Trang

Nhãn

Thứ Năm, 29 tháng 1, 2015

Discover Appreciation For Natural Beauty When You Experience Modern Art Through Reclaimed Wood

By Janine Hughes


Reclaiming materials from the earth to create useful objects has been a pursuit for ages. People simply used local resources to build the tools and items they needed. In areas where trees were plentiful, the next natural step was to make things attractive. Using the colors and grain became a challenge to the inspired artist, and preserving natural beauty a must. This heritage of craftsmanship is pointedly revived in Chicago, Illinois, where many artisans are using woods reclaimed from many buildings built over one hundred years ago.

Looking at the craftsmanship required to make these pieces helps the untrained eye to attain a different appreciation for trees. Seeing and touching the materiasl develops the appreciation for modern art through reclaimed wood. Seeing the defined lines inherent in a tree and its inner grain is what helps artists to use the flowing patterns to build new and beautifully designed pieces. Whether it be functional furniture or complicated, yet sophisticated wall installation pieces, there is always texture to be unwrapped and enjoyed.

A visit to a local studio or gallery can be eye opening. There is much that may be accomplished when using varied woods as a palette. The grain inherent in each slice is obvious, but the way it is used can be as different for each artist as there are kinds of trees. Artists in the local Chicago area offer an entire range of anything from exquisite furniture to fine art installation pieces.

It is not unusual to see texture layered upon texture to achieve a large piece. Combinations of paint or stain are used to delineate pattern and line. These are eye catching, yet encourage touch as well.

Some craftsmen focus on developing mosaics using tiny chips and slivers. This time consuming pursuit results in appealing works that can be very large once completed. Rather than creating realistic art, the overall themes are texture, pattern and design. Skilled hands and eyes mass all the disparate pieces into collective units that are quite beautiful. Not traditional in the sense of ancient mosaics, but similar in that they are intriguing to explore close up and from far away.

It is tempting to assume that all wooden creations will be geometric and angular. But the complexity of these pieces is such that when many pieces are positioned properly they can develop into flowing and even circular designs. What evolves depends completely on the whim of the person working with the tiny parts.

It is possible to harvest any cast off materials to re-purpose into beautiful pieces. Splinters, slivers and dust piles can all be used. What may have been a wall, a floor, or even the remnants remaining after cutting lumber or chopping down trees can have a new life. There is no limit to the ways these carpenter seconds will be transformed into unique new statements.

Construction remnants are made into new artwork. Assembling anything that is repetitive will make an interesting wall covering or patterned walkway. It all depends on the hands of the craftsman.

Reclaiming the left over bits and pieces that had a previous life as another item is particularly satisfying to those who yearn to recycle. This artwork focus is one way to be mindful of local and global resources and the ways that using things again can protect the world environment. Modern artwork with new goals are resulting in the old and rejecting living anew.




About the Author:



Không có nhận xét nào:

Đăng nhận xét

Tổng số lượt xem trang