"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

 

HAS Spring Ahead Art Show

Spring is finally here in Muskoka after a very late start.  The ice went out this week and we awaken to birdsong and hear the sounds of peepers at night. 

The Huntsville Art Society celebrated the season with their "Spring Ahead" Art Show and featured a selection of the fine art of local artists and artisans.

Brian Markham with Maple Burl Sculpture

Brian was thrilled to win the People's Choice "Best in Show" award for his maple burl sculpture "Shield Awakening" in the foreground.

Brian was also presented the Award of Excellence for Best in Woodworking for his Redwood Burl platter.

 

Brian Markham with Redwood Burl Platter

The Huntsville Art Society is an exciting and active club with over 100 enthusiastic members who share their artistic skills and knowledge in a rewarding fellowship. HAS artists work in all types of media. This dynamic group is comprised of a full range of skills; from creative individuals who are just beginning, to full-time professionals.  The efforts of the Huntsville Art Society creates opportunities and events to promote the growth of the arts in our community.

www.huntsvilleartsociety.ca

 

It's Almost Spring in Muskoka

It has been a very long winter in Muskoka and spring is just around the corner.  Brian and I enjoy winter on Rebecca with the cold, crisp and sunny weather.  We make the most of the season as we love curling, ice fishing and cross country skiing, but in April, we want the ice and snow to be gone.

We cheated this year by spending part of the winter in Key West where Brian was able to ride his bike daily and put 2000 kilometres on the bike.  But now, Brian is back in the workshop and turning burls on the lathe.

Brian is currently getting ready for the summer studio tours but he has work on display at the Summit Centre in Huntsville in an exhibit of the Artists of the Limberlost and their guest artists.



Two Raw-Edge Maple Burl bowls

For more information about the work of the Artists of the Limberlost, go to:

www.artistsofthelimberlost.ca

 

 



Back Into Production

 

The studios tours are over and it is time to get back into production.  Brian has collected his most promising burls and brought them into the workshop.  Timbers which have been drying for a few years have been cut and made into rounds on the bandsaw. Maple and box elder burl, walnut burl and spalted maple are now ready for turning into platters and bowls.

Brian is excited about getting back to work as he finds inspiration in the shape of the burl, the texture of the wood and his intuitive approach to woodturning.

Studio Tour Success

 

A studio tour is our opportunity to open the doors and showcase all the work that Brian has produced this year.  The smiles and surprised looks on the faces of our visitors is our reward as they enter the workshop and react to the beauty of the display.  It was a family affair this year as our sons helped to welcome our guests and tell them the story of each bowl and platter.

 

The drive to the workshop along roads with colourful autumn colours sets the stage as people experience the beauty of the forest and Muskoka's scenery.  Brian was able to explain the process of turning bowls on the lathe and he demonstrated with a maple and yellow birch burl.  The chips were flying, bowls were revealed and the questions were answered.

It was our pleasure to be part of the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour and we loved seeing the delight of our customers as they left with their purchases. 

The studio will soon be turned back into a workshop and the bowls and platter will be safely packed away.  However, we are always open by appointment if you have a special occasion with a need for a wedding, birthday, retirement or holiday present.  Call us at 705-635-3190 and we will help you find the perfect gift.

Wooden Tea Candles

You may wonder what happens to the pieces of wood that remain when Brian turns a bowl or platter.  They are piled in the corner until he decides to make some tea candles.  The beautiful edges of burl or figured wood are not discarded but turned to add a bit of light to your table or room.

Brian mounts each piece of wood on the lathe and shapes it to best display any grain or bark that is present.  A hole the size of a tea candle is drilled into the centre of the wood.

The raw edge of the maple burl tea candle is an exact match to this magificant burl bowl.  A perfect complement as they were part of the same maple burl.

Burled Maple Tree

Brian and I wanted a sense of drama in our new entrance-way to our cottage.  This 12-foot tall maple tree is covered with burls and we decided to use it as a focal point as you enter our home.  It stood against the garage for almost a year until the building was completed.

Brian did not change the appearance of the tree in a major sense but preserved it with several coats of oil.  After securing the tree to the wall, we were able to bring a distinctive piece of the forest into our home.

Maple Burl Bowl

The story behind the bowl is always interesting.  Last fall friends dropped by with an enormous maple burl which they found in the forest of their hunt camp. It had been left behind when a fallen tree was cut up for wood.

It took a lot of muscle to get this burl off the trailer and into the workshop.  It measured 20 inches across with irregular and distinctive knobs and protuberances.



After studying the burl, Brian decided to make a bowl which was narrower at the bottom and fluted up to dramatic wings.  He needed strength and stamina as well as artistic knowledge of wood to discover the beauty within such a large burl.

 



Brian mounted the burl on the lathe and shaped the top and bottom of the burl with his gouges.  He never knows what the interior of the burl will reveal until it is exposed.  The cracks, bark inclusions and variations of colour and grain resulted in the raw beauty of this burl. 

Multiple coats of a special blend of food-safe oil were applied while on it was on the lathe and allowed to dry.  After a week, the bottom of the bowl was turned off and finished.



This unique creation began as a discarded piece of wood and with Brian's skill as a woodturner, has been transformed into a stunning maple burl bowl.  The wild and rugged landscape of the bush is visible in its smooth surface and for our friends it is a lasting reminder of their forest and camp.

See the Artists' at Work in their Studios

The nights have been cold and the days sunny so next week should have a magnificant display of autumn leaves for all who participate in the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour.  Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the artists' studios, and see the artistic process at work through demonstrations and displays.  See how a bowl is made as Brian turns it on the lathe.

 

York Gum Eucalyptus Burl Platter

Join us on September 24 and 25, 10:00 to 6:00 and see the many beautiful bowls and platters that Brian has created in his workshop.



Maple Burl Bowl with Live Edge

MAC Award of Excellence for Wood Turning

The artistic talents of Muskoka Arts & Crafts were showcased at the Spring Members' Show last weekend and it was impressive.  From painting to glass, pottery to sculpture, furniture to wood turning, MAC fosters the creative spirit of a vibrant artists' community.

What an honour it was for Brian to receive the MAC Award of Excellence for Wood Turning.

Brian entered three spectacular pieces in the "Year Of The Forest" show: a maple burl platter-Global Forest; a cedar burl vessel-Forest's Awakening; and a box elder bowl-Passion.

Each is a distinctive and elegant work of art with depth of grain, colour and natural edge.  Congratulations to Brian!

Maple Burl Vessels

We are back from a relaxing week in the sun in Cozumel and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  Brian was happy to get back to the workshop but at the end of the day, we are snowed in and enjoying the fire.

While we were away, some of Brian's work was at the photographer.  Here are the professional photos of the pieces that I profiled in the last post.  The details of the live edge maple burl vessels are beautifully evident in these pictures.



Live Edge Maple Burl Vessels

Winter has arrived and life at the cottage includes fun in the snow with family and friends. 

 Brian has chosen a few blocks of maple burl to create live edge vessels.  It is a delicate balance to find the perfect shape which compliments the wood without competing with the beauty of its natural features.

The final vessels are simple in design to accentuate the characteristics of grain, figuring and the live edge.

The joy of having decorative burl in your home is the warmth and tactile pleasure of touching the wood and the sense of being connected to nature.