"Shield Awakening" at The Algonquin Art Centre

Brian's maple burl sculpture "Shield Awakening" is part of the Algonquin Art Centre's Canadian Shield  exhibition. It will be on display every day from June 1st until October 19th, from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 pm at the Algonquin Art Centre, located on km. 20 in Algonquin Provincial Park. 

 Brian described "Shield Awakening" for the show:

"A land of rock scraped smooth and exposed by the ancient action of glaciers, the Canadian Shield is rich in lakes, rivers and forests.  Coniferous and deciduous trees root themselves in the thin rocky soil left behind and their vibrant reds, golds and greens define the land.  Beneath the canopy, a thick carpet of moss and lichen forms on the rocks and trees.The forces of wind, harsh climate and exposed bedrock awaken the strength, spirit and textures of the forest.  The maple burl, with its rugged natural edge, reveals the beauty within the tree as it spreads its roots and clings to the granite."
 

 

The rocks of the Canadian Shield are everywhere as Brian and I hike along the trails near our home.  Last fall, as we were discussing the upcoming theme of the Algonquin Art Centre, we discovered this huge piece of granite in the forest.  It was perfect as the base for Brian's sculpture. 

 

 

 A few friends with strong arms helped to carry the rock to the studio.

 

Maples, with their burls and moss-covered bark, thrive on the Canadian Shield.  Brian turned the burl on the lathe with the intention of maintaining some of the bark and lichen in its original form.

 

The rugged outer surface of the bark with the complex textures of the forest is a contrast to the beauty of the finished inner core of the burl.

 

Maple Burl on the Lathe

 

The next stage of creating the sculpture was to design a stand which would capture the spirit of the Canadian Shield and illustrate the connection between the granite base and the maple burl bowl.

 

Brian worked with blacksmith artist Matt Church at The Artisan's Gallery to incorporate all the necessary elements of roots clinging to exposed granite, upraised branches and maple leaves.

Brian's creative inspiration for "Shield Awakening" was his love of the forests, rocks and landscapes of the Canadian Shield and its natural outcroppings of wood and rock.  We hope that you have an opportunity see the exhibition at the Algonquin Art Centre.

 

Shield Awakening

 

Summit Centre Exhibit: Algonquin Yellow Birch Burl Bowl

This rare bowl began with a call from Brian's wood supplier who received three yellow birch burls from Algonquin Park. The park is protected and trees are removed following the ideals of forest management, planned harvesting and renewal to ensure the long-term health of Muskoka's natural resourse. 

A burl is unwanted for logging but prized by a woodturner. This bowl is truly one of a kind with its variations in grain, delicate bark edge and distinctive knot hole.  A piece of Algonquin Park is returned to Muskoka and transformed into a functional artistic bowl.

Yellow Birch Bowl

For more information about the Artists of the Limberlost Exhibit at the Huntsville Summit Centre until April 15:

http://www.artistsofthelimberlost.ca/press.html?todo=viewnews&newsid=93



Autumn Splendor in Muskoka



We had hundreds of people in our workshop during the Musoka Autumn Studio Tour and despite predictions of rainy, cold weather, it was a perfect fall weekend.  Our guests enjoyed seeing Brian's new bowls and platters, and had an opportunity to ask questions and watch Brian demonstrate the art of wood-turning.

Now we will enjoy our beautiful autumn with hikes in the forest, the Algonquin Park colours and the mist rising from the lake as we sit on our dock.

Thank you for a Successful Tour

The Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour was full of energy, sunshine and happy customers.  Carol-Ann Michaelson and Jamie McGill, our guest artists, arrived on the Friday night with carloads of pottery and paintings.  What fun to find the perfect spot to display the art to its best advantage.  Brian and I were delighted as we made the transformation over the week from a workshop full of woodchips, sawdust and equipment to a remarkable collaborative artist's studio.

 


When customers entered the studio they broke into smiles and said it was a party. Hundreds of people visited Limberlost Woodturning over the weekend and the comments about the wood, pottery and paintings were consistently enthusiastic and positive.  Some visitors were cottagers, neighbours and friends returning to our studio, but the majority joined us for the first time. 

The atmosphere was energetic, busy, creative and enhanced by the music of Don Ablett.  Don, Carol-Ann's husband, is a singer and guitarist who is well-known for traditional blues, ragtime and contemporary folk songs. For Don, music is a pleasure and we were delighted to have him join us in the studio. 
 

Jamie told the stories of his paintings, and there was great interest in the oil and watercolour scenes of Algonquin and Georgian Bay.  His love of the north was evident as he described the experience of painting on canoe trips and en plein air.  It was a family affair with Karen McGill assisting customers and helping with sales.

There are so many people to thank....customers who support us with their postive comments and enthusiasm for the art, Jamie and Carol-Ann for joining us as guest artists, Don for sharing his musical talents and Karen for helping us in the studio.  Thanks for making it our best studio tour ever! 

www.jamiemcgill.ca

www.carolannmichaelson.ca

www.artistsofthelimberlost.ca

www.songwriters.ca/member/DonAblett

Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour--Guest Artist Jamie McGill

Thunderhead and Red Canoe

Next weekend, on August 13 and 14, at the Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour, Brian will host a guest artist, Jamie McGill.  Working with both water colours and oils, Jamie's paintings express his love of nature.  

The inspiration for "Thunderhead and Red Canoe" occurred last summer when Jamie was paddling on Ralph Bice Lake in Algonquin Park. 

"The western sky was getting rather dark and brooding. Above us, large towering thunderheads were climbing and billowing skywards. I had been sketching those wonderful Tom Thomson cloudscapes all weekend -- never-ending white, grey, mauve boxcars lined-up right to the horizon.  So all I needed was a few quick photos to prime me for painting back home in the studio.   This painting (in oil) is 36" x 48" -- one of the largest pieces I have done.  It really needed that kind of size to communicate the power of the towering thunderhead. Our friends canoeing with us have a red canoe - ergo the title."

  

Below Pienza

Jamie's  painted "Below Pienza" in an area just south of Siena in Italy.

I took the watercolours and found this small farm road through the fields.  The late afternoon sunlight was from my right, casting these deep shadows across the road. At the turn of the road a single cypress was silhouetted against a darkening sky. It was one of those quick plein air sketches that just worked.  This painting won an Award of Merit at the 2011 Humber Valley Art Club Juried Exhibition.

Jamie loves to exhibit to a new audience -- to share insights and stories and to get first-hand feedback from a fresh group of viewers. Painting is very much about creative expression--one that must be communicated to others.  Join us next weekend to experience the art of Jamie McGill.

www.jamiemcgill.ca

www.artistsofthelimberlost.ca

www.limberlostwoodturning.com

Win $100 Gift Certificate for the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour

You can win a $100 gift certificate for the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour on Saturday, September 24 for any studio on the tour, with a one night stay at the King William Inn, Huntsville.

To enter, visit www.ontarioart.net/contest-MAST

Brian and I would love to see you at Limberlost Woodturning!

Yellow Birch Burl Bowl

Brian has had a busy and creative week as a wood turner.  The workshop is back into production and he is excited about the quality of the burls he has to turn. Brian's wood supplier told him that this burl was from Algonquin Park.  How appropriate that it returns to the Huntsville area. Brian studied this large yellow birch burl and decided to make a shallow bowl.

Brian attached the burl to the chuck and with a sharp gouge, shaved away the wood as it turned on the lathe.  The wood chips collected as the graceful shape of the bowl was revealed.

The burl was buffed and the the first coats of oil were applied to show the beauty of the wood.

 

Brian put five coats of oil on the bowl, allowing it to dry completely between each coat.  This creates a hard and durable food-safe finish.



The finished yellow birch burl has become an exquisite bowl with intricate grain and texture and a natural bark edge.  

Thanksgiving

 Autumn in Huntsville is beautiful with warm, sunny days and magnificent fall colours.  With the tours over, we have been able to hike in Algonquin park, visit with friends, fish and sit on the dock.  Tonight we ate this 4 1/2 pound bass, 10 minutes from the lake to the frying pan.  Delicious!

Brian travelled to his wood distributor this week to pick up some spectacular burls. The colours, grains and figuring are incredible and he is excited about getting back to the lathe.  We have 2 tours of people visiting from Deerhurst over the next few weeks then Brian can go back into production.  The studio will be a workshop again.