Meet Christie Hackler | Metal Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christie Hackler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christie, why did you pursue a creative career?
Since my parents met in art class, it seems only fitting that I am an artist. I don’t believe one really chooses to be an artist, you just are an artist. It’s how our brains work.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
When I went back to school I was interested in pursuing a ceramics degree until I met Charleen Weidell the metals professor. I connected with her style of teaching and fell in love with metal and the permanence it provides. After school I started welding steel and became interested in sculpture. I find my work falls somewhere between sculpture and contemporary craft. The butterflies are made out of mild steel and coated in vitreous enamel, which is glass baked onto the steel in a kiln. They attach to the wall via standoffs. I enjoy working with enamel because it adds bright colors to the metal. Also, I enjoy keeping this ancient art form alive.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite place would definitely be heading west with my dog in my lap. I love a good road trip! Being raised in Oklahoma we escaped the hot summers in the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado. I love to hike and eat anything with green chilies on it. A perfect day would include great yoga, long hike, delicious food and my dog Ouisie, named after my favorite artist Louise Bourgeois… and some live music. I’m currently learning the guitar and enjoy writing songs.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My story is an amalgam of a lifetime of experiences and many mentors and influential people. At the beginning of my career I was really just trying to exist and heal after the sudden death of my son in 1996 from meningococcal meningitis. His passing left me traumatized and I used art to convey my thoughts and feelings. Through the early years I went back to school and completed my degree in metalsmithing. It wasn’t until 2015 that I started creating “A Migratory Experiment”. This body of work stems from a memory I shared with my sons driving in the car through a monarch migration in the fall of 1996. It was the most exhilarating and unexpected moment that can only be described as pure happiness. I use the imagery of the butterfly to convey a message of transcending the boundaries of grief. Grief is a necessary process but we need to not put down roots there. Just as the butterfly doesn’t linger at the chrysalis but takes flight and moves on down the road we too need to push on. My work speaks to those who search for happiness, hope and transformation.

Website: Www.christiehackler.com

Instagram: Christie.Hackler.Metalartist