Finely crafted hall tables we might expect at a wood show, but who would think that a tortilla press or Viking spears would be part of Works in Wood now on at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre this August?
The exhibition opened Aug. 10 with 33 wood artists producing one of the largest collections of three dimensional works to be seen there in a long while. The show was curated by Tim Clement, chair maker, and also director of the Arts Council. Although he’s a familiar name among Coast woodworkers, many of the other exhibitors are new.
Here are some tips for enjoying this show. Take your time – there is a lot of detail in craftsmanship. One piece dominates: Tam Crozier’s door panel, which should be viewed on both sides. It takes the arrangement of wood grain to new heights. Look for the symbolism of creatures in the grain’s patterns: rabbit ears, claws and hooves. Stand back and look at the figure – she’s Gaia (or Mother Nature, as she is also known).
Your eye will also be drawn to the majestic dining table on centre stage made by Jim Batey. Some of the tables on show have natural edge; others are finished, such as an exquisitely crafted hall table by Doug Ives and a mahogany wall table by Stephen Esdon that has classic lines.
Steve Sziklai’s arbutus wood sculpture with inscribed poetry could be a coat rack – or sit across the room in Dino Pilotto’s prairie chair and look at it again. It’s now a dancing figure. What’s a prairie chair? This simple squarish chair in black walnut has clean tailored lines and is very comfy.
Check out the basswood carved and painted birds of Allen Poynter – the kestrel and the screech owl particularly. Another fun item is the lovely dyed blue veneer piece called Icebergs in Davis Strait by Patrick Skidd. Robert Studer incorporates hand-worked glass and driftwood into his Spirit of Source.
Form follows function here: Shirley Burton made the wooden tortilla presses and she explained that they work better than the traditional cast aluminum ones that break. Dan Richter has made one of his signature Dragonfly Model D guitars from flame maple, cedar and mahogany. Will Cummer has produced a living room lamp made from a Douglas fir stump base with a lacy shade to filter the light.
My personal favourite is the Viking shield and spears made with a variety of woods from Bob James, and yes, he has Viking background. Also on display are the pieces he is better known for – his turned bowls. Kaye Miller also shows turned wooden bowls that reveal the natural figure in the wood. You have to imagine Steve Webber laughing as he plants tiny withered items – a blackened banana, a sad carrot – into his tiny boxes of maple and walnut. I swear the dried up apple still smells. There will be no temptation to pick up one of Romain Bayle’s wooden spoons and taste it!
The show continues until Sept. 11 at the Arts Centre, Medusa Street, Sechelt. Summer hours have been extended to seven days a week until the end of August (Monday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.). See www.sunshinecoastartscouncil.com for more.
