What are you...? with Randy Vaughn, sculptor

BY BRAVETTA HASSELL World Scene Writer
Thursday, October 25, 2012
10/25/12 at 3:34 AM

Randy Vaughn laughs when he calls himself a boring man, but his work shows otherwise.

When he's not working on planes, he's building fences and other landscape features in some of the area's most exclusive neighborhoods. When's he's not building fences, he's sculpting, and throughout, he's smoothing his hands across sheet metal. It's his medium of choice.

Vaughn can't wait to start some new projects like the ones he's already done. He's dedicated a sculpture to Wayman Tisdale and made an ornate cake stand for his niece's wedding that featured a string of pearls. He created an installation of human-sized piano keys at the Sankofa Middle Creative and Performing Arts Charter School that seem to grow straight out of the wall. And, as recently as this summer, he created an impressive sculpture dedicated to the Oklahoma City Thunder that made TV news when Vaughn completed it.

"I want to create a new wave of sculpture," Vaughn says of an art form he compares to automotive body work. Unlike with bronze, you can add color, which Vaughn says gives his works a more realistic look.

Vaughn spoke with us about what he wants to see more of in Tulsa, the importance of art in city spaces and what he often finds himself listening to.

… hoping to see in Tulsa in the next five years?

They need more art in downtown Tulsa. Because it brings more life to an area. It needs to be more to give it more of a settled feeling so when you go into the area you think, man this is beautiful — it’s enhancing the area.

… listening to?

Not much radio. Different sermons — T.D. Jakes. A lot of your religious music.

… inspired by?

Anything unique — I love metal. There are too many ways you can take a cold piece of steel and bring such life to it.

… living by?

I try to do right. I try to treat people right.

… doing as a favorite pastime, outside of working with sheet metal?

Traveling — I enjoy just being able to drive down the highway. Just get in the car and go. It’s quiet time to me, when I’m driving down the highway.

… doing as far as restaurants in Tulsa?

Texas Roadhouse. Sometimes Mahogany Prime Steakhouse.

… hoping to see more of in Tulsa?

I would like to see a lot more development in the river area. Tulsa is the only area around — they’ve got one of the best rivers and they don’t utilize it, and if they would utilize it, that would make Tulsa just so much better.

Bravetta Hassell 918-581-8316
bravetta.hassell@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

Randy Vaughn, a metal artist, poses with his sculpture and mural at the Sankofa School. STEPHEN PINGRY / Tulsa World