Anton Viditz-Ward has been a Telluride resident for over 20 years. A welder by trade he is also a trained architect and artist. He is the founder and manager of Deep Creek Experimental, an artist collective operating out of a decommissioned limestone mine just outside of town. He has brought to life this giant hole in the earth repurposing it for storage, studios, and event space. Here he works on his steel-welded, human-powered, kinetic sculptures and other projects. His work has been selected for the Burning Man Honorarium many different years, and his projects can be seen in Scott London’s book, Burning Man: Art on Fire as well as Art of Burning Man by NK Guy. This year he has two projects as part of the Honorarium that will be showcased at Burning Man.

How did you start welding?
I wanted to learn how to weld and was referred to Chuck Kroger and Kathy Green at Bone Construction. I went up there and introduced myself around lunchtime. He told me to come back at the end of the day. When I returned he gave me a tour of the shop and tools and said if I wanted I could start work on Monday. He hired me for general construction, and I was doing a lot of concrete work at the beginning, but teaching me to weld was part of the deal. Within three months I was welding every day. My first job was Society Turn. 

Art Education?
I am trained as an architect. I went to the University of Cincinnati -Design, Architecture, Art and Planning Program

Describe your art:
Mechanical. Industrial. Degenerative
 
Ideas and Inspiration?
I look at Machinery. I look at paintings I look at sculptures. Mechanical things give me inspiration. Farm Equipment. Military vehicles and equipment.
 
First time at Burning Man?
1999. My roomate from college sent me a ticket and called me every week for a year telling me how I need to go. We would literally get in arguments over the phone about me going.
 
...and you initial reaction?
There was some interesting stuff and a lot to take in. It was a different cultural experience that I hadn't seen before. Although, in some ways it was reminiscent of other things in our American culture and that I had experienced. It had the essence of a Grateful Dead show, and the essence of camping with my family at Formula One races on the East Coast. I found something familiar, communal, and what had been missing.
 
Creative Heros?
Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain. Marcel Duchamp. Claude Monet. Lebbeus Woods.

Future work?
I'm working on smaller sculpture right now as well as fire place inserts. I also want to start to explore neon. I'll keep doing more fire sculpture type stuff but I also have a bunch of lighting ideas and sound sound sculptures I've been thinking about. 

Favorite Salvage?
1962 Ford Galaxy 500. Also a future art project.