In my practice I leverage the mechanics of meaning between art and craft to investigate the characteristics of wood in its many forms. My work evaluates wood’s materiality to consider its literal and emblematic effects within the framework of our lives.
A tree’s symbolism is widely understood and in Canada it’s actively used to engender a collective identity. As a woodworker my eye is trained to see beyond the singularity of a tree’s circumstance to appraise it with an ability to become something else. A living tree has all the belonging it needs but as timber its potential can be interpreted into such disparate things as firewood, construction material and delicate craftwork.
Exploring the intrinsic properties of wood, my art highlights aspects of it as a medium that are often taken for granted or overlooked. Working with wood’s capabilities I’m in awe of how its embedded gestures can inform the impact it has, they motivate me to develop techniques as a way to celebrate and muse with its lyrical attributes. Employing print, paint, ceramics, found objects, video, installation and performances in tandem with conventional manipulations of wood I work to discern insights into the tactility of its behaviour to inform my own.
Currently I’m working to evolve my relationship to wood by transmuting my reverence for it. Instead of employing wood by hedging it as an artifact of the landscape I’m learning to account more for its legacy with a holistic approach. Seeing wood as an essence I’m working to share perspectives that are not strictly circumstantial. This has generated a sense of service for me, a new way of accounting within my practice by exploring the importance of wood as part of a cultural matrix.
In our surroundings wood is ubiquitous, existing as trees and manipulated in so many ways to inform how we live. Concessions have to be made to use wood. Considering how multifaceted its existence is in our lives wood can be perceived as an illustration of intent, an expression of the landscape.
Relying on the innate connection we have with wood I engage with its agency for it to behave as a connective node to the environment and means for philosophical examination in identifying with materiality of all things.
A tree’s symbolism is widely understood and in Canada it’s actively used to engender a collective identity. As a woodworker my eye is trained to see beyond the singularity of a tree’s circumstance to appraise it with an ability to become something else. A living tree has all the belonging it needs but as timber its potential can be interpreted into such disparate things as firewood, construction material and delicate craftwork.
Exploring the intrinsic properties of wood, my art highlights aspects of it as a medium that are often taken for granted or overlooked. Working with wood’s capabilities I’m in awe of how its embedded gestures can inform the impact it has, they motivate me to develop techniques as a way to celebrate and muse with its lyrical attributes. Employing print, paint, ceramics, found objects, video, installation and performances in tandem with conventional manipulations of wood I work to discern insights into the tactility of its behaviour to inform my own.
Currently I’m working to evolve my relationship to wood by transmuting my reverence for it. Instead of employing wood by hedging it as an artifact of the landscape I’m learning to account more for its legacy with a holistic approach. Seeing wood as an essence I’m working to share perspectives that are not strictly circumstantial. This has generated a sense of service for me, a new way of accounting within my practice by exploring the importance of wood as part of a cultural matrix.
In our surroundings wood is ubiquitous, existing as trees and manipulated in so many ways to inform how we live. Concessions have to be made to use wood. Considering how multifaceted its existence is in our lives wood can be perceived as an illustration of intent, an expression of the landscape.
Relying on the innate connection we have with wood I engage with its agency for it to behave as a connective node to the environment and means for philosophical examination in identifying with materiality of all things.