|
 |
Biography
I retired in 2003, after a
30 year career as Civil Engineer with the Federal
Government. I live in Dundee, MI with my wife.
We have four grown children and three grandchildren.
Woodworking has been in my family for generations.
My father was a general contractor, and my grandfather was a
master cabinet maker. My love for working with wood came
from countless hours of watching and helping them.
Later, as a young parent, I found it easier and cheaper to
build much of the furniture my kids grew up with.
While I enjoy all types of woodworking, my favorite is
woodturning. Curiously, it is the only woodworking
operation where the tool is held stationary, and the wood
moves. |
| |
Artist Statement
Bowls and vessels made from
a single piece of wood can yield some real surprises.
Every knot in a tree and every crooked branch or burl brings
thoughts of what discoveries await inside the log. All of
my solid woodturnings are from logs that would otherwise be
ground up for mulch, or relegated to a fireplace. Each log
is turned to carefully coax out an unrevealed beauty from a
discarded piece of wood. This gives the tree new life, and
perhaps more appreciation than it had in the forest. I
love the character that is uncovered, and can’t wait to see
the beauty that lies beneath the bark. Discovering this
hidden character provides much of the inspiration for
my bowls. |
| |
|
Segmented woodturning is
sometimes called polychromatic woodturning. In its
simplest form, segmenting involves gluing two or more pieces
of wood together, and then turning a vessel from the glued
up block. The resulting vessel can be virtually any shape
and size. I often include decorative elements, feature
rings, and details that are just not possible with solid
wood. Inspiration for many of my segmented works comes from
ancient pottery shapes, mathematical curiosities and knot
theory, and common everyday items.
I prefer working with
domestic hardwoods, and choose wood whose colors and
textures compliment each other. Finishes are selected to
accent the grain and texture of the wood elements. As a
retired engineer, I enjoy the challenge of designing and
assembling complex vessel shapes. My goal is to create
works that are beautiful to look at, and beg the question
“how did he do that?” |
| |
| All of the walnut used in
my segmented bowls came from an old farmhouse in Delaware,
Ohio that my in-laws helped demolish back in the 1950's. The
Cole family, one of the original settlers in the county,
originally built the house that had to be removed to make
way for the Delaware Dam. As salvaged wood, it is unique
because it was probably harvested from native, old growth
walnut trees in the early 1800's. The lumber is filled
with old cut nails, rust stains, and rot from sitting in a
barn for 60 years. My bowls often include some of those
defects, as a reminder of the heritage associated with this
wood.
|
| |
Gallery Shows and Exhibitions:
|
My work has been displayed at:
- Two
Sisters Gallery, Monroe, MI, 2009
-
Bedford Community Arts Council show, Bedford Library,
Temperance, MI, 2009
- River
Raisin Gallery, Tecumseh, MI, 2010
-
American Association of Woodturners, 25th Anniversary
Symposium Exhibition, St. Paul, MN, 2011, “Miniature
Whisky Jug Cookie Jar” selected as part of Segmented
Woodturners collaborative entry
- Bedford Community Arts Council show, Bedford Library,
Temperance, MI, 2011
-
Monroe Magazine, Artists Showcase, 2012
|
Website content and photos
© by Dick Sowa
|