Artist Adam Wallacavage Lives Seaside in South Philly
My house is: My sketchbook.
Wall color: I was trying to go for the color of the Art Nouveau Paris subway stations, the dripping green patina. And seaweed.
Mural: That was painted by an artist for the previous owners in the ’40s. They had a nautical theme.
Light fixtures: I saw a photo of a glass jellyfish chandelier from the 1800s, and I started making cast-plaster octopus chandeliers. I’m addicted to making them now. I changed my career from being a full-time photographer to being an artist, and now I show my pieces all over the world.
Fish: That’s from Obscura Antiques in New York. It’s an antique swordfish. I’d say I collect fish. And I always buy myself a piece of taxidermy for my birthday. But I don’t like to consider myself a collector, because I feel like that means you’re attached to things.
Porthole: I found some in the basement of this house. It looked like a ship down there.
Furniture: Most of it is stuff I found at thrift and antiques stores. I painted the black sofa.
Moldings: I found old architectural pieces and made plaster molds of them. I did all the mirrors, wainscoting and crown molding. It was so fun to do.
Gallery: If I’m having a big show of my lighting, I’ll hang everything in my house first and have a party.
My inspiration: If the Addams Family, the Munsters and Pee-wee Herman lived in a castle by the sea. It’s anti-modernist.
See more of Wallacavage’s work at his upcoming exhibit at the Philadelphia Art Alliance, May 17th to July 15th.
