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The Sanctuary 

I’m participating in an environmental art installation project. Here is a hint of what I will be creating

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“The Seer” – Advent Show 2015

I have finished “The Seer” in time for the show at Bethel Lutheran Church in Madison.

The concept was to think about the long hope of the ancient Hebrew believers.  This is the head of a prophet.  Another word for prophet is “Seer”.

I think of this as Isaiah, because we read so much from Isaiah in the Advent Season.

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6 ESV

The prophet sees in the distant sky a star, representing the hope for redemption.  His white hair and beard show that the wait was long.  The star prefigures the Christmas Star found in Matthew 2. And I like to think of the Magi, star gazers, as being on the other end of the message.  The Seer lives in hope and the Magi set out on a journey of discovery.

Here are some images of the process of the carving.  I used a method of shallow relief. The wood is butternut.  The piece is 27 x 17 inches and about 3/4 inch thick.  I left the living edge because the wood itself has a story of growth over years and bark for enduring the elements.

basic levels established
relieving the background
initial outline with v-tool
forming the beard
outline complete
working the hair
detail of hair
painting

Here is the final result

Paint.3

 

 

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Advent Art Show at Bethel Lutheran Church – Nov 29 into Janurary

I have been thinking about a carving that suggests Hope in Advent.  I went through a lot of very complicated iterations until I hit on the idea of the Prophet as Seer, looking into the night sky to see a special star.  The prophet will have a long lyrical beard, suggesting time.

basic levels established
relieving the background
initial outline with v-tool
forming the beard
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Earth Sculpture 2015

at workbench

at workbench

I am participating at the Earth Sculpture 2015 show at the Farley Center.  There are 13 installations at the show, which you can visit at any time.  The concept is to use resources from the land.  I chose to install two shallow relief carvings of cardinals.

Here is the Map

Here is the link to the Farley Center

Below are some pictures

at workbench
with beet stain
with milk paint
in location
in location
as you see it
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In the Eco Squared Show – Hatch Art House

ecosqI submitted two carvings to the Eco Squared show at Hatch Art House on Willy Street here in Madison.  The art is to contain upcycled or recycled elements. I took some of the wood I received at the Urban Forest Fest. This is a slab of wood cut from an Ash tree that was knocked down by a tornado.  Ash us a very strong and fibrous wood, not typically used in carving. I discovered that it can be carved while it is still green. In hardwoods, it counts as green for the first year or so.

The two pieces I submitted are an ash branch showing fall colors and the second is of the emerald ash borer.  The irony of the insect is that it is quite a lovely intruder as bugs go.

Fall in Ash     Ash Invader

Showing at Hatch Art House starting January 9. Opening reception January 9 from 6-9pm.