an organic surreal vibe while also paying homage to Andy Warhol. He has re-created one of those iconic Campbell’s Soup cans, but in this case it’s expired mushroom soup and cast-metal mushrooms are

bursting out of its seams. The first one he made sold fast and patrons are asking for more.

Shockley is influenced by what he calls the “subtle surrealism” of artists René Magritte and Man Ray. He loves Marcel Duchamp’s work due to its timeless originality that is not mass produced.

“My aim is to create art that withstands the test of time and trends,” he explains. “If I have a so-so idea, it’s not going to happen. But if I’ve never seen it, I’ll do it.”

To create his barbed wire tumbleweeds, Shockley dons his goggles and gloves to manipulate the wire. He starts cutting it into little pieces, bending, welding, wrapping and winding them to make them look like an organic branch. “It required a vicious circle of thinking to figure out how to do it,” he says.

The caged tumbleweed may become Shockley’s signature art concept—he’s developed a proposal to create a giant 30- foot example for a company in Texas. At the same time he’s expanding on his “Taming the Wild West” and “Big Picture” series. He’s breaking out of his comfort zone and creating larger pieces for future public art installations. Taming the Wild West II was his fourth such installation.

“I’ll do whatever it takes bring a good concept to fruition,” Shockley declares. “I never want to compromise the integrity of an idea due to lack of knowledge about materials or how to work with them. Once you start the idea, more ideas come.”

Over the years, the sculptor has learned how to be an expert at woodworking, casting, welding and metalwork. And he’s not afraid to share ideas with other artists who are calling him with questions about his process.

Tim Shockley is all about ideas. “The most exciting part of creating is stepping back and seeing that the idea that was strong in your mind has worked,” he says. “When it all comes together, it is such a satisfying feeling. I wish everyone could experience that.”

Learn more about Tim Shockley at www.TimShockley.com.

You can also see Shockley’s work at the inaugural Indio public art exhibition founded by the Indio Public Arts and Historic Preservation Commission. Shockley’s work can be seen in downtown Indio alongside Marnie Navarro, Delos Van Earl, Chris Sanchez, and Cathy Allen through April 29, 2019.