In our Staff Spotlight series, we’re pulling back the curtain on the talented artists, artisans, and craftspeople who make up our crew. Our team is a gumbo pot of creativity: painters, sculptors, woodworkers, fiber artists, costume designers, metalsmiths, actors, musicians, and the list goes on. If you can dream it up, chances are we’re already doing it in our free time, too. That’s what makes us so good at our day jobs as custom experiential fabricators.

Each month, we’ll shine a light on one of our team members—their inspirations, their after-hours projects, and the creative spark they bring to both their life and our shop floor. Because behind every masterpiece is a person with a story worth sharing.

This month, we’re talking to Pat Wolf, who heads up Downtown FabWorks’ Millwork Department when he’s not moonlighting as a wrestling insect (more on that in a second).

So tell us how you became an artist.

For as long as I can remember, making things with my hands was the only thing that has ever really held my attention. I fell in love with printmaking in high school and went on to study it further in college. I was intrigued by process-heavy techniques and the way you could break those processes down and manipulate them to create unique effects.

In college, the woodshop was right next door to the printmaking department, which is how I fell in love with woodworking. I was able to take the same techniques I learned in printmaking and take them even further with woodworking. Soon, print matrices turned into sculptures, installations, and immersive environments. I also figured out I could also make money on the side with my newly found woodworking skills, and that stuck with me on my path toward fabrication.

After college, I moved to New Orleans to work on Mardi Gras floats, and I discovered an amazing community of makers and artists all working together to create these unforgettable experiences for the public and helping each other to throw warehouse parties, parades, plays, etc. It was all pure joy and community—and that’s when I knew I had truly found my place.

What’s one of your favorite creations?

A few projects stand out. I made a 70-ft.-long styrofoam dragon for a TV show once, and it was awesome getting to take something from a small-scale model all the way to completion. At that point it was the largest project I’d ever made, and it was an amazing learning experience. I love projects like that that really push me as an artist and a maker to do things I never thought possible. 

However, my favorite part of my artistic career so far is Choke Hole, an XXXtreme drag wrestling group I have been a part of for almost seven years now. I helped build the show’s first wrestling ring out of used tires, old rope, and other discarded items, all wrapped with a Morris Bart billboard. Eventually, I also made giant foam props for the performers to smash over each other's heads and hit each other with.

Creating for the show was so much fun that I knew I had to get in the ring, which made me fall in love with performing as well. My wrestling alter-ego is a villainous alien insect called RAID. I can be rather shy and introverted, so getting into the spotlight as RAID was something totally unexpected for me. The show has since taken me around the world. We have performed everywhere from the MET Museum to abandoned warehouses, and in April we have four shows in Germany: three in Hamburg, and one in Berlin. I feel so lucky to be on this journey with this amazing group of people. You can find out more about us on Instagram at @choke.hole.

Who are your favorite artistic influences?

I have always loved multifaceted artists who have diverse bodies of work. Mike Kelley, H.C. Westermann, Robert Rauschenberg, Olafur Eliasson and the Chicago Imagists are all personal heroes.

Do you feel like your personal creative work influences how you approach projects at DFW?

Absolutely. I am a total materials nerd. I love using unconventional materials (including scraps and whatever materials happen to be available) in unconventional ways to make art. This has given me a vast knowledge of different materials and processes and helps me to think differently and be able to pivot when trouble arrives or things don't go as planned.

What do you love most about your artistic path?

It’s taken me places I never could have imagined. I love living in the moment and saying yes to new things. I was taught early on that expectation is the enemy of happiness. So I try my best to live in the now and go wherever life may take me.

Interested in finding out how the creative minds at Downtown FabWorks can help you create unforgettable experiences for patrons, guests, and clients? We partner with our clients to design and fabricate immersive experiences, themed environments, and more. Visit our website to see how we can bring your vision to life.