July 2024
This year seems to be a culmination of environmental issues on all fronts.
Working with wood, as a carver I am always aware of the natural place my materials reside in and the sustainability of the invaluable natural resource and my relationship within. It cannot be escaped: trees, glorious trees!
I follow many other carvers and nature and wildlife photographers who inspire me to make a statement with many of my pieces. Enduring the scientific reports of global warming, combined with living near the West Coast ocean, set up my exploration of the Arctic and Antarctic poles.
While once visiting South Australia, I felt the direct cooling winds of Antartica, and I have been to see the "pencil trees" at the Arctic circle, toured the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Alaska, and studied Social Geography of Haida Gwaii. Those experiences never leave my soul hence the desire to carve animals that we feel compassion for and an affinity with; the challenged polar bears in the Arctic and penguins in Antarctica... “Polar Opposites” was created.
The Arctic polar bear is hand carved from basswood on a live-cut log base representing a melting ice floe, with recycled wood assembled as stacks of polar ice. Acrylic painted and small beads inserted for eyes, she is depicted in her winter, white coat with her one cub hunting for seals. As a result of global warming most people are familiar with the polar bear's honey colour. Scientists declare that if we have an affinity and compassion for the polar bear's plight we will be more committed to initiating daily change addressing our own individual impact on climate change.
The penguins of Antarctica are hand-carved, cottonwood bark, only partially acrylic painted to show the bark's exposed woodgrain. They are mounted on a live-cut log base, also symbolizing a cracked and melting ice floe. These carvings were created as a pair to symbolize the isolation of both poles at a time where the frozen landscapes are being monitored for their rapid change.
This year also brought the issue of tree removal from our local, urban jewel, Stanley Park. Resurrecting a possible view from within the few remaining trees, I worked on a shadow panel capturing the iconic peaks of the North Shore mountain range, "Twin Sisters."
As a carver and enduring supporter of One Tree Planted and Ancient Forest Alliance, I am consistently searching to capture our human relationship with trees. This piece was an experiment in creating a row, or panel, of trees in a familiar local environment.
From remote sites to the urban environment I search to capture scenes of green canopy but also of devastation, whether it be caused from disease, wildfire or logging. This piece is inspired by the last mature trees extending from Stanley Park where multitudes of trees have been removed due to moth infestation. The height of the majestic North Shore mountains are the West and East Lions.
In the Squamish language, the Lions are known as Ch'ich'iyúy, which means twins. In a Squamish story, two of the chief's daughters help broker peace between the Squamish and another tribe, so the Great Spirit turned them into mountains so that they could be a symbol of peace forever…
This summer may you venture to Granville Island where “Twin Sisters” will be on exhibit in “On the Edge 2024” at Federation Gallery from July 29th to August 18th.
Once again, thanks for following along, and may you have a rejuvenating summer filled with fresh air and many moments of peace in nature.
Photo courtesy: @Saho.
#woodcarving #carving #woodcarvingblog #multimediaartist #nature'sdisobedience #mastercarvers #portmoodyartists #tricityarts #portmoodyart #britishcolumbiaart #beautifulbritishcolumbia #woodcarver #carvingartist #vancouvercarvers #vancouvercarving #northshoremountains #northshore #arctic #polarbear #polaropposites #stanleypark
Comments