Today we’d like to introduce you to Rhonda Kap.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born in Toronto, Canada to parents who loved to draw and paint. The act of creating was valued in my home, therefor I considered myself an artist all my life. My family moved to Los Angeles when I was five years old my after father had passed away.
In 1971 I meet my mentor Helen Burke, she introduced me to metal sculpture. From the moment I lit the torch the medium took over my life. My creativity lead me to San Francisco Art Institute where I obtained a BFA with a focus in metal sculpture. All of my professional endeavors have centered around my art. In 2017 I retired from working part time teaching art to visually impaired at the Braille Institute of Los Angeles.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Putting myself through college working for a welding supply company. It gave me great access to the technical knowledge of welding and supplies, but left me little time for my art. After graduating college in 1975, they made me the manager of one of the stores in Northern California. I was the first female manager in their nationwide company. I struggled to work, raise my two daughters, and find time to devote to my artwork. After twelve and a half years I quit my job and my marriage ended. As a single parent I started to center my life around my daughters, teaching art and doing my own art work again. In 1992 I moved back to Los Angeles. Here, I meet the love of my life, Alisha Volotzky, a glass artist. With his support, encouragement, and partnership my art career took off.
Please tell us about Rhonda Kap Metal Sculptor.
As a metal artist, I work mostly in copper and bronze using oxygen and acetylene welding equipment. I love the warmth of the material and I my work reflects it in organic forms. My art work ranges from small ritual objects (Judaica) to large commissions for home and synagogues. I specialize in lighting and fountains. My husband Alisha Volotzky and I built a wonderful studio and showroom in the Santa Monica Mountains. We have made many collaborative art works and worked separately with the same customers to create a unique environment with each other’s artwork. All though my husband Alisha passed away in 2017 our creative collaboration continues.
My late husband’s and my art work will be on display at the C Gallery on Broadway, 441 E. Broadway, Long Beach on September 15, 2018. A special preview opens at 6:00 p.m. You can also see our creations at the Grand Opening Saturday, October 6th, 2018 is ‘Glass + Light = Magic’ and will feature the work of Alisha Volotzky, glass artist and sculptor, Rhonda Kap, metal sculptor complimented by Ronen Pollak’s, ethereal acrylic paintings. Opening will start at 6 pm.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My father managed a Zenith Electric supply store in Canada before he passed away. My mom would take me to the store and I would love to play in the bins of wire and metal parts. When we move to Los Angeles, my mother remarried. My stepfather owned a punch press manufacturing business. When I went there I would gather the scrap metal and bring it home and make sculptures. At the age of 10, I was already hard wired with metal. The house we lived in had a full basement, which is unusual in L.A., it was my first art studio. My stepfather had a lot of tools but he never used them. I put them to good use and made this my own creative place. I can still remember my mom opening the basement door and yelling down “Time for bed!”
Contact Info:
- Address: 30516 Mulholland Hwy
Cornell, CA 91301 - Website: www.rhondakap.com
- Phone: 818-706-2373
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhondakapmetalsculptor/?ref=bookmarks
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/user/RKapMetalSculptor/videos
Image Credit:
Alisha Volotzky
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