And I take time to reflect…
Wood comes from trees comes from seeds. Tiny creations which hold all the DNA of the parent plant, waiting for the right conditions to germinate. A seedpods primary function is to grow, protect, nurture and release life to the next generation
I ask myself: What am I passing on, planting and sowing to the next generation (as a man, a dad, a husband, an artist and teacher)?
This is my latest sculpture that was installed on the weekend for Taminmin College in Humpty Doo. This abstract sculptural seating is a bit different to my recent projects. The form is inspired by the beautiful forms of the Turkey Bush, native to the Top End. Made from reclaimed Mahogany felled during Cyclone Marcus.
Reclaimed timber in architecture. This is a project I did for Territory Therapy Solutions in Berrimah in Feb this year. It was fantastic working with Andrew and Julia Swenson. They had a vision to create a warm, creative and welcoming space for their clients.
There was a beautiful connection in restoring discarded timber and the work of Territory Therapy Solutions in helping people rehabilitate after injury and illness. I would love to see our local timbers used a lot more in architecture instead of using imported hardwoods harvested unsustainably from old growth forests such as Merbau.
After 3 weeks carving this Northern Long-Neck Turtle at Anula Primary School, today it was finished. It was such a great project with such strong integration with student learning. Every day there would be up to 5 classes come and visit. Some would draw the turtle, some would ask questions about the tools and safety gear, some would write stories about the turtle and some would do some maths problems about how I worked out the right size and proportions of the turtle. Many kids would stand and watch every recess and lunch. I love real world education and learning. Today about 50 students gathered around to see the turtle come alive with the final oiling. Now for installation. Thanks Anula for such a great project to be involved in. A timelapse of the whole project will be coming soon.
I have just finished the last sculpture for Anula Primary School that will live in the front office. It is a piece of African Mahogany that fell in the playground during Cyclone Marcus. It was such fun carving this piece as I love Frilly's and the lines of the grain worked beautifully with the form of the frilly and ant mound.
