Michael E. Smith, the Elusive Sculptor-Poet, Opens Up After a Decade of Dodging Interviews

When I learned of an opportunity to interview Michael E. Smith—an artist I’ve long admired—my brain boomeranged: I was excited to hear from an elusive artist who seldom speaks, but also stumped as to what exactly I might ask the man. I intuited that direct questions—of the what does this mean, why did you make that variety—wouldn’t do for an artist whose work is so withholding. His sculptures have this magical yet vernacular quality you’d feel silly over